Author: Lauren Palazzi

Lauren’s Final Project: Acceptus

Well I did it!!

Honestly I thought this would be a somewhat manageable project, however I was very very wrong. This project caused me so much frustration and took almost double the amount of time I had anticpated.

Okay now that I’ve gotten that out of the way let me introduce you to Acceptus!

Idk why this photo always look so low quality when uploading to the internet…

Introducing the Acceptus wall sconce—an organic, sculptural lighting solution designed to transform your home’s ambiance. This innovative sconce mounts seamlessly on any wall, creating an instant welcome as you enter a room. Perfect for those weary from long workdays, especially during the dark and cold winter months when returning home can feel uninspiring.

The Acceptus features intelligent motion-sensing technology that brings warmth and comfort to your living space. As you open the door or walk by, the sconce detects your presence, gently fading on to create a soft, inviting glow. No more harsh overhead lights or dark, unwelcoming entryways—just a subtle, comforting illumination that greets you and instantly makes your space feel more welcoming.

Here is the link to my Instructable:

https://www.instructables.com/Organic-Motion-Sensor-Wall-Sconce-Light

Here is the short video ad I made for my project:

Social Media Messaging Samples:

Slogans/Taglines

Where intelligent motion sensing meets sculptural minimalism.

Illumination that understands the art of welcome.

Caption

Precision meets poetry in our latest architectural lighting solution. More than a mere fixture, Acceptus represents a sophisticated intersection of technology and design.

Intelligent motion-sensing technology crafts an environment that anticipates and adapts.

Final Remarks:

This project could not have been possible without a few key people…

  • Becky (obviously): Thank you for helping me finalize my code and troubleshooting! But basically thank you for your support throughout the entire project.
  • Kyle: Thank you for training me on the CNC machine plus answering all of my circuit related questions!
  • Tashea: Thank you for giving me your extra nano board after killing mine! And I’m sorry I killed that one the next morning 🙂
  • My sister: Thank you for letting me take my frustrations out on you throughout this process and talking me off the ledge multiple times.

Lauren Final Project WIP

Here is some photos of the form prototype. Some modifications may need to be made as I need to create a proper base so it is able to be mounted to a wall and hide all the wiring.

Okay moving to my circuit diagram… I need help. I haven’t attempted this complicated of a circuit yet. But these are the components I believe I need.

Here is my updated shopping list:

Now for the storyboard, warning it is not pretty… but I think it captures its function.

Above is a story about a person who is coming home from a long day of work. But instead of walking into a dark and depressing apartment, they are greeted instead by a beautiful light that appears when they walk through the door.

This is the link to my google doc (its not done yet): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p0hcsa9AuIekfMi22d-b_hi6yw41qgEZGrBgSVQKtgg/edit?usp=sharing

This is the link to my instructables account: https://www.instructables.com/member/lpalazzi/

Lauren’s Final Project Proposal

I really struggled with this weeks homework, I haven’t been feeling very creative lately and honestly I am not the biggest fan of any of my ideas… but here they are anyway.

My first idea and the one I guess I feel the most strongly about is this wall art light thing that lights up when you walk in the room so you don’t feel like you are coming home to a dark apartment. Here are my sketches, I also made a quick prototype because I have a very hard time describing its function (I will bring it to class).

I’m hoping the function of the light is feasible.

My second idea is a light that sits in your bedroom or I guess in any room you want it, and it signifies the time of day based on its colours. So in the morning it will be a bright white/yellow to let your brain know it is time to be awake and active, when it is approaching the night it starts to shift to a more red light to communicate its time to start winding down. Innovative… I know….

Here is the sketch.

For my third and final idea, I was thinking of making a insulated travel mug that detects the liquid inside the mug and displays a light ring around where the liquid is at so you don’t accidentally drink too much. Typically these travel mugs are not translucent and contain a lid, I frequently spill on myself with these types of cups.

Anyways let me know your thoughts 🙂

Lauren’s Final Halloween Costume

Costume Description: 

I call my costume “Witch Couture”, I really wanted to incorporate drapery into my costume to create a more sophisticated chic hat. I also was really excited about making a magical crystal ball which levitated into the air. I think this accessory tied the whole costume together while still keeping with the intended aesthetic. 

