https://jasminelu.site Jasmine Lu Thu, 20 Mar 2025 21:27:32 +0000 https://jasminelu.site en https://jasminelu.site/Home Fri, 30 Jul 2021 14:07:17 +0000 Jasmine Lu https://jasminelu.site/Home JASMINE LU&nbsp;🌱 is a Human Computer Interaction researcher and PhD student supported by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and two&nbsp;UChicago Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth PhD&nbsp;Grants. She is a part of the Human Computer Integration Lab and is advised by Pedro Lopes. Through her work, she explores how we can use computational approaches towards reducing, reusing, and recycling electronic waste. Her research interests include e-waste, critical making, sustainable computing, and living media interfaces.&nbsp; Jasmine’s most recent work,&nbsp;ProtoPCB: Reclaiming Printed Circuit Board E-waste as Prototyping Material, will be presented at the CHI2025 Conference. In it, she presents a computational approach to analyzing printed circuit boards and identifying how they can be reused for prototyping new circuits. This work extends the utility of PCBs rather than discards them as e-waste, enabling&nbsp;(1) a new approach to prototyping with electronics beyond the limitations of breadboards and (2) a new approach to reducing e-waste during electronics prototyping.She received an ACM SIGCHI Special Recognition for her research on sustainable computing and role in building community. Her work has also been covered by the The New Scientist, Forbes, Gizmodo, UChicago News, Nerdist, Communications of the ACM, and more. Jasmine will be an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Loyola University of Chicago starting Fall 2026.&nbsp; CV | Email | Twitter | Bluesky Read more in ‘About Me’ Selected Publications <img width="1406" height="768" width_o="1406" height_o="768" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f42c3d735f9bb245641a33ff1a814419f474b40b1315e6d505aaeac865fd37cc/Screenshot-2025-09-06-at-3.41.18-PM.png" data-mid="237897024" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f42c3d735f9bb245641a33ff1a814419f474b40b1315e6d505aaeac865fd37cc/Screenshot-2025-09-06-at-3.41.18-PM.png" /> Full Stack Recycling Approaches for Computing Devices. Jasmine Lu, Pedro Lopes. In Proc. Conference on Communications of the ACM (CACM) ’25. &nbsp; [ paper ]&nbsp; Currently, electronics recycling is primarily solved from a materials recycling approach. This is accomplished by taking the electronic device, melting it down, and extracting raw materials from it. While this method is useful for tackling recycling at large scales, it is incredibly inefficient. This recycling approach ignores the inherent functional modularity of electronic devices - that they are built on a stack. We propose an alternative vision of recycling - full stack recycling.&nbsp;Read more in Full Stack Recycling. <img width="3600" height="1200" width_o="3600" height_o="1200" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f8cc7315647dc67da7beb87f5b277246162dca116b815718756b5dc4b22edbe1/Figure1.png" data-mid="228568322" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f8cc7315647dc67da7beb87f5b277246162dca116b815718756b5dc4b22edbe1/Figure1.png" /> ProtoPCB: Reclaiming Printed Circuit Board E-waste as Prototyping Material. Jasmine Lu, Sai Rishitha Boddu, Pedro Lopes. In Proc. Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) ’25. &nbsp; [ paper ] [ video ] [ talk ] [ code ] PCBs often easily become e-waste because they are designed for a specific circuit. To extend the utility of PCBs, we introduce a computational approach to enable reusing PCBs as prototyping material to implement new circuits. Our tool takes a user’s desired circuit schematic and analyzes its components and connections to find methods of creating the user’s circuit on discarded PCBs (e.g., e-waste, old prototypes). We believe our tool offers: (1) a new approach to prototyping with electronics beyond the limitations of breadboards and (2) a new approach to reducing e-waste during electronics prototyping. Read more in ProtoPCB. <img width="772" height="434" width_o="772" height_o="434" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8b62f4b574b4f6f2e49c4c1456e98e712924848957859d7d2601932dbd06534e/UnmakingEwaste.png" data-mid="223321037" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/772/i/8b62f4b574b4f6f2e49c4c1456e98e712924848957859d7d2601932dbd06534e/UnmakingEwaste.png" /> Unmaking Electronic Waste.&nbsp; Jasmine Lu, Pedro Lopes. In ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (TOCHI). Volume 31, Issue 6. [ paper ] [ talk ] HCI primarily focuses on designing and understanding device interactions during one segment of their lifecycles—while users use them. Leaving significant space overlooked: when devices are no longer “useful” to the user, such as after breakdown or obsolescence. We argue that HCI can learn from experts who upcycle e-waste and give it second lives, exploring their practices through the lens of unmaking both when devices are physically unmade and when the perception of e-waste is unmade once waste becomes, once again, useful. Read more in Unmaking Electronic Waste.