I’m interested in working with mechanical pixels. Sort of like this:
My idea is to replace the “pixels” with little mirrors, or foam shapes, or bottle caps, or plastic toys…maybe they are interchangeable. These objects will then vibrate visibly when activated and stop when deactivated. The vibration is much more apparent in person but here’s a video of the prototype:
Each pixel will consist of a vibrating motor attached to a piece of wire with the object mounted on the other end. here’s a section:
These will be turned off and on by the arduino serial output routed through shift registers. Each register will control a group of pixels:
I could turn this into a mirror as in the given example, but I’m thinking more towards some simple animation. The content will also depend on how far I get – the more pixels, the greater resolution and potential. I could also envision this incorporated into a more 3 dimensional form – a sculpture that pulsates in weird ways.
Soup-sensitive spoon idea was one of the ideas that I came up with after the “innovative switch” assignment. In this idea I approached to the soup as a conductive material which closes the circuit by behaving as a natural switch. When the spoon is dipped into the soup the circuit is completed and the LEDs light up.
Later on, as a collaborative work we (me with Lance Green and Brandon Washington) made a video storytelling of the spoon. I couldn’t imagine that this video would cause the amazing reaction of my 2 years old cousin. In this video you can see her enthusiasm when she sees the LEDs light up when they are dipped into the soup. According to what her mother said, my cousin Asel, who recently started to speak with words, says “again” when the video is over and she points the spoon with her finger when the spoon is lit up.
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This reaction made me think about the design opportunity for the eating experience of toddlers. As far as I know, many parents have troubles feeding their little children.
Then I talked about this idea with one of my undergrad professors who is a father of two lovely toddlers.
Some questions, insights and opportunities popped up during our talk. Here are some of them:
Is it the toddler or the parents who is responsible for this appetite problem?
Is it possible to help parents to understand their toddlers regarding their eating aspirations?
Toddlers are intelligent, they learn quick and they get bored quick.
How might we design an enjoyable and interactive eating experience for toddlers?
Having drawn several ideas, I came up with these ones: soup-sensitive spoon with “light” or “music” feedback.. An interactive toy that communicates with the spoon, in order to show that its stomach is getting full as the toddler eats..
These ideas are in a grey zone for me and I am afraid of receiving unexpected reactions from the user. Because the user usually behaves in a highly unexpected way.
Here are some technical questions that makes me confuse:
Is capacitive sensor is sensitive to baby food?
Since I will probably be using electrical stuff in the product, would it be suitable toddlers? (regarding the safety)
How could it be possible to wash the spoon without harming the circuit?
How does a capacitive sensor works actually?
Do I need an Arduino board for this idea or is the capacitive sensor that doesn’t require any board suitable for this project?
Ever have a problem in public where you can see a guy checking you out but he is on his phone and cant seem to break away to talk to you?
Why not end the conversation yourself rather than walk away, or wait like a desperately awkward person.
This signal jammer is a hackable bag or pant pocket that uses a simple piece of conductive metal ring on one’s finger (this can be made by HWNY and cherished) to complete a circuit between two studs on the bag or clothing to turn on the arduino to power the phone signal jammer in a discreet manner without alerting attention to ones illegal activities. The Bag is women and the pant is for men. But these gender roles can be easily swapped.
For this project I will be looking at 2 cultural lifestyles to promote and investigate the concept of awareness. The artifact will be a leather bag that will activate a set of bicycle lights, by using a chain bicycle lock.
I am looking at two types of bags and mixing the cultures for function and style
I have also identified two audiences. First is the daily fashionable commuter and the second is the messenger biker.
I will aslo provide customization of the bike lock similar to this already existing bike lock. I will do this by having an open source pattern tutorial.
I want to design for Transitions, which are based on these design principles.
Promotes ease of dynamic activities
Speaks similar language to core activity
Actively Informs the user of its function and properties
Potential bike lights
Further exploration of connection is needed, however the goal is to create a smart which that would be activate the lights by locking the chain lock to the bag.
I am really interested in doing something for kids. Although I almost sealed on the idea of safety device for women, the idea for designing something for kids is holding my interest more.
From one of my previous project, I have been really interested in how kids create space and environment with their imagination. Under the desks, inside cartons, surrounding with pillows, etc.
I want to create something for this space which celebrates their imagination, encourages story making and telling, stimulation for crafting own fun activities etc. I can either build a simple tent shape with wood, or work with an existing one like this below –
I will update with a more concrete interaction soon. Open to suggestions and teaming up!