When putting the costume all together and wearing it on Halloween night I felt very beautiful and elegant. It is exactly how I imagined it however when getting to the Halloween parade I did feel a little basic since I saw 100 other people that looked just like me :(. I mean next time I will just have to think a bit more outside the box but I still think it was one of my best halloween costumes I’ve ever put together. 

Materials: 

  • Large Christmas Decoration (amazon)
  • Witch hat (Micheals) 
  • Black fabric (from previous project)
  • Silver sheer fabric (Prime Fabrics)
  • Wire (found in studio)
  • Metal Pipe (found in studio)
  • Black foam board (found in studio) 
  • Gemma 
  • 12 led neopixel 

Circuit Diagram: 

Arduino Code: 

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#ifdef __AVR__
  #include <avr/power.h>
#endif

#define PIN 1

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(12, PIN, NEO_RGBW + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
  #if defined (__AVR_ATtiny85__)
    if (F_CPU == 16000000) clock_prescale_set(clock_div_1);
  #endif

  strip.begin();
  strip.setBrightness(100);
  strip.show(); 
}

void loop() {
  // 
  colorWipe(strip.Color(192, 192, 192), 50); // Silver
  colorWipe(strip.Color(91, 100, 137), 20); // Grey Blue
  colorWipe(strip.Color(92, 49, 255), 112); // Purple


}

// Fill the dots one after the other with a color
void colorWipe(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
  for(uint16_t i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
    strip.setPixelColor(i, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

void rainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256; j++) {
    for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

// Slightly different, this makes the rainbow equally distributed throughout
void rainbowCycle(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256*5; j++) { // 5 cycles of all colors on wheel
    for(i=0; i< strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel(((i * 256 / strip.numPixels()) + j) & 255));
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

//Theatre-style crawling lights.
void theaterChase(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
  for (int j=0; j<10; j++) {  //do 10 cycles of chasing
    for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) {
      for (uint16_t i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i+q, c);    //turn every third pixel on
      }
      strip.show();

      delay(wait);

      for (uint16_t i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0);        //turn every third pixel off
      }
    }
  }
}

//Theatre-style crawling lights with rainbow effect
void theaterChaseRainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  for (int j=0; j < 256; j++) {     // cycle all 256 colors in the wheel
    for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) {
      for (uint16_t i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i+q, Wheel( (i+j) % 255));    //turn every third pixel on
      }
      strip.show();

      delay(wait);

      for (uint16_t i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0);        //turn every third pixel off
      }
    }
  }
}

// Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
// The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
    return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  }
  if(WheelPos < 170) {
    WheelPos -= 85;
    return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  }
  WheelPos -= 170;
  return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
}

In-progress Images: 

I did a really terrible job at documenting my work…I’m sorry.

Thanks for reading! I had a lot of fun executing this project 🙂

Lauren’s Final Costume Proposal

Overview

So after a bit more thought I have decided to move forward with my witch costume. However, I have made a few changes to the overall design. After a very long Pinterest scroll I came across Martine Sitbon’s 1993 Spring Collection and loved the hats she created in that collection. Furthermore, I watched Hocus Pocus which lead to a quick google search…

Anyways so now I am making a “floating” crystal ball that will feature colour changing lights to add to the witchcraft illusion. The rest of the costume will be a witches hat and all black clothing, perhaps a cloak if I can find one.

Images from Stibon Spring 1993

Arduino

I am still on the fence on the exact Arduino techniques, I am still testing a few different things. Therefore, I do not have a finalized circuit.

Materials

  • Witch hat (base) – bought
  • Tool
  • Wire – bought
  • Black fabric – bought
  • Clear plastic sphere (cake mold, ornament…) – bought
  • Dowel
  • Black paint – bought
  • Iridescent paint – bought
  • Adafruit light (not sure if I need this yet)

To-Do

My first priority is to finalize the lighting process and assembly of the floating light up crystal ball. Next I need to finish gathering my materials. The rest should come together quickly (I hope). Also maybe take a few trips to consignment shops to see if I can find a black cloak.

