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.
Showing posts with label Blood Pressure Monitor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blood Pressure Monitor. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Knolled Object | Blood Pressure Monitor | Albert Lui

I knolled an oldschool blood pressure monitor that I bought for 10$ at Value Village. I actually gained a deeper appreciation for this kind of tinkering exercise because I learned a lot from it. Simply from taking it apart, I learned about what the different components probably do and how they relate to each other.

For inputs, I have switches, buttons, and I guess also my pulse creating variations in the air pressure going into the device.
 

For outputs, I have the digital LCD screen and the little record printer.

I basically pieced together this thing like an information puzzle. 12 must have been the device that pumps air into the cuff because it's connected to it via air tubes/hoses. The cuff tube is also connected to 9, which must be the component that somehow measures my heart rate/blood pressure by detecting air pressure. I also figured that the printer is run by a single motor which dispenses the paper (must be a special kind of paper that gets marked when heated like receipts because I found no ink whatsoever- I actually verified this by running the tip of a hot glue gun against it).

Knolled object diagram.

Connections diagram.