<img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5ace35bd8207a383ec9567c1509e228b351cb0b9836d3bd580ba85da33cebe9e/VideoFrame-notext.jpg" data-mid="195067521" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5ace35bd8207a383ec9567c1509e228b351cb0b9836d3bd580ba85da33cebe9e/VideoFrame-notext.jpg" /> ecoEDA: Recycling E-Waste During Electronics Design. Jasmine Lu, Beza Desta, K D Wu, Romain Nith, Joyce Passananti, Pedro Lopes. In Proc. User Interface Software and Technology (UIST) ’23. 🏅Honorable Mention [ paper ] [ video ] [ talk ] [ code ] E-Waste is the fastest growing consumer waste-stream in the world. Inside any device that might typically become e-waste, one can find dozens to hundreds of reusable components. Despite the abundance of components in e-waste, existing electronic design tools assume users will buy all components anew. To tackle this, we created a tool called ecoEDA that facilitates component reuse during the design process.&nbsp; Read more in ecoEDA: Recycling E-Waste During Electronics Design.<img width="2440" height="1374" width_o="2440" height_o="1374" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2e9c1f14577fc8ff13e84369d9d228b3b3eb61dfaa8c2ecdd75882ce4837d7df/1.jpg" data-mid="154747425" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2e9c1f14577fc8ff13e84369d9d228b3b3eb61dfaa8c2ecdd75882ce4837d7df/1.jpg" /> Integrating Living Organisms in Devices to Implement Care-based Interactions. Jasmine Lu,&nbsp; Pedro Lopes. In Proc. User Interface Software and Technology (UIST) ’22.🏅Fast Company Experimental Design Finalist⚙️️ Open Source Hardware Association Certification [ paper ] [ video ] [ talk ] [ design files ] We explore how embedding a living organism (in this case a slime mold, Physarum Polycephalum) as a functional component of a device, changes the user-device relationship. In our design, the user needs to care for the living organism (through providing food and water) in order for the device to work. When healthy, the organism participates in the device’s functionality by acting as a physical wire that enables power to the watch’s heart rate sensor. As such, caring for the device is intrinsic to its interaction design. Read more in Integrating Living Organisms in Devices to Implement Care-based Interactions. Recent NewsFebruary 2026Officially completed my Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning Teaching Certificate! Grateful for the support in developing my pedagogical practice. Read more about the center and their programs here. February 2026Had a great time speaking at the Early Career Panel for the Tech for Good Conference organized by UChicago students! Read more here.January 2026Really enjoyed giving a guest lecture on electronic waste for Duri Long’s Communication Class at Northwestern University. Read more in ‘News’ Selected PressNPR Points North Podcast. My Little Slime. August 2025. UChicago CS News. Jasmine Lu on Sustainable Computing: Rethinking E-Waste and Innovation. March 2025.ACM SIGCHI Medium Blog. Announcing the 2025 ACM SIGCHI Awards. February 2025. UChicago Climate and Energy Institute News.&nbsp;Grant Winners Display Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration, New Ecosystem. October 2024. Hackaday. ecoEDA Integrates Your Junk Bin Into Your Designs. October 2023. Read more in ‘Press’ Academic Outreach, Service, and Teaching <img width="1280" height="960" width_o="1280" height_o="960" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a256631413f5606a86898610817241e56e905753ad318f20bb6c53df3b7638df/IMG_1911.JPG" data-mid="228572839" border="0" alt="Receiving our Honorable Mention Award for ecoEDA at UIST2023." data-caption="Receiving our Honorable Mention Award for ecoEDA at UIST2023." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a256631413f5606a86898610817241e56e905753ad318f20bb6c53df3b7638df/IMG_1911.JPG" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/10a223fc3ac2387f5273375ec9d2362c6901fe4e6426f0ffae509778bb716791/JasmineSIGCHI-award-2.jpg" data-mid="237897194" border="0" alt="Receiving an ACM SIGCHI Special Recognition at the CHI2025 Award Banquet." data-caption="Receiving an ACM SIGCHI Special Recognition at the CHI2025 Award Banquet." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/10a223fc3ac2387f5273375ec9d2362c6901fe4e6426f0ffae509778bb716791/JasmineSIGCHI-award-2.jpg" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6667029a9847ef161a3cb8fa558e516e93123f981bbe68804a8bada3cbc05e06/PXL_20241005_163925035.jpg" data-mid="228572836" border="0" alt="My lab and I tabled for the South Side Science Festival. Local community members came by to learn more about my PhD research!" data-caption="My lab and I tabled for the South Side Science Festival. Local community members came by to learn more about my PhD research!" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6667029a9847ef161a3cb8fa558e516e93123f981bbe68804a8bada3cbc05e06/PXL_20241005_163925035.jpg" /> <img width="3000" height="1688" width_o="3000" height_o="1688" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a7ee29bba1ac717a24aee970c6953e9dca24541c44c2d3492fb9b170df60b236/IMG_1224-1.PNG" data-mid="228572844" border="0" alt="(W)E-waste workshop participants hard at work disassembling electronic devices." data-caption="(W)E-waste workshop participants hard at work disassembling electronic devices." