Demo at TEI: TensiChrome. Check our interactive mechanochromic films that change color with deformation. Come try it!
TensiChrome: A Design Space for Mechanochromic Interfaces Using Hologram Films
/10.1145/3731459.3779338
Mechanochromic films are micro-structured reflective surfaces that usually shift color from red to green to blue depending on the
amount of deformation. While prior research has focused on the fabrication of these films, their potential in HCI remains underexplored.
This paper introduces a design space for mechanochromic interfaces that change colors in response to deformation, such as pushing,
pulling, shrinking, and stretching. Our contribution includes fabricating the mechanochromic film in multiple variations: substrate
color (transparent, non-transparent), substrate form (flat, textured), and mechanochromic film pattern (single-tone, partially patterned
by masking method or chemical etching method). We propose mechanochromic interfaces that integrate variations in materiality
with variations in actuation mechanisms to produce visual feedback during interaction. Technical evaluations characterize material
capabilities, and application scenarios illustrate use in real-world contexts.
CHIEN-CHOU(Bill) LIN*, JEAN MENEZES, XINGDA CHEN, MARIA CUEVAS, KATIA VEGA
*Presenter #tei2026 #ucdavis #ucdavisdesign #interactiveorganismslab
Our new Biocosmetic Interface was exhibited at ISWC 2025 Design Exhibition.
pHigment: Designing Biodegradable Single-Use Cosmetics for On-body Chemical Sensing
We showcased how single-use cosmetics can be designed: 1) for biosensing chemical reactions in bodily and environmental fluids, and 2) with bio-based materials to support environmental sustainable design.
Three prototypes were presented: eyeliner, nail stickers and temporary tattoos.
Please check our paper for more details:
/10.1145/3714394.3750716
And find the fabrication process, device and app at our GitHub: /InteractiveOrganismsLab/pHigment
Authors:
Olivia Bates
Alyssa Yee
Phil Gough
Anusha Withana
Katia Vega
Exhibition design: Emily-Mae Mcconihe
#ubicomp2025 #iswc2025 #biocosmetics #interactiveorganismslab
Acknowledgments
Prof. Vega’s work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No 2146461 and UC Davis Academic Senate. A/Prof. Withana is a recipient of an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Award (DECRA) - DE200100479 funded by the Australian Government. Both professors acknowledge the support from USyd–UC Davis Ignition Grant.
New Bicosmetic Interface! Nail pHolish was presented last September at INTERACT 2025 in Brazil! Our color-changing nail polish detects chemical reactions from body and environmental fluids — turning everyday nail art into a biosensing interface.
From formulation and app integration to testing with users and nail artists, this work explores new ways to sense health and environment through cosmetics.
Nail pHolish: Sensing Hand-Fluid Interactions Through Biocosmetic Interfaces
Authors: Shuyi Sun, Dana Mayfield, Yuan-Hao Ku, Jinho Yon & Katia Vega INTERACT 2025 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Thanks to NSF CAREER
/10.1007/978-3-032-05002-1_29
Abstract
This paper introduces Nail pHolish: a colorimetric biosensor nail polish that changes colors when chemical reactions are detected in hand-fluid interactions. Fingernails are in direct contact with a variety of fluids from both the body and the environment, making them an ideal medium for non-invasive monitoring. Nail polish is used as a substrate for biosensors due to its broad range of colors, durability on fingernails, high visibility, and simple reapplication. This work implements a nail polish formulation and mobile app. The formulation is skin-safe and employs anthocyanins with similar colors to those of traditional nail polish. It is showcased in a series of designs featuring conventional nail art. The app converts color readouts from a portable spectrophotometer to pH levels. Technical evaluations conducted on fake nails show the responsiveness and reversibility of color change at four different pH values. We performed durability tests for over 72 h on 20 fingernails from human subjects. We conducted expert interviews with five nail artists on the practical application of Nail pHolish, and a user study with 10 participants in a dental erosion scenario. This work shows the potential of colorimetric biosensor cosmetics to monitor various bodily fluids such as saliva, sweat, and vaginal secretions, as well as exposures to external fluids such as beverages, rainwater, and swimming environments, offering a new interface for health and environmental monitoring.
