"I don't want to break it": An Exploration of Perceived Fragility in Shape-Changing Interfaces

2026. To appear at ACM CHI 2026.

Eva Mackamul, Tom Maillard, Noé Marceau, Yelli Coulibaly, Julien Pansiot, Laurence Boissieux, Dominique Vaufreydaz, Anne Roudaut & Céline Coutrix..

Shape-changing interfaces (SCIs) dynamically alter their form, an inherent characteristic that introduces fragility into their design. As a result, users’ perceptions of an interface’s fragility or its potential to move or break may influence their interaction, however the extent of this effect is unclear. To address this gap, we conducted a qualitative study (N = 18) using video stimuli showcasing 20 existing SCIs. Through thematic analysis, we identified key factors shaping perceived fragility and formalised these into a comprehensive framework. We then conducted a second study (N = 36) for which we fabricated SCIs that varied across selected fragility-related dimensions. We recorded user interactions and compared how the selected dimensions shaped manipulation of the objects and how they were considered by users. Together, these studies provide a structured foundational understanding of fragility in SCIs and offer insights to enhance perceived robustness and inform future SCI development.