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a7ee29bba1ac717a24aee970c6953e9dca24541c44c2d3492fb9b170df60b236/IMG_1224-1.PNG" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9c0394f9b0a6bdd1059369b6c32abffe9342bc088206ff72bd1a114492d3b241/IMG_3130.jpg" data-mid="228573091" border="0" alt="Facilitating a hands-on activity taking apart e-waste as part of an ACM UIST2023 Workshop I organized around Sustainable Making." data-caption="Facilitating a hands-on activity taking apart e-waste as part of an ACM UIST2023 Workshop I organized around Sustainable Making." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9c0394f9b0a6bdd1059369b6c32abffe9342bc088206ff72bd1a114492d3b241/IMG_3130.jpg" /> <img width="4032" height="2268" width_o="4032" height_o="2268" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/81d941165809642dd22ae02033cede548638e70336dd0d1ea736786d2ae58566/20230214_160342.jpg" data-mid="228572847" border="0" alt="Guest lecturing about e-waste in a class about designing printed circuit boards." data-caption="Guest lecturing about e-waste in a class about designing printed circuit boards." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/81d941165809642dd22ae02033cede548638e70336dd0d1ea736786d2ae58566/20230214_160342.jpg" /> https://jasminelu.site/Chemical-Haptics Fri, 30 Jul 2021 14:07:17 +0000 Jasmine Lu https://jasminelu.site/Chemical-Haptics Chemical Haptics:Rendering Haptic Sensations via Topical Stimulants︎ lab.plopes.org/#chemical-haptics ︎ UIST’22 talk︎ video Team: Jasmine Lu, Ziwei Liu, Jas Brooks, Pedro Lopes In this paper, I explored how chemical ingredients could be applied to the skin and stimulate haptic sensations such as tingling, numbing, cooling, warming, and stinging. We explored how this could be used for interactive contexts like VR and built two devices for this use-case (one for the cheeks, one for the forearm). This paper was accepted to UIST2021 and can be read here. <img width="9472" height="5252" width_o="9472" height_o="5252" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dac8f19696b645db2986f406e30a8661127869dffba05fe4a9962a2f03e77034/Fig1_v2.png" data-mid="115036438" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/dac8f19696b645db2986f406e30a8661127869dffba05fe4a9962a2f03e77034/Fig1_v2.png" /> Paper Abstract. We propose a new class of haptic devices that provide haptic sensations by delivering liquid-stimulants to the user’s skin; we call this chemical haptics. Upon absorbing these stimulants, which contain safe and small doses of key active ingredients, receptors in the user’s skin are chemically triggered, rendering distinct haptic sensations. We identified five chemicals that can render lasting haptic sensations: tingling (sanshool), numbing (lidocaine), stinging (cinnamaldehyde), warming (capsaicin), and cooling (menthol). To enable the application of our novel approach in a variety of settings (such as VR), we engineered a self-contained wearable that can be worn anywhere on the user’s skin (e.g., face, arms, legs). Implemented as a soft silicone patch, our device uses micropumps to push the liquid stimulants through channels that are open to the user’s skin, enabling topical stimulants to be absorbed by the skin as they pass through. Our approach presents two unique benefits. First, it enables sensations, such as numbing, not possible with existing haptic devices. Second, our approach offers a new pathway, via the skin’s chemical receptors, for achieving multiple haptic sensations using a single actuator, which would otherwise require combining multiple actuators (e.g., Peltier, vibration motors, electro-tactile stimulation). We evaluated our approach by means of two studies. In our first study, we characterized the temporal profiles of sensations elicited by each chemical. Using these insights, we designed five interactive VR experiences utilizing chemical haptics, and in our second user study, participants rated these VR experiences with chemical haptics as more immersive than without. Finally, as the first work exploring the use of chemical haptics on the skin, we offer recommendations to designers for how they may employ our approach for their interactive experiences. https://jasminelu.site/Integrating-Living-Organisms-in-Devices-to-Implement-Care-based Tue, 04 Oct 2022 18:11:07 +0000 Jasmine Lu https://jasminelu.site/Integrating-Living-Organisms-in-Devices-to-Implement-Care-based Integrating Living Organisms in Devices to Implement Care-based Interactions︎ [ paper ] [ video ] [ talk ] Team: Jasmine Lu, Pedro Lopes In this paper, we explore how embedding a living organism (in this case a slime mold, *Physarum Polycephalum*) as a functional component of a device, changes the user-device relationship. In our design, the user needs to care for the living organism (through providing food and water) in order for the device to work.