Mainly researched on the conductivity of the bio-based material, using agar agar. Through experimenting with the recipe with agar agar powder, solid agar agar, salt, and conductive carbon powder, I made this material swatch and then it was stretched to create the analog and digital buttons.
Some of the materials are non-conductive and some of them are conductive and user can test the material's conductivity with tester wires in the middle of the swatch and check the conductivity through the LED light on and off.
Non-Conductive
agar agar bioplastic sample
(agar agar powder+glycerin+water)
Conductive
agar agar bioplastic sample
(agar agar powder+conductive carbon powder+glycerin+water)
Using those materials, I made 2 buttons; digital button and analog button.
For the digital button, the conductive agar agar materials are layered on each side and there's a gap between them as there's a non conductive material layered in between them. In the middle of the non conductive layer, there's a hole as one side of the conductive material could contact the other side, when the button is pressed.
For the analog button, two pieces of the conductive materials are placed as sandwich layers and in between them, there's a velostat.
Digital Button
The red part is made out of solid algae, which was melted in water, poured into a round shape, and dried for a few days.
Under the material, I added a small piece of the conductive agar agar bioplastic sample and on the tip of the material stitched the conductive thread.
Analog Button
Inside of the button