History of Graphic Design: Reflection – Lecture 1

 

Sumerian Pictograph Tablet

I was interested in the idea of communication through different era as it was very interesting and well crafted over many centuries and how words are being transformed into letters. In the prehistoric times, they will leave a trace of memory or documentation, through engraves and paint on the wall or crafts on pottery. After the Homo sapiens become more civilised they started using symbols, anagrams to communicate.

I learnt that the Sumerian language was created in ancient Mesopotamia and it was the earliest written language. The Sumerians used to engrave pictographs and symbols to represent the trades goods and livestock. The early Sumerian pictograph tablet was constructed by the grid work, and symbols of seeds, plants, tools and other information.

 

 

At first, they use clay tokens to create the symbols but later on evolve to make symbols instead. Symbols develop into the writing system.  

The early direction of writing was from top to bottom but soon after the direction could be read from left to right in horizontal rows. At the same time, the symbols of text reduce too.

The Sumerian language uses the cuneiform that has a ‘wedge-shaped’. it has an appearance of the strokes, which were made by pressing a reed stylus into the clay.

I felt that it was an impressive start of communication with engraves on the tablets. Without the method of “writing” on the clay pieces, the Egyptians and Phoenician would have never evolved their way of writing and to develops further.

https://www.omniglot.com/writing/sumerian.htm

http://www.ancientscripts.com/sumerian.html

Reflection on Role Playing as a Research Technique

Briefly share your experience going through Dialogue in the Dark. What were some of the feelings, thoughts, challenges and insights gained while role-playing a blind person?

I have been to Dialogue in the Dark, four years ago with my fellow Polytechnic CCA committee members. At first, I was a little scared of what I would experience again, as my previous experience was not a pleasant one. However, when I was going through the role-playing on Wednesday, I felt very insecure being the last to enter again. Unexpectedly, when I entered it felt familiar, It didn’t feel cold but warm. I realised that my classmates were far more worried and scared than me as it was their first experience. They were calling for help. The professional that helped us through the experience was very warm and passionate about her teaching. Later on, I was able to calm myself down inside because of the gentle pleasant sound of birds and the water. 

The main challenge was to focus on our sense of touch and hearing as our sight has to be kept in our pockets. In the experience, we were told to touch a sculpture above us. It was a challenge for me as I would have to tiptoe and reach for it. I was calling for help, my classmates came to the rescue, held my hand and pull my hands towards the sculpture. Another challenge was, I could not differentiate the cursive writing on the wall, as I could not imagine the words as the letters were all connected in a line. At first, I felt that my sense of touch was good but toward the last part of the journey, I could not tell the cursive letters until now.

Some insights gains were being in the shoes of a blind individual, I felt that finding and reaching things from below is an obstacle that blind people face regularly. It has been a case to look at. As a blind individual, it was a challenge for them to learn to adapt to the environment since young. Not only that, they only rely on their sense of touch, sound and smell to get them home or to specific areas. Also, a Blind individual is not able to differentiate different colours. They have to bring someone along to inform them about the colours when they are shopping. Therefore, after listening to the professional during the heart to heart talk session, I learned to further appreciate our senses and not take it for granted.

 

Drawing on your experience, can you think and list some of the benefits inherent in the design research techniques of role-playing?

Role-playing is stimulation that helps to draw out information to have a better user experience. Through the experience, I held the responsibility to finish the journey in the dark because it makes me feel involved being in the shoes of a blind individual. During the process, it draws out design technique and cares with a deeper understanding of the social issues in Singapore as compared to just researching online. Hence, the process lets us use all our senses to create and raise awareness to the public. 

 

Can you think of some contexts where role-playing can be useful to help discover and definition of design challenges or contribute to the development of design solutions?

Role-playing is like a stimulation that relates to real-world scenarios. With it, it could help design process and development to create a better user experience for all. In Role-playing, designers can take on roles and make mistakes in order to build an understanding in different situations. At the same time, a designer could develop critical thinking skills to come up with an effective solution for users too. For example, participating in the dialogue in the dark, there are challenges faced that help to create a better understanding of the situation through different senses such as touch and listening. Through the sense of touch, we could create pop-out printed marketing collateral with creation similar to the tactile paving to cater to the blind individuals so that they will understand and aware of the information on the poster. Not only that, but Designers can also create an innovative interaction whereby sound, smells and pop out are used in one interaction. Hence, it can help the blind or visually impact the individual.