&nbsp; This paper was presented at&nbsp;UIST2022&nbsp;and can be found here. <img width="1784" height="510" width_o="1784" height_o="510" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7d89a0fe5499943012107541e6db2e8b2bbb18cb11bed872303c1de5d15df9e4/Screen-Shot-2022-10-03-at-3.12.22-PM.png" data-mid="154842138" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7d89a0fe5499943012107541e6db2e8b2bbb18cb11bed872303c1de5d15df9e4/Screen-Shot-2022-10-03-at-3.12.22-PM.png" /> Paper Abstract. Researchers have been exploring how incorporating care-based interactions can change the user’s attitude &amp; relationship towards an interactive device. This is typically achieved through virtual care where users care for digital entities. In this paper, we explore this concept further by investigating how physical care for a living organism, embedded as a functional component of an interactive device, also changes user-device relationships. Living organisms differ as they require an environment conducive to life, which in our concept, the user is responsible for providing by caring for the organism (e.g., feeding it). We instantiated our concept by engi- neering a smartwatch that includes a slime mold that physically conducts power to a heart rate sensor inside the device, acting as a living wire. In this smartwatch, the availability of heart-rate sensing depends on the health of the slime mold—with the user’s care, the slime mold becomes conductive and enables the sensor; conversely, without care, the slime mold dries and disables the sensor (resuming care resuscitates the slime mold). To explore how our living device was perceived by users, we conducted a study where partic- ipants wore our slime mold-integrated smartwatch for 9-14 days. We found that participants felt a sense of responsibility, developed a reciprocal relationship, and experienced the organism’s growth as a source of affect. Finally, to allow engineers and designers to expand on our work, we abstract our findings into a set of technical and design recommendations when engineering an interactive device that incorporates this type of care-based relationship. <img width="2440" height="1374" width_o="2440" height_o="1374" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2e9c1f14577fc8ff13e84369d9d228b3b3eb61dfaa8c2ecdd75882ce4837d7df/1.jpg" data-mid="154842160" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2e9c1f14577fc8ff13e84369d9d228b3b3eb61dfaa8c2ecdd75882ce4837d7df/1.jpg" /> <img width="231" height="150" width_o="231" height_o="150" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1ed18bbfe5411c62948f394030d1bf305ee6a939b286feca65aedc7aa8735cb6/oshw-certification-mark-logo-v2.6.svg" data-mid="237192523" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/231/i/1ed18bbfe5411c62948f394030d1bf305ee6a939b286feca65aedc7aa8735cb6/oshw-certification-mark-logo-v2.6.svg" /> This project also has the Open Source Hardware Association certification. You can retrieve our design files and build your own! https://jasminelu.site/ecoEDA-Recycling-E-Waste-During-Electronics-Design Fri, 27 Oct 2023 19:50:41 +0000 Jasmine Lu https://jasminelu.site/ecoEDA-Recycling-E-Waste-During-Electronics-Design ecoEDA: Recycling E-Waste During Electronics Design︎ [ paper ] [ video ]&nbsp;[ talk ] [ code ] Team: Jasmine Lu, Beza Desta, K D Wu, Romain Nith, Joyce Passananti, Pedro Lopes In this paper, we explore how electronics design tools could support processes of recycling electronic components from e-waste during the design process. Inside any device that might typically become e-waste, one can find dozens to hundreds of reusable components. Despite the abundance of components in e-waste, existing electronic design tools assume users will buy all components anew. To tackle this, we created a tool called ecoEDA that facilitates the process of reusing electronic components from e-waste during the design process through integration with KiCad. We released this tool as open source, showcase several projects made with e-waste, and also ran a user study with the tool. This paper was presented as part of the&nbsp;UIST2023 proceedings&nbsp;and can be found here. <img width="4000" height="1957" width_o="4000" height_o="1957" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b59fe466a2366559e08d7431db6f049bde8a95fef22af15c6b55fa44f7f7b306/Fig1.jpg" data-mid="195067052" border="0" alt="Figure showing how ecoEDA opens up a new pathway with e-waste. Whereas before all e-waste would be discarded, now functional components from e-waste can be reused in new electronic projects by using the ecoEDA tool." data-caption="Figure showing how ecoEDA opens up a new pathway with e-waste. Whereas before all e-waste would be discarded, now functional components from e-waste can be reused in new electronic projects by using the ecoEDA tool." