Light.Touch.Matters is an EU-funded research project that heralds a new generation of smart interactive materials. It brings together product designers and materials scientists in a unique design-driven cooperative effort in which the new materials and their applications are developed in parallel. Learn about these materials and about how these will revolutionize product design, so that "the product becomes the interface". Never before, since its start in 2013, has Project Light.Touch.Matters stepped into the spotlight as it does here. The latest news from its materials stream, design effort and methodological work is on display at DRIVE. Come and see how design-driven materials innovation can be done - and get ready to explore what this could mean for your own technologies, products, or both.

3. Light.Touch.Matters
the product IS the interface
Moderator: Erik Tempelman

4. Erik Tempelman :: project overview
Pim Groen :: materials R&D
Andrea Portioli :: product design

5. Erik Tempelman

7. PROLOGUE...
metal splices fibres
PROLOGUE...

8. A ONE-OF-A-KIND INITIATIVE
Light.Touch.Matters is a cooperation between product designers
and materials scientists to create new smart materials that
combine touch sensitivity with luminosity. The key new
technologies are flexible OLEDs and polymeric PIEZO materials.
In this “design-driven materials innovation” project,
designers and scientists work on new products and materials in
parallel. The one activity stream feeds into the other, with direct
and prolonged designer-scientist interaction.

9. KEY PROJECT DATA & PARTNERS
The project started on February 1st 2013 and will end on July 31st 2016 after 42 months duration. Project size is ~ 40 man-years (m/f).
17 entities from all around the EU joined forces in this innovative project, establishing a heterogeneous consortium formed by:
MATERIAL SCIENTISTS
Brunel University WMP [UK]
TU Delft NovAM [NL]
Holst Centre/TNO [NL]
Aito Touch [FIN]
FACILITATORS
Brunel University HCDI [UK]
University College of London [UK]
TU Delft IDE [NL]
Material Connexion Italia Srl [IT]
Polytechnico di Milano [IT]
Studio Edelkoort [FR]
Bax & Willems [ES]
PRODUCT DESIGNERS
Lamb Industries Ltd [UK]
Minima Design Ltd [UK]
VanBerlo BV [NL]
GradoZero Espace Srl [IT]
Fjord Spain SLU [ES]
Fuelfor Design & Consulting SL [ES]
Diffus Design IS [DK]
Pilotfish GmbH [DE]
+ design students from academic partners

10. UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION
The novel “LTM materials” are thin, flexible, luminous and
touch-sensitive, thanks to flexible and transparent OLEDs
combined with an advanced polymeric piezo material.
Manufactured on plastic substrates, they expand design freedom
and unlock totally new ways of product-user interaction
through affordable and intuitive user interfaces...
… together, these unique features allow seamless integration of
the LTM materials into parts and products up to the point where
the product becomes the interface.
EFFICIENT ENERGY
CONSUMPTION
2D CURVATURE
DEFORMATION
SHAPE & TOP LAYER
CUSTOMIZATION
SENSING VARIABLE LEVELS
OF PRESSURE
TEMPERATURE
RESISTANT
WATERPROOF
SEAMLESS INTEGRATION IN PORTABLE
PRODUCTS

11. Holst Centre/TNO is developing technologies for the R2R
production of reliable ultra-thin, transparent OLED panels
on an industrial scale. This “printable light” is the breakthrough
that lighting and signage applications are waiting for.
Following the LTM designers’ suggestions, researchers at Holst
Centre have developed OLEDs with transparent electrodes,
which can now be produced with a variety of colours and allows
emission over a wide spectral range. It has been demonstrated
that a laminated stack of two or more transparent OLEDs
permits mixing the emitted light in a controlled manner.
In parallel, researchers at Brunel University/WMP are working
on additional colour effects, using downconversion layers. This
further adds to the design freedom that flexible OLEDs offer.
(For a video on R2R OLEDs at Holst, see the LTM website.)
R2R FLEXIBLE OLEDS

12. PIEZO PLASTICS
Piezoelectric materials have existed for 40+ years, but are
available only as fragile ceramics or as very expensive plastics.
This restricts their use and limits design freedom.
Recently, TU Delft NovAM reached a breakthrough developing
a new piezo material: a structured composite of the ceramic
piezo powder within a polymeric matrix. Inherently flexible,
these “piezo plastics” are the ideal touch-sensitive material.
This mix of components can be tuned for specific applications.
With this brand-new technology, the features of the piezo-
plastic can be designed. Last summer. NovAM showed that it
even works with lead-free base materials!
Partner Aito Touch is involved in the electronic side of these
piezos, and their “haptic touch” technology adds further value
to the project (see LTM website for video on piezo plastics).