 

Task 1A: Exploratory Research

What are some of the current issues confronting our world today? Amongst them ,what is of interest and a cause of concern to you? 
Possible issues that are confronting our world today.
  • Sedentary Lifestyle
  • Assumption of food intake

  • Sleep Deprived
  • Fear of Missing Out

Firstly, Singaporeans predominantly lead a sedentary lifestyle as things are getting more accessible with technology. The Singapore Strait Times has done a research and it shows that  a total of 12 percent has health problems. Hence, it is important to encourage them to start moving or it will lead to future health problems.

Links

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health-risk-for-singapore-teens-they-are-not-active-enough-study

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/better-health-one-step-at-a-time

 

Secondly, with the social media on the rise, people are more inclined to go to aesthetically pleasing places to eat. This act compromised people to do their own check on quality. These food are usually colourful. According to Claire Mc Carthy and Harry Hong from Harvard health Blog and Natural Medicine Journal, they argued that chemical was used to conserve food ingredients and beauty products. These chemicals could in turn be harmful to humans in the long run. Hence, changes has to be made to avoid the over-consumption of such chemicals in our food.

Links

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/common-food-additives-and-chemicals-harmful-to-children-2018072414326

https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2016-04/modern-industrial-foods-and-their-effects-human-body

 

Thirdly, Singapore is the 3rd most sleep deprived nation globally based on a research done by NUS Health Centre. Over 80% of Singaporeans are getting less than 8 hours of sleep when we should be getting at least 9 hours of sleep. Most said that it is due to hefty job demands. Sleep deprivation causes not only health risks. It impairs a person’s judgement which could eventually affect his/her well-being. This would in-turn lower productivity rate of employees. This causes employees to be stuck in this vicious cycle. Therefore, a solution should be forthcoming on resolving it. 

Links

http://www.nus.edu.sg/uhc/resources/articles/details/sleep-deprivation

https://www.businessinsider.sg/almost-half-of-singaporeans-arent-getting-enough-sleep-and-a-shocking-number-still-sleep-with-their-chou-chou/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/how-many-hours-of-sleep-are-enough/faq-20057898

 

Lastly, teens are constantly having a “FOMO” addiction which is the fear of missing out. Teens are not able to leave their phone for a short period of time because they felt that staying connected is not to miss out on something that is exciting. John M. Grohol from Psych Central argued that the FOMO addiction causes many to check on their phone while driving. He said that “ the Connection is more important than their lives”. Hence it is an issue that has to be improved.

Links

https://psychcentral.com/blog/fomo-addiction-the-fear-of-missing-out/

https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/news/news-articles/2018/06/fear-of-missing-out-driving-social-media-addiction,-study-suggests

 

In conclusion, there are many issues that are confronting the world. However, due to the growth of trends, I felt that the issues of teens and adults are constantly having “the fear of missing out” is serious as it can cause problems to their mental and physical health.

Why is the issue important ? Who does it affect and how? 

Teens who are suffering from being “FOMO” mainly owns a social media account. Many are not aware that they are feeling “FOMO” as it is is socially accepted. In 2016, Sheknows.com had a unique workshop which includes 6 teens who felt similar. One boy mentioned that when he saw his friends out together, he somehow felt sad and lonely. Surprisingly, the other teen said that she too felt “sad and left out” when she saw her friends on social media. With the incessant worrying about what their peers are doing, it causes teens to keep up with their appearances instead of their self identity.

Eventually, teens who are “FOMO” suffer from low self esteem which makes them susceptive towards mental issues like depression. Based on a research done by Ashford University, teens are constantly “updating” and combing through social media as they would like to be “better” than their peers and it provides them with the false impression of being connected. This has already been a safety hazard. In 2017, more than 3000 lives are lost as drivers are distracted by their phones while driving. 

Links

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/viral-text-saying-anyone-on-phone-while-engine-is-running-will-lose-licence-on-the-spot-is

https://www.ashford.edu/online-degrees/student-lifestyle/fomo-social-media-addiction-or-mental-illness

https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/06/health/teens-on-social-media-like-and-fomo-anxiety-digital/index.html

https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-fomo-impacts-teens-and-young-adults-4174625

Who do you need to communicate to, and why? 