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b59fe466a2366559e08d7431db6f049bde8a95fef22af15c6b55fa44f7f7b306/Fig1.jpg" /> Paper Abstract. The amount of e-waste generated by discarding devices is enor- mous but options for recycling remain limited. However, inside a discarded device (from consumer devices to one’s own prototypes), an electronics designer could fnd dozens to thousands of reusable components, including microcontrollers, sensors, voltage regulators, etc. Despite this, existing electronic design tools assume users&nbsp; will buy all components anew. To tackle this, we propose ecoEDA, an interactive tool that enables electronics designers to explore recycling electronic components during the design process. We accomplish this via (1) creating suggestions to assist users in identifying and designing with recycled components; and (2) maintaining a library of useful data relevant to reuse (e.g., allowing users to fnd which devices contain which components). Through example use-cases, we demonstrate how our tool can enable various pathways to recycling e-waste. To evaluate it, we conducted a user study where participants used our tool to create an electronic schematic with components from torn-down e-waste devices. We found that participants’ designs made with ecoEDA featured an average of 66% of recycled components. Last, we refect on challenges and opportunities for building software that promotes e-waste reuse. <img width="2000" height="1268" width_o="2000" height_o="1268" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/277c864481ea7c15e8a5e16712e6216df32188e08689f02710719ab87b384d54/Fig2.png" data-mid="195067070" border="0" alt="An overview of all the potentially reusable electronic components that could be found in a thrown away Roomba (vacuum robot)." data-caption="An overview of all the potentially reusable electronic components that could be found in a thrown away Roomba (vacuum robot)." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/277c864481ea7c15e8a5e16712e6216df32188e08689f02710719ab87b384d54/Fig2.png" /> <img width="4050" height="1534" width_o="4050" height_o="1534" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e4925c32508a7fe2664aeb574bd93b8f0bc5fd2ec710da74bd816674624734c7/DeviceArray-notext.jpg" data-mid="195067080" border="0" alt="An array of different e-waste devices and the PCBs found inside them." data-caption="An array of different e-waste devices and the PCBs found inside them." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e4925c32508a7fe2664aeb574bd93b8f0bc5fd2ec710da74bd816674624734c7/DeviceArray-notext.jpg" /> <img width="4000" height="1211" width_o="4000" height_o="1211" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/27f405cb2bad88f85f5845b5f6f7d6e22b4ce986461b2f3970b01dba83f6a934/charger.jpg" data-mid="195067196" border="0" alt="An example project where e-waste was used to construct a brand new prototype." data-caption="An example project where e-waste was used to construct a brand new prototype." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/27f405cb2bad88f85f5845b5f6f7d6e22b4ce986461b2f3970b01dba83f6a934/charger.jpg" /> https://jasminelu.site/Unmaking-E-waste Thu, 20 Mar 2025 21:18:46 +0000 Jasmine Lu https://jasminelu.site/Unmaking-E-waste Unmaking Electronic Waste︎ [ paper ]&nbsp;[ talk ] Team: Jasmine Lu, Pedro Lopes HCI primarily focuses on designing and understanding device interactions during one segment of their lifecycles—while users use them. Leaving significant space overlooked: when devices are no longer “useful” to the user, such as after breakdown or obsolescence. We argue that HCI can learn from experts who upcycle e-waste and give it second lives, exploring their practices through the lens of unmaking both when devices are physically unmade and when the perception of e-waste is unmade once waste becomes, once again, useful. This paper was presented at CHI2025&nbsp;and can be found here. <img width="4000" height="4160" width_o="4000" height_o="4160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5b7be1a888c6efd4b3bfc5c771683fe065f76609a2114609f9fce07b02af4c83/fig1.png" data-mid="228572482" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5b7be1a888c6efd4b3bfc5c771683fe065f76609a2114609f9fce07b02af4c83/fig1.png" /> Paper Abstract. The proliferation of new technologies has led to a proliferation of unwanted electronic devices. E-waste is the largest-growing consumer waste-stream worldwide, but also an issue often ignored. In fact, HCI primarily focuses on designing and understanding device interactions during one segment of their lifecycles—while users use them. Researchers overlook a significant space—when devices are no longer “useful” to the user, such as after breakdown or obsolescence. We argue that HCI can learn from experts who upcycle e-waste and give it second lives in electronics projects, art projects, educational workshops, and more. To acquire and translate this knowledge to HCI, we interviewed experts who unmake e-waste. We explore their practices through the lens of unmaking both when devices are physically unmade and when the perception of e-waste is unmade once waste becomes, once again, useful. Last, we synthesize findings into takeaways for how HCI can engage with the issue of e-waste. <img width="5692" height="2163" width_o="5692" height_o="2163" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1308961a4a4f794c83f57c60be44ab72081533aee72187dc614948452f6adb9b/beyond-use-figures-01.png" data-mid="228572486" border="0" alt="An overview of all the user interactions we miss out on when we only focus on the traditional user interaction paradigm." data-caption="An overview of all the user interactions we miss out on when we only focus on the traditional user interaction paradigm." