It’d be simple enough to make this “omni-directional” — if you put a circle of conductors of one bus around a single cluster in the middle that was a different signal, stroking the middle cluster in any direction would result in a connection being made.

Very, very weird sort of input, though, and I can’t honestly think of a use for it myself. Interesting nonetheless.

Electronic pets, maybe?

@LuciusMare
I agree. eKittens that purr when stroked would be all the rage for the kids.

Neat project! Not sure where it falls on the Uncanny Valley curve.

actually, I would think installing this into a doggy door, automatic feeder, or pet entertainment setup would allow the pet to interact with the equipment without human intervention.

Combine this with the animated tail someone made, and you have the perfect furry suit. Stroke the right way, and the tail wags.

I’m amazed no one else thought of this already.

Well.. i just think to put this like a switch, so you can unlock a system in a diferent place using wireless XD!! just a good idea to inpruve your project…

sorry the bad english…

I have a friend that worked as a guard at an American nuke base during the cold war. They had sensors like this in the grass throughout the fields surrounding the base. A scope would show any disruption in the field, so that any human/animal making its way toward the fence in the night would be instantly recognized regardless of the lighting conditions.

Would be interesting to see on a football field as augmentation to video, maybe? Alarm systems? Cow trackers?

Haha great post! Picturing stroking the fury hoodie made me laugh.

Maybe you can create some kind of self-loading paintbrush

Those who said robotic cat are on the right track…if you think gets mad at you when stroked BACKWARDS. A nice purring if you do it the right way.

Actually this could be a step in the right direction for tactile sensors for robotic critters. How many animals use their hair as a sensor already(cats whiskers for example).

Actually, how about using it as electronic whiskers on a robot – would it be a cheap non-laser/radar way of doing proximity detection?

Really? My positive comment was removed? Really? Awkward/stupid…

hi, thats quite a cool project you have, a very intesting sensor indeed.
Whilst looking at the video my little saw it and instantly thought of something to do with her knitting/sewing/stiching classes or whatever they are called lol!!

Her idea is to use this kind of sensor as a subsitute for zips or velco straps etc for pockets and the sort. So a strip of this would be applied to the hem and it unlocks/locks the pocket in some way.

I could see it as a replacement for a zip on a jacket, you swipe your hand down the middle of your jacket to open it….that would be cool

please contact me if you are willing to share the design i may be temped to try and make something like this..

very very cool tho : )