Crafting Conductive Circuits and Capacitive Surfaces in Glass

Engaging the theme Procedures of Making, this paper describes and reflects on methods and processes used in the development of circuits in handcrafted glass and conductive materials, combined with interactive sensors. Demonstrating the potentials for blending techniques of artisanal glassmaking with digital manufacture and electronics, a series of cross-disciplinary workshops yielded a body of objects. These results, and the group of researchers collaborating to produce them, shared a common goal of experimenting with interactivity. The project seeks to provide a demonstration of how the combined skills of makers might expose new opportunities for forms of interaction with crafted objects, and for traditional craftspeople to form a connection with digital possibilities in creative work. While there are many potentials for digital interactions and experts who can produce them, the exploration of handcrafted conductive glass constructions offer exciting possibilities for crafting interfaces with rich material characteristics. Glass is a material that can be formed through skillful blowing, casting, cutting and kilnforming. It adds potential uses of colour, transparency, weight and potential for optical effects. More specifically in this research it can be combined with copper and other conductive materials through a range traditional and more contemporary fabrication processes. Combined with open-source electronics platforms (e.g Arduino and Touchboard) and their associated sensor arrays a myriad of effects can be prototyped. Encouraging the sharing of practice using both digital and physical making, the project seeks to consider craft as a way of thinking in a range of different media both electronic and analogue, rather than as distinct areas of practice. This paper is navigated by the following: a description of the project background and aspirations, development of an approach, illustration of results, reflection on the collaboration and possibilities for further research