Physical Computing

Definition

Physical computing is an interaction design practice that builds interactive physical systems through the use of software and hardware capable of sensing and responding to the analog physical world.

Key Characteristics

• Transduction of physical phenomena into electrical signals and vice versa
• Microcontroller-based embedded computation (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ESP32)
• Embodied, multi-sensory interfaces moving beyond the keyboard and screen

Applications

• Interactive kinetic installations and responsive architectural environments
• Custom musical controllers (MIDI / OSC hardware)
• Wearable computing, e-textiles, and assistive technologies

Related Concepts

• transduction-cycle
• humancomputer-symbiosis

Related Entities

• tom-igoe

Mentions in Source

• “Physical computing bridges the digital and physical realms, creating tangible interfaces where human movement drives software behavior.” — tom-igoe-physical-computing-foundations