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1308961a4a4f794c83f57c60be44ab72081533aee72187dc614948452f6adb9b/beyond-use-figures-01.png" /> <img width="5692" height="1434" width_o="5692" height_o="1434" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2c53345019c0c297138abf1ab8488aafa033a76c7f5cc2aaee8ee8bd5b02389c/beyond-use-figures-02.png" data-mid="228572487" border="0" alt="Envisioning device design not just for usability but also for upgradability, repairability, and maintainability." data-caption="Envisioning device design not just for usability but also for upgradability, repairability, and maintainability." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2c53345019c0c297138abf1ab8488aafa033a76c7f5cc2aaee8ee8bd5b02389c/beyond-use-figures-02.png" /> https://jasminelu.site/ProtoPCB Thu, 20 Mar 2025 21:27:32 +0000 Jasmine Lu https://jasminelu.site/ProtoPCB ProtoPCB: Reclaiming Printed Circuit Board E-waste as Prototyping Material︎ [ paper ] [ video ] [ talk ]&nbsp;[ code ] Team: Jasmine Lu, Pedro Lopes PCBs often easily become e-waste because they are designed for a specific circuit. To extend the utility of PCBs, we introduce a computational approach to enable reusing PCBs as prototyping material to implement new circuits. Our tool takes a user’s desired circuit schematic and analyzes its components and connections to find methods of creating the user’s circuit on discarded PCBs (e.g., e-waste, old prototypes). We believe our tool offers: (1) a new approach to prototyping with electronics beyond the limitations of breadboards and (2) a new approach to reducing e-waste during electronics prototyping. This paper was presented at CHI2025. <img width="3600" height="1200" width_o="3600" height_o="1200" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f8cc7315647dc67da7beb87f5b277246162dca116b815718756b5dc4b22edbe1/Figure1.png" data-mid="228572587" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f8cc7315647dc67da7beb87f5b277246162dca116b815718756b5dc4b22edbe1/Figure1.png" /> Paper Abstract. We propose an interactive tool that enables reusing printed circuit boards (PCB) as prototyping materials to implement new circuits — this extends the utility of PCBs rather than discards them as e-waste. To enable this, our tool takes a user’s desired circuit schematic and analyzes its components and connections to find methods of creating the user’s circuit on discarded PCBs (e.g., e-waste, old prototypes). In our technical evaluation, we utilized our tool across a diverse set of PCBs and input circuits to characterize how often circuits could be implemented on a different board, implemented with minor interventions (trace-cutting or bodge-wiring), or implemented on a combination of multiple boards — demonstrating how our tool assists with exhaustive matching tasks that a user would not likely perform manually. We believe our tool offers: (1) a new approach to prototyping with electronics beyond the limitations of breadboards and (2) a new approach to reducing e-waste during electronics prototyping. <img width="2000" height="673" width_o="2000" height_o="673" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/83e27627084b6be2fe42d0e3c609bc9417491cd521294d37ce9ee4784023d929/Figure7.png" data-mid="228572635" border="0" alt="An overview of how ProtoPCB enables the creation of new circuits on old PCB e-waste." data-caption="An overview of how ProtoPCB enables the creation of new circuits on old PCB e-waste." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/83e27627084b6be2fe42d0e3c609bc9417491cd521294d37ce9ee4784023d929/Figure7.png" /> <img width="3000" height="3341" width_o="3000" height_o="3341" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/61f9be92ca35e0cd3b238df714352df4e40fd4a99fe522d31fc76869603a2b38/ExistingTraces.png" data-mid="228572637" border="0" alt="An example of fitting the circuit from one PCB onto another." data-caption="An example of fitting the circuit from one PCB onto another." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/61f9be92ca35e0cd3b238df714352df4e40fd4a99fe522d31fc76869603a2b38/ExistingTraces.png" /> <img width="2000" height="552" width_o="2000" height_o="552" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/50c62fdb136b1a2bb8cb1c1d87b6912d30eb174213c37f55e094ffbe7967be22/Figure6.png" data-mid="228572636" border="0" alt="ProtPCB is particularly useful for the creation of breakout boards for components with unique footprints." data-caption="ProtPCB is particularly useful for the creation of breakout boards for components with unique footprints." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/50c62fdb136b1a2bb8cb1c1d87b6912d30eb174213c37f55e094ffbe7967be22/Figure6.png" /> https://jasminelu.site/Designing-Plant-Driven-Actuators-for-Robots-to-Grow-Age-and-Decay Thu, 20 Mar 2025 20:34:19 +0000 Jasmine Lu https://jasminelu.site/Designing-Plant-Driven-Actuators-for-Robots-to-Grow-Age-and-Decay Designing Plant-Driven Actuators for Robots to Grow, Age, and Decay︎ [ paper ] [ video ] [&nbsp;talk&nbsp;] Team: Yuhan Hu, Jasmine Lu, Nathan Scinto-Madonich, Miguel Alfonso Pineros, Pedro Lopes, Guy Hoffman.