13. The LTM materials can have a broad range of applications.
LTM designers are exploring the potential by developing several
design concepts (thus feeding the material R&D stream), such as
rehabilitation aids, wearable products, or diet coaches.
The sector of care & well-being is the starting point. However,
the consortium expects strong spin-off to other sectors
contributing to innovation and competitiveness in many
strategic EU industries. Currently, several designs are being
prepared in the sectors of consumer electronics and
automotive interiors. Stay tuned for the latest results!
(For product concept videos, see the LTM website.)
FIRST DESIGN CONCEPTS
concept by
Grado Zero Espace Srl
concept by
Lamb Industries Ltd
concept by
Fuelfor SL
concept by
Van Berlo BV

15. New materials take long to go from research to reality. Also,
they are usually over-specified on some properties, and under-
specified on others. Opportunities for innovation are missed.
Design-driven materials innovation, or DDMI, promises a better
way: by involving designers early on, and by developing
material and application in parallel, exploring new meanings.
Project LTM has its own stream of methodological research, lead
by Politecnico di Milano. Initial findings point at the power of
iteration, the importance of samples and exploring by doing,
and the crucial role of integration and manufacture.
Next to the LTM materials and the product concepts, the
consortium will deliver a whitebook for DDMI. This can then be
used to export the methodology to other contexts.
DDMI METHODOLOGY RESEARCH

16. Project Light.Touch.Matters welcomes organizations and
companies who are willing to actively speed up the
industrial uptake of the new materials. Component
manufacturers with a strong track record of integrating
electronics into or onto products are also invited.
Such involvement can be free of charge and be limited to
attending some of our meetings, but can also become more
substantial, such as running manufacturing experiments. Come
see the technology and products, come meet the team! Be part
of this international design-driven material innovation.
If you’d like to join, or would like to know more about your
possible role, please contact the LTM Liaison Committee via:
liaisoncommittee@light-touch-matters-project.eu
GET INVOLVED!

17. WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?
Latest developments, videos, concepts, and progress: please visit www.light-touch-matters-project.eu
This project is being funded with support from European Commission under grant
agreement no. 310311. This publication reflects the view only of the authors and the
Commission can not be held responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein.

19. Pim Groen

20. Andrea Portioli

21. BuddySleeve
In collaboration with:
light.touch.matters
the product is the interface

22. light.touch.matters
the product is the interface
Wearable future
• Trend
• Smart materials
• Miniaturized technologies
• New sustainability models
• Bridge

23. light.touch.matters
the product is the interface
OLEDs for position and
breathing recognition
Security strap
BuddySleeve
Battery indicatorBracelet containing battery
Bluetooth receiver
Piezo plastic
sensor

24. How does BuddySleeve work?
• Bluetooth connection to tank pressure
transmitter
• Controller converts signal
• OLED strip dimms in&out
• Provides awareness of Buddy:
= for position
= for breathing
light.touch.matters
the product is the interface

25. Awareness of position
System: Light based visual communication device for recognition of breathing conditions
and position between divers
Masks:
ForeArm:
Interaction LEvEL
2 1
Interaction Character
Interaction between
divers
Interaction for the diver
Simple, intuitive, immediate
Product character
Superhero Armor
Protection
-1 O-Led strip: Green or Blue
-2 O-Led strip: Green or Blue and Red
Awareness of breathing
light.touch.matters
the product is the interface

26. BuddySleeve
Dimissed Wet suit materials collection
DivingSchools
Plastic
LTM materials
Neoprene
Electronics
Recycling
Maintenance
LTM
Supplier
Plastic Bracelet
manufacturer
electronic components
Product manufacturer
Service provider
light.touch.matters
the product is the interface

28. light.touch.matters
the product is the interface
Thanks