Biohybrid gaming controller blurs tech and biology lines
The BioHybrid Device controller, although it lacks programmable buttons, advanced haptic features, or sophisticated triggers, stands out due to its unique construction from biological materials like bacteria and yeast.
Scientists continually amaze us with their unconventional ideas, pushing the boundaries of traditional technology and unlocking extraordinary possibilities. One such project is a gaming controller called the BioHybrid Device, crafted using symbiotic bacteria and yeast cultures.
This device not only redefines how we perceive technological interfaces but also invites us to reflect on their integration with the natural environment. The innovative approach of the BioHybrid Device's creators suggests a new direction in electronics design, where the lines between technology and biology become increasingly blurred.
Controller from bacterial and yeast cultures
The uniqueness of this controller lies in the fact that, instead of traditional assembly, the BioHybrid is "grown" using both biological and digital production processes. The creators employ morphogenesis to envelop the electrical components with bacteria and yeast symbiotic cultures. You might say this controller actually grows.
Design descriptions reveal that the controller shapes itself through the natural growth and spread of bacterial and yeast cultures (SCOBY), integrating conductive elements, sensors, and output components into their structures. Vivien Roussel, Madalina Nicolae, and Marc Teyssier spearheaded this project.
Does the bacteria-based controller work?
The question that arises is: does this solution truly work? Available information indicates that the BioHybrid controller is functional, although it doesn't quite match the capabilities of the DualSense Edge. Below, you can watch a video showing the device's manufacturing process and its operation.
Its flexibility allows for the entire device's deformation, potentially leading to internal component damage. Nonetheless, the goal of the BioHybrid Device project is not to directly compete with leading manufacturers but to explore the boundary between 'living and non-living systems'.