Lauren’s Arduino Exercises + Halloween Costumes!

Here are my Input/Output Arduino exercises! I will give the neopixel a shot later this week!

And here are the Halloween Costumes!!!

My first halloween costume proposal and my favourite option is an astronaut. I found a really cool suit online that utilizes reflective fabric for a reasonable price. For the rest of the costume I was thinking of creating shoe covers for the boots. For this I will need some fabric, meshing for the details, elastic straps and some stuffing to make the boots look filled giving them that “moon shoe” effect. 

Now the helmet of this costume is the main feature. The helmet I can find online however I would love to create a scene in the helmet that looks like I am walking on the moon. I was thinking of coding about 10 LED’s to fade in and out to create a star like affect. And then hopefully create a drawing of the moon and light that up somehow as well. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Material List:

  • Astronaut suit
  • Fabric for boots
  • Meshing for boots 
  • Elastic straps for boots
  • Astronaut helmet
  • LED lights
  • Arduino board 

My second idea is a witch. Yes I know this is a very basic costume however I think the light feature makes it more unique and interesting! I would sew a black cloak and add some fun detail patterns to give off that more “witchy” vibe. To go with this costume I would like to create a witches potion using a beaker and the neopixel LEDs. The potion will change colour and I would carry that with me. 

Material List:

  • Black fabric
  • String 
  • Extra material for details (TBD)
  • Beaker 
  • Neo pixel LED’s 

My final idea (which was originally my first) is a fortune teller. Now after further research I am unsure if this is a controversial/offensive costume. I will need to look more into it if I decide to pursue this idea. What originally drew me to this idea is the crystal ball, I loved the idea of having a crystal ball that changed colours in a mysterious way. The rest of the costume would include a cloak, a scarf, and some gold jewellery. 

Material List: 

  • Cloak fabric 
  • String
  • Jewelry (bangles, hoops, pendent necklace) 
  • Plastic Sphere
  • Neo Pixel LED

Lauren’s Plush Night Light


My plush light is named Venus, after the famous painting “The Birth of Venus” by Botticelli. 

Source: Wikipedia


The Venus plush light was designed as a decoration for the users favourite chair, bed, couch, etc. The cushion is two toned, beige on the back and ivory on the front. I hope that my design brings people excitement and happiness when they see it placed in their space. 


The materials used to build the Venus plush light include satin fabric, stuffing, a battery pack, an LED light bulb and a ping pong ball to diffuse the light. 


My design process began with creating my sewing pattern and watching lots of sewing tutorials on YouTube. I started with the pearl by cutting out 4 ovals and sewing those together with the sewing machine (pictured below). I then began working on the shell, I created the scalloped pattern and cut out the shape on two separate fabrics. Again with the sewing machine I sewed the two pieces together and then proceeded to stuff the pearl and the shell (but not fully stuff it, I will explain more in the next part).

(shoutout to Sophia for these amazing photos)

After I had the exterior shell shape I began by sewing down the shell to create the ridges. After wards I stuffed the rest of the shell and moved onto figuring out how I am going to attach my pearl, place my LED light and hide the wiring/battery pack.

As you can see in the pictures above I decided to make a small hole in the interior of the shell to feed the light through into the pearl.

Finally I used velcro to secure the pack in the bottom of the shell, which hides perfectly behind the pearl.

That’s it for this week! I had so much fun with this project and am looking forward to working more with the sewing machine in future projects.

P.S. this blog post does sound like everything went very smoothly but I did encounter some bumps along the way which I will discuss with you guys further tomorrow 🙂

Lauren’s Plush Night Light Proposal

I had so much fun learning to sew and solder last week! Little did I know that these new skills would also become very handing in my Artifacts class with Allan and in my Product class with Sinclair. So I am very grateful 🙂

Anyways here is my plush blob and circuit I made in class last week.

My blob looks kind of like a children’s sock haha!