My final project will be a transforming chandelier that hangs on the wall. My original idea was to have a form changing chandelier hanging from the ceiling with 3-dimensional form, but because of technical difficulties and my limitations on the skills I have right now, I wanted to figure out 2-d structure first so I can take it further later on for it to be 3-d.
My goal is to have at least 3 shapes available for transformation, which will be controlled with wireless remote like what Richard Clarkson is doing with his Cloud, using Xbee module. Remote will have 3 different settings for the 3 shapes, and one “auto” button for the chandelier to constantly change the form automatically. I did some drawings in illustrator for an example of how the form might change:
Moving parts = motors + gears, so I’ll be looking into some references online.
Aesthetically, the chandelier will have traditional forms, possibly showing some mechanical parts as well. I’m having a hard time figuring out the moving system in 2d right now, so I’ll be building models in cad to get some basic idea of how it should work.
The chandelier will be targeted to customers that like to show off their home to the guests that they invite and amuse them with their cool objects that decorate their environment. I want the chandelier to look like it would be sold at a luxury lighting design company, which will help me to decide what kind of material I’ll be using for the final model and how the structure is built.
The cigarette case | indicator is a sleek and modern solution to the flattening of cigarettes in transit, as well as notifies the user when only one cigarette is left via a diffused, white led. By sliding the front casing upwards, the next cigarette in queue is then lifted from the storage chamber for easy access. The case holds up to eight cigarettes.
For my final project I want to revise my waiterlite coaster.
The initial concept was designed to alert wait staff when patrons need help getting a bartender’s attention during high traffic times such as happy hour. I would like to revise and build on this concept.
The challenge I face with my current sketch and prototype is that my FSR sensor only works for specific type of glasses. This is because my current sketch is design to recognize the weight a single type of cup. Each time a new cup is placed on the sensor I have to reset the sensor to recognize new thresholds for each new glass.
My next steps will include calibrating an FSR sensor to automatically recognize when a glass is full or empty. I will attempt to revise my arduino code using motor limits to automatically recognize the upper and lower thresholds that a glass will exert of the coaster.
I also would like learn how to use the CNC machine so that I can cut out a nice coaster made out of wood. Ideally the coaster will be designed to house and conceal the flora board and the battery pack in single form factor.
Next Steps:
Target Audience
Although the concept is designed to help bartenders to quickly recognize when users need a new drink, they are not the true target audience. The real challenge is to identify a bar that is not able to meet consumer demand during volume. Three places I am considering are places with
For my final project, I want to expand upon some of the sculptural pieces that I have made in the past by introducing a kinetic element. Here’s an example of a piece that I completed before school, wouldn’t it be even cooler if it had secret moving components?!?!
By designing a piece that has kinetic functions, I will have to consider the form as both visual and physical. I plan to use a combination of found objects and materials, as well as fabricated ones.
The sculpture will encompass one or more hidden switches that only reveal themselves once the user begins to participate with the object.
One idea that I had was a secret compartment that holds small balls, or confetti that releases the goodies into a vessel below once the circuit has been completed. I believe that I can achieve this using a solenoid which is an electromagnet that can be pushed and pulled in opposite directions, effectively opening and closing the trap door.
Here’s a piece of interactive design by designer Ben Light… check ‘n chew. The user has to check into a specific restaurant using Foursquare in order to get a gumball!
The creative label Laikingland has some amazing examples of kinetic sculpture. Take a look and get inspired!
I will also try to incorporate some movement that does not involve power or a micro-controller to invite the user to begin exploring the piece. Here’s an example of some kientic movement using wind. It’s a video I shot in Iceland of a mountain peak on the side of a building created by using thousands of paillettes. The video’s not great quality, but the music sort of makes up for it.
Also… just came across this awesome scale by fumiko schaub, this example is not so much about secret switches, but I love the interaction and exploratory element about it- the moving parts and supporting components.
For my final project I have been playing with the idea of designing a BlueTooth speaker system for cel-phones. I have been thinking of doing a project like this for a while now and with the skills I’ve been learning in class it finally seems like I will be able to actually make this concept real!
The idea is to design an open source speaker system that can be housed in different forms, giving the user the freedom to chose what this speaker actually looks like. For my model I will design and build the form of my speaker, however I want the set of instructions to be clear and simple enough to allow someone else to build and make their own out of whatever they want.
The speaker will work using BlueTooth to receive the signal from the phone, and I want the user to interact with it with tapping or sliding motions by using touch sensors.
The size of the design itself will be determined by the electronics that need to fit in it, however I want it to be small enough to be able to be moved around easily.
