Module 3 Activity Research

Weekly Activity Template

Emily Revell

Project 3

Module 3

In this module we continued the testing and development of our health monitoring companion prototype. Similar to the second project we kept our physical prototype team and our technical team the same. In Abby and I's case we continued to test all our sensors first by troubleshooting the optical pulse sensor and then exploring two different temperature sensors. Lastly, we also tried to get our Arduino IDE code to connect with our ProtoPie prototype to simulate data readings of our app.

Workshop 1: Bodystorming

In this workshop we practiced bodystorming, which is a way to ideate a prototype by acting out specific scenarios. A great example we were shown in class was how the founders of McDonald's optimized their kitchen workflow by acting out the process of making and serving their food.

For our bodystorming activity we were given the prompt to streamline the experience of finding a specific resource in a large library. Additionally the prompt mentions that the patron could possibly be simulating a dissabilitty like vision impairment or limited mobility.

Our first scenario we had our patron have limited hearing which made communication more difficult between the librarian.

Our second scenario we had our patron have limited visibility which made navigating through the library more challenging.

This is an image of some of the notes we were jotting down on how we could make a library and its wayfinding more accessible to those who may have a dissability.

Workshop 2: How to Solder

In this workshop we learned how to properly solder as well as how to set up your work area.

To ensure a steady work area while soldering it is important to utilize the helping hand tool to hold your components in place.

Ensure that all wires are not tangled before soldering to avoid any acidents. Additionally, make sure that the ventilation tube is close by your project to avoid inhaling any harmful fumes.

Once the soldering iron is properly heated up, you can solder your components together by touching the tip of the iron to the wire for around seven seconds. Then apply the liquid solder to your connection point and wait until cooled.

The final product was a successfully soldered led light circuit that lit up when powered on.

Activity 1: Troubleshooting the Opitcal Pulse Sensor

During project 2 we were unable to get our pulse sensor to work properly so in this activity we wanted to troubleshoot it further. Although we did wire it through the sensor kit shield we also tried wiring it directly to the Arduino and the results were the same.

During peer feedback Abby and I were informed that another group was successfull in getting their pulse sensor to work by getting help from Gunes. We first tried to reconfigure the code to match theird but were still given incorrect values.

Next, we borrowed another group's pulse sensor to finally get a definitive answer on whether our sensor was faulty or if there was a different issue all together.

We were very careful when using the other group's pulse sensor as through our research wwe learned that the sensor could be damaged by the sweat and oils from our skin.

Finally, after uploading the code and wiring the borrowed sensor we were able to get correct pulse readings which confirmed that our original sensor was faulty. Unfortunately, due to time constraints ordering another pulse sensor would not be feasible so we decided to focus on temperature sensors for the remainder of the project.

Activity 2: DHT20 Temperature and Humidity Sensor

During peer feedback Abby and I were informed by another group of a different temperature sensor that may be easier to hide within our prototpe. This was the DHT20 temperature and humidity sensor.

We connected it to our Arduino and uploaded the code we had found and edited previously. It was working but the readings were not accurate to body temperature and although we were physically holding it the values still would not fluctuate much.

Just to be certain we also rewired the sensor to be attached to a small breadboard to ensure that there were no loose connections. Unfortunately the readings still remained the same and would not come close to a person's core body temperature.

We then tried to add a resistor between the data and power pins as suggested in some videos we had watched online. However, this also did not improve the accuracy of our temperature readings.

This is an up close image of our DHT20 sensor wired to the breadboard with the additional 4.7k ohm resistor between the data and power pins.

Activity 3: DS18B20 Probe Temperature Sensor

After troubleshooting with ChatGPT we found out that all the other sensors we were testing were not designed to read core body temperature. They were more suited for reading ambient environmental temperature, so it was reading much lower than expected. Thus, ChatGPT suggested two types of sensors the DS18B20 probe sensor for contact temperature readings and an infrared temperature (would need line of sight).

In the end we decided to try the DS18B20 probe sensor as it was more applicable to our prototype. Initially, this sensor was producing similar readings to the other temeperature sensors we had tried. We then quickly came to find out are code was specifically made for the Grove temperature sensor and would not work properly. Once we changed the code we were finally given accurate body temperature readings.

One of our tests to ensure it was reading different temperatures was to dip the probe into a cup of cold water to see how drastically the readings would change.

After that we tried something more extreme by dipping the probe into snow outside to see if it could read very low temperatures.

This is an image of the readings on the serial monitor from our snow test. The temperature reading almost dropped to 0 degrees Celcius which furhter confirmed that our sensor was working correctly.

Activity 4: ProtoPie development

Before the end of our project we wanted to try to connect our Arduino code with our ProtoPie prototype to simulate real data readings on our app. Thus, we first asked ChatGPT how we could modify our Arduino code to send serial data to ProtoPie.

This is an image of the explanation ChatGPT gave on how to send serial data from Arduino to ProtoPie using the Serial.print function.

This is an image of our sensor readings on the Arduino IDE software.

This is an image of our sensor readings being sent to ProtoPie connect via the Arduino plugin.

Unfortunately, despite trying to follow the instructions due to time constraints and lack of experinece with ProtoPie variebles and receive triggers we were unable to get the data to display on our ProtoPie prototype. This is an image of our midfidelity wireframes inside of Protopie studio.

Project 2

Project 3 Final Prototype: Miffy the Health Companion

This was the final version of our prototype that we could complete within the time frame. Although we could not implement all our ideas we were able to successfully read body temperature using a temperature probe sensor and display the reading on the serial monitor. Additionally, we created the wireframes to simulate how our accompanying health app would look even though we could not get the Arduino code to connect with our ProtoPie prototpye. To interact with Miffy simply hold onto her arm that has the red band so the sensor can begin to measure your body temperature and display it on the serial monitor. Finally, if we were to further develop this prototype we would experiment with different types of animals (of similar size), further develop our health app, and upgrade our hobby sensors to medical grade sensors for more accurate readings.

This is an image of the final version of our prototype that we could complete within the time frame of the project. This is Miffy our health monitoring companion that utilizes a temperature probe sensor to read body temperature and worn caregivers of any changes in temperature (like a fever).