Electronically-controlled textile
Shutters is a shape-changing permeable textile for environmental control and communication. It consists of a curtain composed of actuated louvers that can be individually addressed for precise control of ventilation, daylight incidence and information display.
Shutters’ soft mechanics are based on the electronic actuation of shape-memory alloy strands. Each strand is controlled to angle Shutters’ louvers and dynamically adjust their aperture, regulating shade and ventilation, as well as displaying images and animations.
By combining smart materials, textiles and computation, Shutters creates living environments and work spaces that are more energy efficient, while being aesthetically pleasing and considerate of its inhabitants’ activities.
Contact: MIT Media Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA.
For more information, see Transmaterial 3: A Catalog of Materials that Redefine our Physical Environment