I would like to raise awareness and encourage the public to motivate one another towards finding the Joy Of Missing Out  “JOMO”. The target audience is specific age group both female and male from age 13 to 20 year old. My project will be targeting secondary schools, institute of technical education and polytechnic and university student as this group are more susceptible towards being “FOMO”.

I want to create deliverables that are portable and user-friendly. The deliverables will be stored in a machine. It will be an interactive installation. This machine (e.g. ATM, Vending machine, washing machine) is designed in a way that will pique student body interest. This begins its journey of becoming every student “go to/ must use” item on their social media checklist. in student populated areas e.g. canteen makes it accessible to the target audience. This machine will stores the deliverables and with a press of a button, the deliverable will drop out of the machine. A deliverable could be a phone case which quotes hypothetical questions or includes designs that allow the receiver to be aware that they are “FOMO”. As the receiver realise that they are “FOMO” they would be more self conscious and learn ways to cope to be “JOMO”.

 Links

https://time.com/4358140/overcome-fomo/

How has visual communication contributed the address          the cause? 

https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/anti-brexit-posters-060616

This Poster is design by Jon Burgerman

Title – Open Source Anti-Brexit Poster

  • The combination of the warm and cool brings a pop up effect that could attract the viewers attention
  • The poster has a colour contrast between the top (colourful) and the bottom (grey)
  • The font depicts an example of a roof that is balancing a heavy load (everyone in the poster)
  • Looking at the poster, I felt like I was in the grey character shoes  ( at the bottom of the poster), It makes me feel like a load weighing over me ( Many characters was gathered at the top). It depicts that we do not like to be missed out of social events
  • The handwritten font is uncommon in most posters which is something that will grab their attention as it is not what they usually see. Furthermore, I felt that it would entice my clients more as it is being handwritten, it would feel more personal to them as they glance through it. As if others who had been in their shoes written it 

https://www.prweek.com/article/1426001/o2-unveils-blue-rabbit-mascot-live-experiences-campaign

This campaign is design by The Mill

Title – O2’s recent campaign, featuring the blue rabbit

At the start of the campaign, it shows a blue rabbit, I was curious at first when I heard the voice over saying “ will you follow the rabbit? ”. 

  • When the rabbit started running, I felt like transforming into a rabbit and see where the rabbit lead me to 
  • After watching the video, it made me want to participate in the campaign because I was very curious what would I encounter if I follow the rabbit. It makes me trust the rabbit as it is very convincing. Therefore, I felt that designing hypothetical questions/ situations on the installation will spark similar effect on my target audience
  • Designing one mascot helps to focus on the message being transferred to the targeted audience which causes a greater impact

http://www.alinachong.com/the-ultimate-fomo

This campaign is design by Alina Chong

Title – The Ultimate “FOMO”

  • The campaign has an impactful story that shows the consequences of “being FOMO” while driving
  • At the bottom of the poster, there is a caption “ texting while driving kills” with the combination of graphic that shows a comparison between different scenarios showing life and death
  • The colour usage in a poster is bright and fresh (left side showing AFTER PARTY) but the other half of the poster shows a dull colour (right side showing NOT THE AFTERLIFE). It employs the effect of how a bright and dark colour scheme. On the right side of the poster, which is brighter, it shows how fun and happy at the AFTER PARTY whereas on the left side of the poster, which is darker, it shows how you could be suffering and upset as you were texting while driving. I felt that employing such an idea into my deliverables would make things clearer and easier for my target audience to understand the message I would like to deliver about the dangers of        being “FOMO”
  • The fonts are big and clear with thick outlines which brings a strong idea that gave me the impression that it is an important message. I would like to include such fonts into my poster as I felt that it is necessary to raise an awareness of what “FOMO” is and ways to cope with it as it is an urgent issue with the upcoming millennials.  
  • The designer uses Snapchat as an interactive platform to show a “texting while driving kills” filter at the same time to remind that do not use Snapchat while driving 

Final Project: Watch where you are going

Name of Final Project: Watch where you are going

The topic of choice: (Provocative/Protest Object)

About :

The project is to raise awareness on how often many Pedestrians uses their phone while walking along the streets with no focus and unaware of the surrounding. Researcher claim that people do not multitask for example texting and walking at the same time.

