Abstract: An efficient fabrication technique, including an optional design step, is used to create highly customizable wearable electronics. The method of fabrication utilizes rapid laser machining and adhesion-controlled soft materials. The method produces well-aligned, multi-layered materials created from 2D and 3D elements that stretch and bend while seamlessly integrating with rigid components such as microchip integrated circuits (IC), discrete electrical components, and interconnects. The design step can be used to create a 3D device that conforms to different-shaped body parts. These techniques are applied using commercially available materials. These methods enable custom wearable electronics while offering versatility in design and functionality for a variety of bio-monitoring applications.

Abstract: Methods for creating semolina flour-based shape-changing food from a multi-layered dough with at least one grooved surface. The dough layers have difference compositions including natural, staple and edible ingredients. The dough is exposed to stimuli during dehydration (e.g., baking) or hydration (e.g., boiling) processes.

Abstract: Methods for creating flour-based shape-changing food by creating grooves in the surface of a dough layer before exposing the dough to stimuli during dehydration (e.g., baking) or hydration (e.g., boiling) processes. A tailored computational design tool, digital fabrication platform and mold for use with the methods also are provided.

Abstract: Methods for creating self-folding materials that change shape in response to grooves created in the surface of the materials and when exposed to a stimuli. A tailored computational design tool, digital fabrication platform and mold for use with the methods also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an artificial seed device, a drilling process for the artificial seed device and a fabrication method for the artificial seed device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wearable device includes a device body including a touch-sensitive display and a circular mechanical ring rotatable around the touch-sensitive display, a band coupled to the device body, processors, and a memory coupled to the processors including instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to present on the touch-sensitive display a first screen corresponding to a device currently paired with the wearable device, the first screen including an indication of an operational status of the currently paired device and, based on determining a type of the operational status and in response to a first transition event at the first screen, present a second screen with its content being determined based on the type of the operational status and whether an input associated with the first transition event is on the circular mechanical ring or at the touch-sensitive display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more processors and a memory coupled to the processors include instructions executable by the processors. When executing the instructions, the processors present on a display of the apparatus a first screen that corresponds to a first mode of the apparatus. The first screen is in a first level of a graphical user interface (GUI) hierarchy and occupies a substantial portion of the display when presented. In response to a transition event at the first screen, the processors present a second screen that corresponds to a second mode of the apparatus. The second screen is in the first level of the GUI hierarchy and occupies the substantial portion of the display when presented. In response to a selection event at the first screen, the processors present a third screen that corresponds to a first function of the first mode of the apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more processors and a memory coupled to the processors that includes instructions executable by the processors. When executing the instructions, the processors present on a display of the apparatus a first screen of a graphical user interface. The first screen includes one or more first elements. The processors receive user input indicating a transition in the graphical user interface and, in response to the user input, transition from the first screen to a second screen of the graphical user interface and apply one or more visual transition effects to the transition. The second screen includes one or more second elements.

Abstract: An edible structure may comprise a gelatin film and fiber strips. The gelatin film may have a higher density of gelatin in a first layer of the film than in a second layer of the film. The fiber strips may be attached to the first layer, and may have an initial orientation, thickness and density. The structure may be configured to undergo a shape transformation when the apparatus hydrates. During the transformation, the film may transform from a flat film into a curved, 3D film. Which specific shape results from the transformation may depend, at least in part, on the initial orientation, thickness and density of the fiber strips. The film may include flavorings or other additives. In some cases, the transformation may change a texture of the structure. In some cases, the transformation may be caused, at least in part, by a change in temperature.

Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, a shape controller controls the shape of a bladder as the bladder inflates. The shape controller includes a first set of regions and a second set of regions. The second set of regions is more flexible than the first set of regions. The shape controller is embedded within, or adjacent to, a wall of the bladder. When the bladder is inflated, the overall shape of the bladder bends in areas adjacent to the more flexible regions of the shape controller. For example, the shape controller may comprise paper and the more flexible regions may comprise creases in the paper. Or, for example, the more flexible regions may comprise notches or indentations. In some implementations of this invention, a multi-state shape display changes shape as it inflates, with additional bumps forming as pressure in the display increases.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wearable computing device includes one or more sensors, one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the processors that includes instructions executable by the processors. When executing the instructions, the processors detect, by one or more of the sensors of the wearable computing device when worn on a limb of a user, a gesture-recognition-activation event associated with the wearable computing device; detect, by one or more sensors of the wearable computing device when worn on the limb of the user, a movement of the limb; determine a gesture made by the user based at least in part on the movement; and process the gesture as input to the computing wearable computing device.