I am really excited to start working on my plush light. I took a nice trip to the garment district and had so much fun picking out my fabric.

The theme I wanted to pursue with my plush night light is “Iridescence Shells”. Certain shells almost have this glow to them that I have always been captivated by. A pearl for example, does not produce light, but its material and composition has this shine that when external light reflects from it almost looks like its glowing.

Here is an image of my pattern and brainstorm sketch. I have also included text in my sketch that provides

I will be moving forward with idea #1.

The circuit for this idea will be simple, it only needs one led light that will sit in the pearl.

When thinking of this design I think the target audience would be ocean lovers and shell collectors, but I was also thinking this could be a great product for giftshops to sell in small costal towns.

The materials I plan to use: 3 different types of silk fabrics, one for the exterior of the shell, the interior, and then the pearl. I will also need one LED light circuit and a ping pong ball to diffuse the light within the pearl. Finally I will need filling to create the 3d form.

Ultrahuman Ring Air Teardown 🔨🪛

I received the Ultrahuman Ring Air for my teardown project. These fitness tracking rings have spiked in popularity in recents year due to it’s small concise design and accurate data tracking.

I have separated this teardown into two separate parts; the charging dock and the ring.

Charging Dock Teardown:

Before starting anything I analyzed the product and noticed that the bottom of the charging dock had some sort of adhesive pad. I peeled off this material to reveal screws. This begun my teardown process.

The tools for this step were simple. I just grabbed a screwdriver to loosen the screws and the rest of the charging dock came apart 🙂

I then moved on to the ring… which did not go as smoothly as the charging dock. After consulting teardown videos of the Ultrahuman Ring Air (credit: Becky Stern) I opted to begin by cutting through the rings exterior metal shell. This was a trial and error process, the successful technique I used (credit: Sophia Haase) is displayed in the following video.

Ring Teardown:

Has seen here, I had to use a clamp, a flat head screwdriver and a hammer to cut through the metal.

*I may have accidentally hit the lithium battery on my first attempt. YIKES.

Moving on to the interior of the ring, I did have to start by wedging in between the metal and the plastic coating to separate the two. Again I used the hammer, clamp and screwdriver.

Once apart I could clearly observe the components that were housed inside the plastic interior.

Knolling 🙂

Manufacturing Techniques for Ultrahuman Ring Air:

  1. Titanium shell fabrication: Likely uses precision CNC machining or metal injection molding (MIM)
  2. PCB manufacturing: Flex PCB technology for the main circuit board. Also it likely uses photolithography and etching processes
  3. Sensor integration: Photodiode and LED array integration for heart rate sensing
  4. Chip bonding: Wire bonding or flip-chip bonding for attaching semiconductor chips to the PCB
  5. Encapsulation: Use of epoxy resin to protect and secure internal components
  6. Battery integration: Custom-shaped battery to fit the ring form factor
  7. Charging base manufacturing: Plastic molding for the base structure and integration of the charging circuitry and USB-C connector

Ultrahuman Ring Air Components and Functions:

Item #ComponentFunction
21Nordic NRF52840Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) System-on-Chip (SoC)
– Handles wireless communication
– May handle some main processing tasks
8STM32G0Microcontroller from STMicroelectronics
– Likely handles sensor data processing, power management, and possibly user interface functions
7 and 20Crystal oscillatorsProvide accurate timing signals to microcontrollers and wireless chips
– Ensure precise operation of digital systems and radio communication
24Photodiode and LEDsUsed for heart rate sensing
– LEDs (green and red) emit light into the skin
– Photodiode detects reflected light for heart rate measurement
2Wireless charging antennaEnables inductive charging of the ring
19Chip antennaFacilitates Bluetooth communication
25BatteryProvides power to the device
1USB-C connectorAllows for charging and potentially data transfer

Design Features:

Overall I like the design of the Ultrahuman Ring Air. One design example that particularly stood out to me was the light in the charging dock which indicates the rings charging status.

Another design feature that I liked was that the company sends you a size kit so you can try on the ring before placing an order. I know this information wasn’t found during the teardown but I think it is a great aspect of the design to note.

Thank you!