It causes many impacts on safety to themselves and people around them. Their actions cause them being a hazard to everyone. Therefore, we are creating this provocative object for the user to try on and feel the shoes of these people. At the same time by letting them feel the guilt of their actions.

There will be vibration on the back of the hat and a LED light surrounding the top of the hat. The vibration motor is to make the participants uncomfortable at the same time act as a self-reminder. The LED light is to attract the attention of the surrounding to see the message on the hat. So that everyone will be aware of where they are going.

Research : 

2008 & 2012 News 

In 2008, there was an increase of injured victim seek medical attention at the emergency room from texting their phone while walking. More than 1000 people were injured every year.

A researcher from New York’s Stony Brook University has shown that in 2012, people that texted while walking were likely to have a sudden change of direction from the non-texter. They will have a higher chance of causing an accident.

A scientist would say that it is an “inattentional blindness” saying that the human brain could only be able to focus on one task at the time. Therefore, while texting on the phone will not be able to give you a full focus on both tasks.

Pedestrian are guilty of using the phone while walking but many still continue doing it. There are many cases of people straining their leg while walking. They either walked into the drain or pothole that causes the injury.

2015 news – a survey was done by students

Most of the people who answered the survey had at least one accident, caused by using their phone while walking

E.g. tripped, fell, honked by car, close-call mishaps, car accident, etc

84% acknowledged that it is dangerous to be distracted while walking, but 93% admitted that they still fiddle with their phones anyways – knows the dangers but still does it anyways

Why should we care?

–  Distracted walking is most common among millennials aged 18 & 34

– Accidents among digitally distracted walkers

– Peripheral vision can drop to 10 per cent of normal peripheral vision when a person is texting or talking on the phone while walking

– The number of accidents caused by distracted walking is on the rise

Process ( Sketches & Test ):

Step 1: Do the coding and test it with a Led light and after that, we will replace the Led light with a vibrating motor.

Step 2: Test the tilt sensor

The tilt sensor is very unpredictable as sometimes it will be too sensitive or it does not work. After a while, I realised that I can feel the ball rolling up and down inside the tilt sensor and it determines the sensitiveness part.

Step 3: We have to solder the Tilt sensor. As it has many difficulties to connect it with the crocodile wire.

Buy the Led strip and solder it so that it can be plucked into the breadboard.

We did many tests after plucking in the Led strip and vibrating motor.

Step 4: Once, our code is confirmed, we will change the colour of the Led to green or red. Towards the traffic colour. 

We will have to try on the testing of using the Fast LED to achieve the light that we want.

Serena Looking good with our second final colour. We thought of using blue but in the end, we went back to the traffic colour.

The wire is very messy and untidy.

It was our final Arrangement of the coding and the different parts.

Step 5: Tested out different sewing method to the words.

Step 6: We will buy a suitable hat and redesign it. The final hat will be a bucket hat as previously it was a normal cap. The bucket hat is much more stable than the cap.

This was an inner layer of the hat before it was covered with a black cloth.

Lastly, we will cover all the wire with black duct tape and fishing line so that when the participant wears it. It will not scare them away. The cleaning up of the wire is very important as it determines whether the participants will dare to wear it.

We will try to hide all the wires away and it will look like it is hung to the fanny pack.

Final:

Green LED colour

Red LED colour

Final Picture

In this picture, It shows the participant holding the phone and her head is tilted down. The LED will flash and vibration motor will vibrate.

In this picture, It shows the participant lifting her head up. Without looking at the phone.

How does the user experience the object:

We are trying to create a situation of how the main participant would be unaware of his / her surrounding and too engrossed using their mobile devices, and how the people around the surroundings would feel. Our group provocative object is a hat. This hat will be wear on top of the participant’s head. There will be instructions and questions on a phone chat for the participants to read and type while walking. The chat will give a sense of the participants texting other people. The rest of the people will act as the pedestrian walking on the street. The crowd marshal will be the one putting the hat on top of the participants. He/she being the crowd marshal will wear the vast to show a more realistic scene.

Setting:

Set up hazard and chairs like a scene of an outside road. Where there is construction going on.

