Computational Design Tools and Techniques for Paper Mechatronics

Paper Mechatronics is a new design medium that integrates traditional papercrafting with mechanical, electrical, and computational components. This multidisciplinary medium adds layers to the creative possibilities of traditional papercrafting. This dissertation presents computational design tools and techniques that I designed and developed to enable novices to build their own Paper Mechatronics. I begin with an overview to describe Paper Mechatronics as a new medium for learning by making. Then I illustrate the design considerations and development of tools and associated prototyping techniques to support novice designers. Finally, I report on Paper Mechatronics workshops as user studies, where I assess the tools and techniques and discuss findings and lessons learned from working with a group of children, educators, and fellow researchers.