For my project, I created an Arduino switch that activates through physical contact, specifically, a hug. Instead of using hands, I built a simple “hug switch” using two pieces of aluminum foil connected to the Arduino. One piece was taped onto my sleeve, and the other onto a plush toy sitting on my chair. When I hugged the toy, the foil pieces touched and completed the circuit, turning on an LED on the breadboard.
This setup used digitalRead() to detect when the circuit closed, lighting up the LED as a visual indicator. It’s a very basic circuit, just two foil pads, a resistor, and an LED; but it demonstrated how the human body can act as a conductor to trigger digital inputs. I liked how small physical gestures could translate into electronic signals. The process reminded me how interaction design can make technology feel more human, even with something as simple as a hug that lights up a tiny LED.
Schematic Diagram