Material used:

– Tilt Sensor

– Vibrating Coin Motor, LED Light Strip

– Breadboard

– Power Bank

– Thread & Needle

– Jumper wires

– Resistor 

– Hat & Fanny pack

– Cloth (Black)

– Black and Red duct tape

– Needles 

– Threads

– Orange & Red Embroidery threads

Code :

The coding was very challenging as previously, we wanted to add the photocell in to prevent the output to sound off. However, Due to the difficulties level and figuring out. Serena told us that we shall do a performing art and the Crowd Marshal will put on the hat for the participants.

Instructions :

Step 1: Pedestrians will separate into 2 groups

Step 2: Each group will be located to the left and right side of the pathway

Step3: The participant will have to step forward and receive the object on the head from the Crowd Marshal

Step4: The participants will be given a phone with instruction in it

_The pedestrian started walking from both side

Step 5: Participant has to walk from one end to the other, along the pathway

Step 6: Participant is supposed to type before reaching the end of the pathway. They can stop or type while walking.

Step 7: When the participant tilts the head down, LED light will flash and the vibration motor inside the hat will vibrate to give an uncomfortable feeling.

Step 8: Surrounding pedestrians will notice the participants and observe her.

Tester 1 

Tester 2

Tester 3

Tester 1 & 2 have a similar view after testing the hat. It was not uncomfortable for them but comfortable instead. It was a rare sight as most of my previous tester during the process said it was uncomfortable especially it was placed behind the head. Tester 1 mention that she was distracted and did not know what is the purpose of the phone given to her. But tester 2 & 3  was able to concentrate while typing while walking as were told to.

Not only that, tester 3 felt very uncomfortable when the vibrating motor start vibrating. She purposely lifted her head up while and trying to concentrate typing on the phone.

Comments:

Improvement:

I felt that performing art can be better. It will be good that there will be a serious announcement being played over again and again during the performing art. Also, at the placement of the hazard tapes. It can be arranged in a zig Zac direction and some actors as a stationary obstacle at some point of the pathway. These will increase the level of difficulties and awareness of the surrounding. The experience will be much more challenging.

Lastly, I felt that it will be good if it was experiment and test on random people that do not know anything about the project.

Before the presentation, sherry and I tested out on some of the random people from a different class. They were quite shocked and some of them say that it was uncomfortable. I concluded that each individual has a different perspective on things. Hence, not everyone will feel as uncomfortable or comfortable.

Reflection:

For these past weeks, it had gone by pretty fast, as we super occupied with figuring out how to make our object better. Coding was very challenging to me and sherry. We had so many tests to finally get the final circuit to work.

Overall, It was quite an eye-opening experience and enjoyable as we learn many new things along the way. From this project, I can understand that performing art can enhance the object. I was very unfamiliar with performing art but with Serena guidance, I was able to learn many things from her. It will be a benefit for applying all these skills to my future project.

 

Reference :

Distracted Walking a Major Pedestrian Safety Concern

https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/using-mobile-phones-while-walking-is-dangerous-but-people-continue-doing-so

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/using-your-phone-as-you-walk-may-get-you-in-an-accident

https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/taxi-hits-woman-using-phone-while-crossing-road

Provocative Object – Project Development Body storming

 

 

 

 

 

Comments written by peer:

What did you learn from the process?

Feriga:

I have learned that throughout the body storming process, it is very difficult to show the actual performance on how the object works. Human error will occur during the presentation. At that point in time, the whole interaction is to tell the tester to walk as per normal while looking at his/her phone. However, the presentation of the human vibrating motor and LED was not presented very clearly at specific timing as it was too fast. Hence, I felt that having the actual product and parts installed will let the tester has a better experience. Not only that, the feedback given to us was useful to make the experience even better before going into real interaction.  From there, I have learned a lot from my peers through their feedback and knowing how different response will make a difference.

Sherry:

Through the process of body-storming, we were able to learn about the possible reactions of participants in our project, and as well as the other perspectives and interpretations through the feedback of our peers. I felt that it was rather difficult to make the participants feel about our project without physically experiencing or seeing the actuators at work. Such as personally feeling the vibrations of the vibrating motor at the back of the head, being absolutely engrossed ( in a possibly time-based task ) with the phone, and the people around witnessing the cap of the person who is walking in front or nearby being abruptly being lit-up by LEDs. I felt that the impact and response might have been different as it was rather difficult to convey it verbally. I also learnt that it is important for instructions to be clear, albeit subtly in our designs and placement of our objects as we would not be able to have a piece of paper explaining the instructions later on.