&nbsp; In this work, we explored challenging the never-aging permanence of robots’ bodies by designing robots that age and decay. To do this, instead of using electromechanical systems, we designed robotic mechanisms that are actuated by plant growth. We introduce both mechanisms to create morphological transformations (size, shape, texture, rigidity) as well as functional transformations (activating, disabling). We share several prototypes of these mechanisms and discuss how robotic systems that anticipate growth, aging, and decaying introduce new, complex human robot interactions. This paper was presented as part of the&nbsp;DIS2024&nbsp;proceedings and can be found here. <img width="4050" height="1083" width_o="4050" height_o="1083" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dddccc8d09050f3bdc16bb4c903d89bf6f9b0d743054c49b390cc1c1699742a4/Rev_Figure-1B.png" data-mid="228570150" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/dddccc8d09050f3bdc16bb4c903d89bf6f9b0d743054c49b390cc1c1699742a4/Rev_Figure-1B.png" /> Paper Abstract. Designing plant-driven actuators presents an opportunity to create new types of devices that grow, age, and decay, such as robots that embody these qualities in their physical structure. Plant-robot hybrids that grow and decay incorporate unpredictable and gradual transformations inherent across living organisms and suggest an alternative to the design principles of immediacy, responsiveness, control, accuracy, and durability commonly found in robotic design. To explore this, we present a design space of primitives for plant-driven robotic actuators. Proof-of-concept prototypes illustrate how concepts like slow change, slow movement, decay, and destruction can be incorporated into robotic forms. We describe the design considerations required for building plant-driven actuators for robots, including experimental findings regarding the mechanical properties of plant forces. Finally, we speculate on the potential benefits of plant-robot hybrids to interactive domains such as robotics. <img width="4000" height="1053" width_o="4000" height_o="1053" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d1746531b663d45062cc46e62f5c853dd2371409053203f7f4d76e720bcd4426/Rev_Figure-13.jpg" data-mid="228570361" border="0" alt="The various types of plants will also afford various types of actuator design. Certain plants will be more useful for certain mechanisms." data-caption="The various types of plants will also afford various types of actuator design. Certain plants will be more useful for certain mechanisms." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d1746531b663d45062cc46e62f5c853dd2371409053203f7f4d76e720bcd4426/Rev_Figure-13.jpg" /> <img width="4000" height="3471" width_o="4000" height_o="3471" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d7434d30f9daa7b5f3ba0566ec5fb358fddf45d974188abd282be50949f9c81a/Rev_Fig3_1.png" data-mid="228570312" border="0" alt="Our design space for plant driven actuators." data-caption="Our design space for plant driven actuators." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d7434d30f9daa7b5f3ba0566ec5fb358fddf45d974188abd282be50949f9c81a/Rev_Fig3_1.png" /> <img width="4000" height="976" width_o="4000" height_o="976" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5d571eb392f8b381ffef7cbc1cea48d802adf7c7de9f34f94b605bf7076ba28d/Rev_Figure-12-copy.png" data-mid="228570363" border="0" alt="We depict a prototype of a robot that self destructs over time due to plant growth." data-caption="We depict a prototype of a robot that self destructs over time due to plant growth." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5d571eb392f8b381ffef7cbc1cea48d802adf7c7de9f34f94b605bf7076ba28d/Rev_Figure-12-copy.png" /> https://jasminelu.site/Physarum-Explorations Fri, 30 Jul 2021 14:07:18 +0000 Jasmine Lu https://jasminelu.site/Physarum-Explorations Physarum Explorations Recently, I’ve been spending a lot of time researching physarum polycephalum (commonly known as slime molds). They’re really fascinating organisms and easy to cultivate at home. My ongoing research work is exploring how we might be able to use them within interactive devices.