Jingwen Zhu
Cornell University
jz497@cornell.edu
Bio
Jingwen Zhu is a PhD candidate at Cornell University, advised by Dr. Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao. Her research focuses on integrating Biological Human-Computer Interactions (Bio-HCI) with electronic textiles (e-textiles) to create sustainable wearable crafts. Her research has been presented at leading conferences, including ACM CHI, UIST, and ISWC. Before pursuing her PhD, Jingwen worked as an electrical design engineer at Tomorrow Lab in NYC and served as an instructor at the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) at New York University, teaching wearable design and prototyping. She is actively involved in the e-textile community, hosting community-facing workshops and leading various initiatives to engage practitioners and enthusiasts. She holds a bachelor’s degree in digital media design from Tongji University, Shanghai, and a master’s degree from the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), New York University.
Areas of Research
- Human-Computer Interaction
Biological Human-Computer Interaction for Electronic Textiles
Electronic Textiles (E-textiles), also known as smart textiles, explore the intersection of electronics and textile fabrications, enabling sensing, actuation, and communication functionalities within textile forms. E-textiles possess unique material and functional properties that interact with various biological systems, including the human body, the surrounding environment, and other living organisms. However, recent e-textile research predominantly emphasizes electronic sensing and actuation aspects, neglecting the potential interactions with these biological systems. Advancements in Biological Human-Computer Interactions (Bio-HCI) explore the relationship between humans, computers, and biological systems. These developments open up new possibilities to incorporate various biological materials, functions, and processes into human-computer interactions. My research aims to integrate Bio-HCI with e-textiles, creating new functionalities and fabrication techniques within textile forms. Integrating biological systems can enhance e-textiles’ capabilities, such as in personal healthcare, and contribute to sustainable wearable prototyping. Furthermore, applying e-textile fabrication methods to Bio-HCI makes advanced material fabrication more accessible to practitioners from different disciplines. This integration can expand the impact of innovative design and fabrication, promoting accessible personalization and ecological thinking. My approach focuses on three key aspects: First, I explore the integration of biofluid sensing into e-textiles to enhance their functional capabilities beyond electrical and physiological sensing. This integration provides biochemical insights into body fluids, such as sweat, for personal healthcare. Second, I investigate the use of biodegradable materials for sustainable e-textiles, emphasizing the accessible fabrication of biodegradable, conductive, and interactive threads for e-textile integration. Finally, I examine how bio-inspired design processes can be incorporated into e-textile crafting processes, exploring the integration of living organisms into e-textiles to enable symbiotic human-computer interactions.