Move-it: a paperclip-shaped sensing and actuating system for sticky notes

We developed a paperclip-shaped motion-actuating system, named “Move-it”. With this system, users can add motions to sticky notes just by clipping it. This system is constructed by using clip-shaped devices that have sensors and actuators. The recognition system uses photo interrupter module as sensor. Each clip device can recognize which note it has been attached to by calculating how much infrared light is being reflected by the grayscale image printed on the flip side of each note. The actuation system is made of a coil-shaped shape memory alloy combined with a polyolefin sheet that is embedded to the clip device, and can provide a sufficient motion for actuating the note. By writing for example, “meeting 16:00” on the sticky note using a digital pen and our device, the user can get physical reminder without any complex setting. This paper presents the design and evaluation of the recognition and actuation system of our clip-shaped device.