&nbsp; Special thanks to ian @ slimong.co for supplying me a few physarum strains! <img width="560" height="486" width_o="560" height_o="486" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/253e6cb462ee093fb4d44a1f7a673e82da442aedfb5624f7dc2b4ee7dae0e3ff/Screen-Shot-2021-08-03-at-10.55.05-AM.png" data-mid="115302996" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/560/i/253e6cb462ee093fb4d44a1f7a673e82da442aedfb5624f7dc2b4ee7dae0e3ff/Screen-Shot-2021-08-03-at-10.55.05-AM.png" /> <img width="632" height="702" width_o="632" height_o="702" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/afa544798c40a4cfba47ab3a2287142531099329cf3127defd4fafb72f099bc2/Screen-Shot-2021-08-03-at-10.53.50-AM.png" data-mid="115302966" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/632/i/afa544798c40a4cfba47ab3a2287142531099329cf3127defd4fafb72f099bc2/Screen-Shot-2021-08-03-at-10.53.50-AM.png" /> <img width="768" height="868" width_o="768" height_o="868" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f9817f32eeffd663a3311c00bb249e47c03018730e9e7d73e084e468452475cc/Screen-Shot-2021-08-03-at-10.54.51-AM.png" data-mid="115303090" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/f9817f32eeffd663a3311c00bb249e47c03018730e9e7d73e084e468452475cc/Screen-Shot-2021-08-03-at-10.54.51-AM.png" /> https://jasminelu.site/Plant-Sensing Fri, 30 Jul 2021 14:07:18 +0000 Jasmine Lu https://jasminelu.site/Plant-Sensing Plant SensingThrough a series of class projects, I’ve explored how plants can act as sensors as well as how we can use sensors to learn about their state. First, I explored this in a project called Plantastic where I used a swept capacitive frequency sensing circuit to sense touch interactions with a watercress plant (directly based on the work of Touché: Enhancing Touch Interaction on Humans, Screens, Liquids, and Everyday Objects from Disney Research).&nbsp; I created 4 interactions with my plant that corresponded to the opening of 4 displays on my laptop. Light touch/tap - watercress info page, pinch - pictures of plant growth, full hand caress/pet - recipes using watercress, and last, dipping a finger into the water - last watered date. &nbsp; <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/537e966ec07f2628a3156e03a0e55c09b5ab8b751a70ba96e055f45e980bd43b/IMG_9456.JPG" data-mid="115315867" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/537e966ec07f2628a3156e03a0e55c09b5ab8b751a70ba96e055f45e980bd43b/IMG_9456.JPG" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/10f6a71d3428916524f03fe40618ab308cea031598ab49b6f14a9dc7341e6324/IMG_3241.jpg" data-mid="115310782" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/10f6a71d3428916524f03fe40618ab308cea031598ab49b6f14a9dc7341e6324/IMG_3241.jpg" /> In another project called Green Thumb, I explored various basic sensors that can be used to determine if a plant is getting enough water, humidity, and light. These were all connected to a microcontroller with an OLED display and BLE. A phone could ping the device to retrieve sensor data in addition to reading it off the OLED display. <img width="1048" height="1182" width_o="1048" height_o="1182" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b1e1243321d98889f30d65ee923450175a3f5b6c8df0a9a39dabb535e11c3883/img3.png" data-mid="115318279" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b1e1243321d98889f30d65ee923450175a3f5b6c8df0a9a39dabb535e11c3883/img3.png" /> <img width="936" height="1304" width_o="936" height_o="1304" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6a680b1c9a8c284e4e9507c0a2cb75c6f60452b4b72e2f99e4ba8eed4b12cb8d/img2.png" data-mid="115318284" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/936/i/6a680b1c9a8c284e4e9507c0a2cb75c6f60452b4b72e2f99e4ba8eed4b12cb8d/img2.png" /> <img width="944" height="1336" width_o="944" height_o="1336" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/51c979a59c84893c945903325bd1765487895a24685426af888cc39fb5fbbb65/img1.png" data-mid="115318286" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/944/i/51c979a59c84893c945903325bd1765487895a24685426af888cc39fb5fbbb65/img1.png" /> <img width="1118" height="1983" width_o="1118" height_o="1983" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8e81ddb60f0db89c90976cc9b52109ae331a8ec7286bae4997fafdd79a8faf38/img4.jpg" data-mid="115318278" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8e81ddb60f0db89c90976cc9b52109ae331a8ec7286bae4997fafdd79a8faf38/img4.jpg" /> https://jasminelu.site/Ada-Lovelace-Week Tue, 03 Aug 2021 19:16:25 +0000 Jasmine Lu https://jasminelu.site/Ada-Lovelace-Week Ada Lovelace Week 2020 I was a part of the organizing team for Ada Lovelace Week 2020. Over the course of several months, we put together a week of events to celebrate gender diversity in technology. Though we had originally envisioned an event in person - we decided to put on a series of talks and panels due to COVID-19 constraints. You can read more about what the event entailed here: ada2020.plopes.org and coverage by the UChicago Physical Science Division here. We were really proud to host a series of incredible women and non-binary technologists. You can watch all the videos of the events here on Youtube. ScheduleDay One: Opening Plenary Panelists: Jingyi Li, Gabriella Johnson, Constanza Piña Pardo, Ari Melenciano Day Two: Industry Panelists: Philippa Ngaju Makobore and Elizabeth Koprucki Day Three: Art Panelists: Ashlyn Sparrow and Snow Xu Day Four: Academia Panelists: Marshini Chetty and Ellen Yi-Luen Do &nbsp;<img width="800" height="400" width_o="800" height_o="400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1e208bc516a103d36f1d4b1123708b9b000d4fee36421836cf21801fb4225736/adalovelacewk.jpeg" data-mid="115319953" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/1e208bc516a103d36f1d4b1123708b9b000d4fee36421836cf21801fb4225736/adalovelacewk.jpeg" />