Leah Buechley

Leah Buechley is an American educator, engineer and designer who is best known as the developer of the LilyPad Arduino toolkit and other smart textiles.

Buechley is currently serving as an associate professor at the University of New Mexico's Department of Computer Science. Her research focuses on the intersection of computer science, art, architecture, and education in her work. She has done fundamental work in electronics based on paper and fabric.

Biography Buechley was born and raised in Penasco, New Mexico. In school, she was interested in math, science and the arts.

Buechley attended Skidmore College. Her original goal was to study dance to become a professional dancer, but later opted for a STEM education. She graduated with a BA in physics.

For postgraduate work, Buechley attended the University of Colorado Boulder.

Lilypad Arduino In 2006, Buechley developed LilyPad Arduino e-textile technology kits, used to integrate electronics into textiles; these kits began a major wave of DIY wearable electronics.

Buechley's research led to the creation of T-shirts that function as instruments, interactive wallpapers that control their environment, and sewable electronic components. This technology has already made its way into novelty items. thumb Early prototype of the Lilypad ArduinoHer work has been exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Ars Electronica Festival, and the Exploratorium.

Sew electric: a collection of DIY projects that combine fabric, electronics, and programming was published in 2013 by HLT Press. It was written with Kanjun Qiu and illustrated by Sonja de Boer. Sew Electric is a series of hands-on LilyPad Arduino tutorials.