Provoking Performing Objects: Expanding the Design Space for Soft Robotics

Soft robots are typically developed with specific functions in mind. What we propose here is to shift focus to their aesthetic and performative qualities as means to open up a larger space of potential expressions and tacit abilities of these animated artefacts. Basically, to focus on the aesthetic potential of the objects through form, material, and movement exploration. As a strategy, we use provocations to broaden the design space with new interactive experiences in the physical realm. We argue that by using provoking performative objects as inspiration we can ultimately design a more connected and bodily engagement with computational devices.