Module 1 Activity Research

Weekly Activity Template

Emily Revell

Project 1

Module 1

In this module, we explored physical computing concepts through a series of interactive activities. Each activity enhanced my understanding of how to integrate both hardware and software to later apply on either a design based or art based prototype project (Arduino, ProtoPie, Touchdesigner).

Activity 1: Arduino & Wiring

The first activity image shows the Arduino wired up to a breadboard where we used a simple C++ code to make an LED blink on and off. In this image we used two male to male wires to connect the Arduino through its pins to the breadboard.

In this next image we added a resistor to the circuit to keep the current in the circuit lower/consistent to protect the LED from burning out and to make it last longer.

In this image we added an additional LED to the circuit and edited the code to have them both blink on and off at the same time.

In this image we added a button to the circuit and edited the code (BUTTON_PIN 7) to have the LEDs turn on and off when the button is pressed.

This video shows the two LEDs blinking on and off before we added the button to the circuit. Additionally, changing the digitalWrite value to have one HIGH and the other LOW makes it so when one LED is on the other is off.

Activity 2: ProtoPie Connect

Before we connected the Arduino to ProtoPie we inspected the serial monitor to see the data being sent from the Arduino sensors. In this video the values are changing as we turn the knob or put our finger closer to the sensor.

When we would blow on the sensor both the temperature and humidity would rapidly increase. Alternatively, when we put our finger on the snesor the temperature and humidity would increase steadily but not as rapidly.

In this activity we learned about ProtoPie connect and how we can connect our cellular device to simulate the app's experience while recieving the Arduino sensor data.

To ensure that the Arduino data would be recieved in ProtoPie we had to ensure that the correct port and baud rate were selected on Arduino IDE. Additionally, to ensure that the changes in the serial monitor were reflected in ProtoPie we had to upload and verifty the code before proceeding.

Once everthing was porperly connected you could see the Arduino sensor data in real time on the ProtoPie app. We could also change the temperature and humidiy vaules by physically interacting with the sensor while also using the dial to change the desired tempurature value for the living room.

Activity 3: Touchdesigner

To ensure that the Arduino is sending sensor data to Touchdesigner we must inspect that the serial monitor is closed as serial data can only be sent to one device at a time.

Although our Arduino serial monitor was showing an error the data being shown was still correct and would match the potentiometer dial turning.

In this video you can see that when the potentiometer dial is turned the correct data is updated.

Utilizing the TOP tab if we select the Ramp component we can create a gradient for our sphere by adjusting the colours in the parameter window.

This video shows the final result of the Touchdesigner activity where the sphere changes size based on the data being sent from the Arduin Uno (turn of the potentiometer dial).

Research Activity

WGSN Consumer Trend Research

During this section of the research activity we explored two WGSN articles that focused on future consumer trends and how they might shape the type of physical computing project we would want to pursue. The two catagories we found the most interesting out of all the articles were the positive effects of play and the utlization of CareBots in the medical field.

This image shows the two main consumer trends my group and I found the most interesting from two separate WGSN articles.

This is a picture of some of the important statistics and segments from our first article that discussed consumer tech trend ideas of 2027.

This is a picture of important statistics and information segments from our secdond article that discussed tech priorities of an againg population.

WGSN Personas Research

During this section of the research activity we knew that we were interested in working on something within healthcare. Thus, we chose two out of the four personas that best matched who our end users might be.

This image shows the two persona's we chose to focus on for our project.

The energizers want to focus on their wellbeing and manage their stress through community between friends and family. They are open minded and want to interact with a product that reflects positivity and fun (image taken from WGSN article).

The privacy keepers want to foucs on simplicity and their digital safety. They are reserved and want to interact with a product that reflects security and trustworthiness (image taken from WGSN article).

HMI Research

During this section of the research activity we identified the problems found in each of our trends as well as brainstormed how we might come up with a solution. This section really helped finalize the theme of our project and the direction our prototypes could go in.

These are strategies taken from the WGSN article that discuss ways to best help the energizers which in turn helped us formulate our HMI statements.

These are strategies taken from the WGSN article that discuss ways to best help the privacy keepers which in turn helped us formulate our HMI statements.

Project Path

During this section of the research activity we divided the two different categories into two different paths. Firstly, the category of play would focus on more of an artistic path as it can help the user expresss themselves more while connecting with others. Alternatively, the category of medical care would take a more design focused path as the product would have to meet the needs of the end user. In the end, Lucy, Nicole, and I all agreed that we wanted to pursue the design path as we wanted to create something that would be useful to an end user while also further deveoloping our prototyping skills.

This image was taken from the WGSN article and shows a carebot that can both monitor vital signs and remind the user to take their medication. This product is a great example of a possible direction our project could go in as we also thought about a healthcare companion.

This image was taken from the WGSN article and shows a senior friendly communication device that allows the user to easily connect with their loved ones in one tap. This product is also a great example of a possible direction our project could go in as it focuses on weblleing and connection.

Project 1 Concept

During this project I worked with both Lucy and Nicole to brainstorm and develop a few initial concepts for our project. We each agreed that we liked the idea of the design path as we want further deveolop our design skills in ProtoPie as well as meet the needs of an end user. In general, we wanted to create a product related to the health care field as we found in our research that the poplation is aging and is also more invested in play. Thus, the two concepts we came up with was a bear companion that can read vital signs and a more approachable health kiosk. The bear companion would utilize senors to retrieve vitals and have an app developed in ProtoPie that would let the user read their viatals as well as be alterted if something was wrong. The health kiosk would have a focus of designing more approachable and accessible UI to make it less intimidating for users to interact with.

Left: This is the bear companion concept Right: This is the health kiosk where the UX UI would be the focus of the design.