This week, the Kowloon Interaction Design Center (KLIC) hosted a session led by Professor Zhu Kening focused on Tangible User Interfaces (TUI). The session explored how paper and clay can be used to create buttons and touch sensors.

The session was designed to be hands-on, encouraging participants to engage with physical materials rather than working solely on screens. Students were invited to bring their laptops, preferably with USB Type A ports or adapters, to connect with the materials.

During the session, participants experimented with making physical components function as touch-sensitive inputs, gaining practical experience in TUI design. Professor Zhu guided attendees through the process of turning everyday materials into interactive elements, providing a tangible approach to understanding user interfaces.

This session is part of KLIC’s bi-weekly activities, which aim to create a collaborative and learning-focused environment for labs and students interested in Human–Computer Interaction.

About the Speaker

Professor Zhu Kening is a faculty member at the City University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on Human–Computer Interaction, particularly in the areas of tangible user interfaces, interactive design, and hands-on learning methods. Professor Zhu has led multiple workshops and sessions on physical computing and TUI, providing students with practical experience in designing interactive systems.