TapeStory: Exploring the Storytelling Potential of Interactive Tapestries

Our ancestors communicated stories through tapestries, using them to adorn both public and private spaces. Traditionally, these tapestries were static artworks hanging on walls without any interaction with the audience. Nevertheless, textiles offer a versatile medium as they can be crafted from various materials and colors and manipulated to produce unique and touch-responsive textures. Our vision is to integrate the tactile capabilities of weaving with capacitive sensor technology to create a media-immersed interactive art installation that explores the negative impact of noise pollution on marine life ecosystems. Marine animals, particularly cetaceans, heavily rely on sound for communication, navigation, and hunting, and noise pollution can disrupt these essential functions. By harnessing the storytelling potential of tapestries and the power of capacitive sensors connected to microcontrollers, we developed a storytelling experience with a unique embodied interface that educates the public and decision-makers about pressing issues.