As computing becomes more ubiquitous in our objects, designers need to be more aware of how to design meaningful interactions into electronically enhanced objects. At the University of Washington, a class of junior Interaction Design majors is exploring this question. These pages chronicle their efforts.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Week 4: Researching Parts - Inness and Neil R

After deciding to pursue our idea of the audio transmitting pitcher, we generated a variety of sensors and actuators we could use. In going through the essential functions of our concepts, we ordered these parts in order of most essential to least essential.

Microphone / Speaker/ Transmitter / Receiver: The combination of a microphone, a speaker, and wireless transmission is the most difficult and most essential aspect to our idea.

- Buy small and inexpensive microphones and speakers

- Utilize microphones/speakers from used electronics

- Find microphones and speakers that are already part of a wireless transmission objects, such as walkie-talkies or a wireless microphone system

-Buy transmitters and receivers

-Utilize slightly more advanced digital wireless connective devices, like an Xbee

MakerShed Speakers

Electret Microphone / Breakout Board

WaveShield

XBee Wireless / XBee Shield

RF Link Kit / RF Tutorial

Tilt Activation: The tilt activation of the microphone is the next most important, but could be replaced with an easier trigger if need be.

- Buy a simple tilt sensor to utilize

- If tilt sensors prove too complicated, a motion or accelerometer sensor may be used

Tilt Sensor / Tilt Sensor 4-way

Directional Sensor: The next part would be the directional sensor that chooses from which microphone the user is receiving audio. We could simplify this to one microphone and bypass this idea.

- Use a directional/compass sensor that can give out 360-degree feedback

- Use a Wii nunchuck 3-axis accelerometer to determine 360-degree orientation

2-Axis Accelerometer

Liquid level: The liquid level acting as a shutoff for the pitcher would be nice, but wouldn’t add value unless all the above parts are working.

- Some kind of weight sensor that could determine how much liquid is in the pitcher

- A liquid level sensor

Liquid Level Sensor

LED lights: Finally, additional LEDs for feedback and aesthetic flourishes would offer a nice final idea to explore, but would be something to think about when the bulk of the pitcher is completed.

- LEDs would be easy to get, in simple or complex forms.

- LEDs would also be easy to find in used electronics

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