Abstract: A composite film includes a substrate that is not responsive to relative humidity, and also one or more layers of hygromorphic material. The hygromorphic material expands in response to an increase in relative humidity and contracts in response to a decrease in relative humidity. In some cases, the composite film is bi-layer or tri-layer. The composite films are fabricated such that they undergo a desired bending pattern in response to changes in relative humidity. In some cases, these bending patterns are combinations of two bending primitives: a smooth curve and a sharply angled curve. These two primitives are combined to create a variety of shape transformations including 1D linear transformation, 2D surface expansion and contraction, 2.5D texture change and 3D folding. Any type of hygromorphic material may be employed, including living gram positive and gram negative bacterial cells, yeast cells, plant cells, mammalian cells, cell debris, or hydrogel.

Abstract: An edible structure may comprise a gelatin film and fiber strips. The gelatin film may have a higher density of gelatin in a first layer of the film than in a second layer of the film. The fiber strips may be attached to the first layer, and may have an initial orientation, thickness and density. The structure may be configured to undergo a shape transformation when the apparatus hydrates. During the transformation, the film may transform from a flat film into a curved, 3D film. Which specific shape results from the transformation may depend, at least in part, on the initial orientation, thickness and density of the fiber strips. The film may include flavorings or other additives. In some cases, the transformation may change a texture of the structure. In some cases, the transformation may be caused, at least in part, by a change in temperature.

Abstract: A composite film includes a substrate that is not responsive to relative humidity, and also one or more layers of hygromorphic material. The hygromorphic material expands in response to an increase in relative humidity and contracts in response to a decrease in relative humidity. In some cases, the composite film is bi-layer or tri-layer. The composite films are fabricated such that they undergo a desired bending pattern in response to changes in relative humidity. In some cases, these bending patterns are combinations of two bending primitives: a smooth curve and a sharply angled curve. These two primitives are combined to create a variety of shape transformations including 1D linear transformation, 2D surface expansion and contraction, 2.5D texture change and 3D folding. Any type of hygromorphic material may be employed, including living gram positive and gram negative bacterial cells, yeast cells, plant cells, mammalian cells, cell debris, or hydrogel.

Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, a shape controller controls the shape of a bladder as the bladder inflates. The shape controller includes a first set of regions and a second set of regions. The second set of regions is more flexible than the first set of regions. The shape controller is embedded within, or adjacent to, a wall of the bladder. When the bladder is inflated, the overall shape of the bladder bends in areas adjacent to the more flexible regions of the shape controller. For example, the shape controller may comprise paper and the more flexible regions may comprise creases in the paper. Or, for example, the more flexible regions may comprise notches or indentations. In some implementations of this invention, a multi-state shape display changes shape as it inflates, with additional bumps forming as pressure in the display increases.

Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, a shape controller controls the shape of a bladder as the bladder inflates. The shape controller includes a first set of regions and a second set of regions. The second set of regions is more flexible than the first set of regions. The shape controller is embedded within, or adjacent to, a wall of the bladder. When the bladder is inflated, the overall shape of the bladder bends in areas adjacent to the more flexible regions of the shape controller. For example, the shape controller may comprise paper and the more flexible regions may comprise creases in the paper. Or, for example, the more flexible regions may comprise notches or indentations. In some implementations of this invention, a multi-state shape display changes shape as it inflates, with additional bumps forming as pressure in the display increases.

Abstract: In some implementations, bending or other shape changes of a device are actuated by inflating or deflating a bladder in the device. Then, once the desired new shape is achieved by this actuation, another bladder in the device is layer-jammed, to make the device rigid in the new shape. In some cases, sheets in the layer-jamming bladder are coated with abrasive particles. In some cases, layer jamming bladders are interwoven to form a woven device. The rigidity of the woven device can be anisotropically controlled. Layer jamming some, but not all, of the bladders in the woven device causes the woven device to have a rigidity that varies by direction. In some cases, a layer-jamming bladder includes a solid layer with a crease in it. As a result, the bladder can easily bend at the crease.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wearable apparatus includes a sensor, a processor coupled to the sensor, and a memory coupled to the processor that includes instructions executable by the processor. When executing the instructions, the processor detects by the sensor movement of at least a portion of an arm of a user; detects, based at least in part on the movement, a gesture made by the user; and processes the gesture as input to the wearable apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wearable apparatus includes a sensor, a processor coupled to the sensor, and a memory coupled to the processor that includes instructions executable by the processor. When executing the instructions, the processor detects by the sensor movement of at least a portion of an arm of a user; detects, based at least in part on the movement, a gesture made by the user; and processes the gesture as input to the wearable apparatus.