New Biocosmetic Interface! Our zine of Nail pHolish was presented at DIS 2025 (July 2025, Funchal). We use our own nail-polish biosensor to create more than 30 pair of samples showcasing possibilities for nail art techniques and colorimetric biosensors following a women-centered approach. So glad to share with this vibrant community. Full paper coming soon…
#dis2025 #ucdavisdesign #ucdavis #interactiveorganismslab
We are at @ubicomp_conference@iswc_net Today at the Open Wearables Workshop, we are presenting “Wearability Factors for Body-Worn Colorimetric Biosensors,” introducing 20 unique wearability factors and comparing them with skin interfaces and wearables. Join us! #openwearables #ubicomp2024 #iswc2024
Continuing with our series of electrochemical biosensors in HCI, this project introduces the use of electrochemical biosensors for animal fluid sensing.
Traditional feline urine monitoring methods are invasive, costly, and infrequent. Purrtentio, a litter box system employing an electrochemical biosensor for continuous, non-invasive chemistry element monitoring in feline urine.
Purrtentio comprises a DIY biosensor, potentiostat, microcontroller, distance sensor, and a mobile app. Our material selection follow an evaluation of various conductive materials for the biosensor to exclusively respond to sodium changes. Purrtentio's software performance was compared to an industry-grade potentiostat. Our tests included feline urine sample testing with similar results than lab-graded ones, and a 72-hour case study with cat participant using the system.
Exciting news! We'll be presenting a demo of Purrtentio at #UIST2023 and later this year, you can look forward to a full paper at #ACI2023.
Researchers: Shuyi Sun, Gabriela Vega, Erkin Şeker, Krystle Reagan and Katia Vega
This work was partially supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No 2146461.
Stay tuned for more updates on our journey to redefine HCI and animal health! 🌟 #UIST2023 #ElectrochemicalBiosensors #AnimalHealth #ucdavis #ucdavisdesign
This #iswc2023 we presented: BioSparks: Jewelry as Electrochemical Sweat Biosensors with Modular, Repurposing and Interchangeable Approaches. Our main focus was to create electrochemical biosensors using jewelry crafting techniques in other to reuse them as jewelry pieces. A chemical activation solution was applied on electrode to only detect glucose. The project was showcase during the Design Exhibition at Cancún, Oct 2023. A collaboration with MFA jewelry designers Alejandra Ruiz, Sima Pirmoradi, PhD CS student Shuyi Sun and Prof. Katia Vega. Supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No 2146461. Abstract. This paper presents BioSparks, a wearable device that detects glucose levels in sweat through electrochemical biosensors created with traditional jewelry techniques. It incorporates interchangeable electrodes that facilitates their replacement after their lifetime, and employs a repurposing method to reuse the discarded electrodes within the jewelry’s chain. The modular design enables the wearable to be placed on various body parts, including the neck, wrist and waist. The paper outlines our design considerations for Wearability Factors for Jewelry Biosensors, and the fabrication process combining traditional jewelry techniques and electrochemistry. Our technical evaluation shows the performance of our biosensor under ten different glucose concentrations. For more info: https://iolab.ucdavis.edu/publications/biosparks BioSparks: introducing electrochemical biosensors to HCI with jewelry design practices #iswc2023 #ubicomp2023 #ucdavis #ucdavisdesign
#PhDposition Are you looking for a CS PhD at UC Davis?
We are looking for a new creative lab member to work in the intersection of #HCI, wearable computing, biosensors, body fluids & design.
For more info & requirements: https://iolab.ucdavis.edu/news/cs-phd-applicants-io-lab
Meredith Young-Ng will be presenting our latest project: Sweatcessory: a wearable necklace for sensing biological data in sweat. Find her to learn more about sweat biosensors and wearability in the Poster Session in Atlanta @ubicomp_conference@iswc_net
Call for Applications - Assistant Professor in Interaction/Graphic Design
Department of Design, University of California, Davis
Join a top public research university and dynamic design department with talented students. Applicants should have an M.F.A, Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant field; possess strong visual design skills and demonstrate a capacity for conducting creative design and research work in emergent areas of visual communication; teaching experience with the ability to teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; the ability to work effectively with groups and individuals representing a diversity of backgrounds, interests, and positions both within and outside the University of California.
Review deadline: Dec 15th
Apply here:
https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF04531
Thanks ACM and @PaulMarks12 for sharing our work among others on teeth interfaces! "braceIO: biosensing through hydrogel dental ligatures". Collaboration with Ali Yetisen #imperialcollegelondon #ucdavisdesign #interactiveorganismslab /news/249831-finally-apps-to-sink-your-teeth-into/fulltext
