New York, June 7--SensiTile debuted its inaugural product range at the 2005 International Contemporary Furniture Fair, New York.
Developed using a new patent pending technology, SensiTiles are reactive to changes in light intensity and color. They dynamically ripple, shift and shimmer in a way that's dramatic and sublime.
Comprised of a light conducting matrix and a substrate within which that matrix is embedded, SensiTile tiles transport light from one surface point to another by Total Internal Reflection, the same principle that makes fiber optics possible.
SensiTiles either respond to the absence of light (shadows) or an active and moving light source. In the former case, SensiTiles cause any shadows that might fall on their surfaces to shift. In the latter, they redirect and scatter any oncoming light. In an environment with ambient light, such as daylight, shadow-producing movements around a SensiTile will produce a rippling effect. In darker environments, beams of light are redirected to emerge from another part of the surface.
At the same time, SensiTiles absorb and "bleed" colors. If colored light falls on a SensiTile, echoes of that color are dispersed throughout its surface. If multiple colors are present, they become blended, rearranged and scrambled in an amazing show of light. Because SensiTiles properties are inherent, no power is required; the light effects are created passively from external light sources, and they last as long as the material does.
SensiTile is available in a range of substrates that each lend distinctive properties to the material while still displaying the unique SensiTile quality. SensiTile Scintilla incorporates an acrylic polymer, allowing the tiles to have a very high density of light-reactive points and also be translucent. SensiTile Terrazzo is embedded in concrete to give it the durability, flexibility and aesthetic of natural stone. SensiTile Volatile employs a luminous resin substrate interwoven with a subtle radiance. All three are available in a variety of standard and custom colors.
SensiTile is extremely durable and can be applied to almost any surface, from exterior architectural surfaces, façades, fountains and swimming pools to interior countertops, tabletops, flooring and walls, according to the company.
Their technology can also be applied to products from house wares and furniture to toys and apparel. They are appropriate for any project that seeks to create a heightened awareness of movement and a more tactile, intuitive exploration of surfaces, objects or spaces.
