Chinchilla bathingsand
This object investigates the transition between rough and smooth trough in an interactive experience using vibrating chinchilla bathing sand as probe. Rough and Smooth are not simply a surface component which have effect on the human (Chen, J., Wu, P., Jiang, Y., & Lv, L. 2024), it can also been observed and influence people in conversation, sight and sound (rough, 2025) (Westacott, E. & Alfred University. 2006).
This transition is chosen to find and explore the balance between rough and smoothness, some textures seem smooth but have an eerie feeling, latex for example, while some textures are rough but can feel pleasant. It all depends on how much pressure/intensity, time and frequency is applied from object to human. Using the smooth chinchilla bathing sand as a probe offers an opportunity where something smooth can transform in something rough with the usage of touch and sound.
The object has multiple proximity and ‘touch’ sensors to change the movement of the bathing sand with sound and vibrations, this gives the ability to adapt and transform itself, making it feel alive while interacting. This will result in an interplay of human and machine where the freedom of interaction (Miguel Bruns, Stijn Ossevoort, and Marianne Graves Petersen. 2021) is promoted by the playfulness of changing frequencies and adjusted volume. This is done by a change in space between human and machine which effects the temporal and physical form of the probe. The spiral layout of the rough copper buttons in the smooth cone will lead the user into the bathing sand, the machine will respond with materialistic and haptic feedback (Stephan Wensveen, Tom Djajadiningrat, and Kees Overbeeke. 2004) all adding to the full interaction gestäld.
The feeling of the machine being ‘alive’ helps with creating a novel between the material, the machine and the human giving (Winters, A., Barati, B., Van Oosterhout, A., & Bruns, M. (2023). And so also gives space to think and play with the meaning of the transition from rough to smooth
