Month: October 2020

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IM Devices – Distant Bodies

Project done by: Emma, Wei Lin, Natalie, Wan Hui

Our work for the Final Semester Project is called [untitled]. This project aims to convey sensations beyond the visual of telematic tools, and to bring awareness to distant bodies.

Our work is two identical bedrooms that will each be set up in separate museums across the world. In each bedroom, there will be two slippers.  Participants will be invited to wear one of the pairs, whilst the other will always remain unused. Data from the slippers participants are walking around with will be transmitted to the unused slippers in the other bedroom across the world. The unused slipper is fully autonomous, and will receive the data sent to recreate the steps taken by the participant in the other room.

 

[ still in progress]

CONCEPT

  • Shoes to symbolize both absence and presence of another person
  • Bedroom is an intimate setting
  • Feel comforted by the hint of another persons presence, or be creeped out by their presence despite them being absent
  • Distant body without visuals

 

OTHER POSSIBILITIES

  • Projection mapping ?
  • Room location – living room?

 

HARDWARE

  • Motors
  • Wheels
  • Arduino Uno
  • Wifi Shield

SOFTWARE

  • Arduino IDE
  • Adafruit IO

 

SETUP

PROBLEMS

 

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IM DoW #2 – Ramifire

My IOT device of the week is the Ramifire Smart extinguisher and the Heart, the 5G navigation mask. I chose two because they are both simple devices that can  both be used in case of a fire, however, they use IOT in different ways. 

The Ramifire is a smart home fire extinguisher. It features a sleek but ergonomic design meant for intuitive use. Ramifire uses IOT by pairing wirelessly to smart phones for a few functions.  Firstly, each extinguisher comes with their own QR code that can be scanned with the accompanying phone app to track data of the particular extinguisher. Data like pressure and guarantee period/ expiry date is available via the app. Ramifire also comes with an in-built fire detector. When it detects fire, or when the extinguisher is expired,  alarms will be automatically sent to the house-owners phone for notification via wifi.

ramifire_cover

ramifire_20

Images from: The Intelligent Extinguisher 

 

The second IOT device is Heart, a 5G navigation fire mask. Unlike Ramifire that uses wifi to alert home owners in times of fire, Heart uses 5G network to guide users to safety. Upon pulling a mask out of its housing, it will automatically connect to the internet and obtain building data about the location of the fire. When the mask is worn to your face, the other end will function as a projector, emitting a flashing light that not only lights up the ground ahead of you, but also projects the direction and distance you should walk towards. The smart mask will direct you to the nearest exit.

Images from:  Futuristic mask uses 5G to guide you to nearest exit! 

 

The pros of the Ramifire are that it is a straight forward device that makes use of simple IOT. The system is easy for home owners to connect to. It also helps users track factors like expiry dates which are important for fire extinguishes but often neglected. The design of the device itself is sleek and ergonomic, unlike traditional fire extinguishes which are bulky and

I find that for the 5G mask, it is smart to tap onto the 5G network so that the mask can function as a GPS to help give directions during times when people would be the most disoriented. Additionally, I think that it is very effective to combine a mask and torchlight as well as a GPS into a single device. By blending so many functions into one, this shows that the designers have a clear understanding of their target audience and context of use, and what is needed during that time.

As for cons, I feel that the Ramifire does have some setbacks. Because the fire detection sensor is inbuilt into the Ramifire, if the fire does not start in the same room as it, then it would take some time before the device detects the fire and notifies the user. It might be too late then. I think that the Ramifire could develop on its IOT system, perhaps like pairing the fire extinguisher up with a ceiling smoke detection system or sprinkler system.

For the 5G mask, it shares a similar problem with the Ramifire. Both devices are hooked onto the buildings/house network to get information on the internet. But what if the buildings physical network system gets compromised, then the internet would be down. I’m not very sure how network connections function but maybe a harder but more reliable solution would be to connect to the internet outside of the buildings? Like perhaps a satellite connection?

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IM DoW #3 – Sense 5 Walking Stick

My device of the week for senses is the Sense Five walking stick. 

The stick’s angled design allows its user to instinctively hold it the right way. The handle is held horizontally, and the stick naturally leans forward, allowing the user to tap their surroundings as they navigate through spaces. A camera on the front actively captures images, recognizing objects and obstacles, while a simple switch allows you to toggle a torch to use the stick at night. When the camera identifies something worth alerting the user about, it communicates with the user through the handle.

The integrated ultrasonic sensor detects ­obstacles within a distance of 5 meters and is specially designed for waist-high obstacles that cannot be detected with conventional canes. It also recognizes fast-moving objects such as cars that normally pose a danger to visually impaired people. The environment information is processed in real-time and passed on to the user as surface changes to the handle. Using different rhythms and intensities, a differentiated and pleasant ­communication is possible, which uses the ­human sense of touch and thus frees the ­remaining senses.

The pros of Sense Five are not only its main functions but also its thoughtful details. For example, the Sense Five indicates the battery level by surface change. If the battery level is low, the user can simply charge while on the move with power banks, or via public power outlets. At home, it is charged on a wall mount which also functions as a recognizable and easily accessible location. Additionally, the Sense Five doesn’t just aid its owner. It can help communicate the user’s presence to others around them with its front torchlight and red taillight, making the user more obvious in low-light settings.

As for main functions, I thought that it was really interesting that the camera on the walking stick is smart and able to recognize objects. This adds so much more value to the function of the walking stick by making it a smart device. Now, blind users can truly depend on the walking stick as their eyes, instead of simply being an extension of their arms like the traditional walking sticks. Additionally, I think that another pros is the haptic touch of the walking stick. The use of haptic touch reminds me of our multi-modal sketch. Hence, I think that a pro of the Sense Five is that it is un-intrusive.

I think one of the cons of this device is that it relies heavily on only touch to inform the user.  I think that the walking stick can detect quite few things and different scenarios, but the fixed design of the handle does not allow for much change in the haptic feedback. Things like intensity and rhythm can  signal different meanings, but the difference might be too subtle or noninstinctive for certain users such as children or the elderly. I think this walking stick has the potential to be developed further, and become an IOT device. Perhaps it could be connected to something like an earpiece or a headset that could tell the user additional information to complement the haptic touch. However, their choice of tactile response is good because audio feedback could be missed in noisy environment. I think that the stick could also be connected to a GPS, so that it can also give the user directions on where to go.

Image source: This smart walking-stick uses real-time image-recognition to help the visually impaired ‘see’