What surprised you while going through the process?

Feriga:

I was surprised by the comments that my peers commented. At first, they interpret wrongly, but after we explain our project they understand better. One of them commented to us that it will be good to have the sound of a “horn”  whenever the user look down as it brings a bigger impact. At the same time, it instills the feeling of shame and uncomfortableness. So that the user and the surrounding will be aware. Not only that, one of them point out that the design of the cap is also very important. Hence, I felt that the feedback was really helpful as it takes a lot of consideration to comment and let me and sherry know.

Sherry:

I thought that it would still probably be difficult to understand our project after our explanations, but our peers were able to understand our intentions. I was also surprised by the different interpretations of our project, which were also relatable to our objectives, such as instilling a sense of shame.

How can your apply what you have discovered to the designing of your installation?

Feriga:

I have discovered that the design of the cap is very important to let the people surrounding the user to be aware of.  Word and sentence such as “ I’m not paying attention ” or “ Don’t be a Hazard ” will directly inform them on what is happening. Also, we need to think about how the light aims to alert the user or just the surrounding and how we link to how our message is brought forward. From the experiment, Sherry and I step up and further improve on our initial idea.

Sherry:

It is important to imply the instructions for the participant subtly through our design, the form, and the placements of our objects and elements. We should also take the unawareness of the surrounding of the user and our message to another level – through more provocative methods such as mocking messages on the cap, which can be a form of an indirect protest or jab at not (only) the user, but the others who are guilty.

 

Micro-Project 4: Disobedient Objects

CONCEPT

We were inspired by how siblings would often “borrow” our belongings without permission, and it is especially annoying when they take our shoes. Hence, we wanted to create a hacked shoe that annoys the users whenever they wear it without our permission. The shoe will start to vibrate, and it would not stop until they remove it.

OBJECTIVE

To prank and as well as to deter siblings from taking our shoes without permission.

INITIAL IDEAS & SKETCHES:

 

 

SHORTLISTED IDEAS:

 

  • IDEA 1 – DELAYED REACTION

 

A portable, hacked shoe that starts to vibrate and give off sounds after an extended period of time. When a person wears the shoe, the shoe does not immediately gives a reaction. Only after wearing it for an extended period of time, most probably when the person had already gone out and was far away from home, that it starts to vibrate and give off sounds. The delay aims to annoy the wearer for using it without permission, and it would be too late for them to return home to change the shoes.

However, we decided to change our idea as it was rather impossible to make the shoe portable without it looking dubious –  we initially thought that there was a way to hide all the parts within the shoe, but we were unable to.

 

  • IDEA 2 – IMMEDIATE REACTION

 

A hacked shoe that annoys the user whenever they take a single step. Decided to forego this idea as we were unable to make the shoe portable.

 

  • IDEA 3 – IMMEDIATE REACTION

 

A hacked shoe that starts to vibrate when a person wears the shoe. As we usually slip our feet into our sneakers without really checking, the user would probably have a little unexpected scare.

 

PROCESS

 

We decided to go with Idea 3, as we could not really make the shoe portable.

Below are the few test shots we had done.

Sensors & Actuators used

  • Photocell – to detect the change of light within the shoe
  • Vibrating Motor – continuous vibrations resemble the annoying leg cramps

 

The vibrating motor was mummified underneath the insole.

Our initial hacked object. We felt that the tapes and wires made it look too dubious, hence we adjusted the tapes and hid the wires and devices inside a shoebox.

We decided to put another insole to hide the tapes and made sure that the tapes which are firmly attaching the photocell and wires underneath the flap would not be accidentally moved or scraped off by the feet.

The Arduino, portable charger, breadboard, and wires hidden within the box.

 Reactions

3 of the participants step forward to try out our hacked object.

 

Final Hacked Object

 

 

 

REFLECTION

How does your hacked object behaves in a way you least expect it to?

 

  • FERIGA CHONG

 

Our hacked object behaves very differently during the final check of the whole system. After all our wires were shouldered and connected to Arduino,  the vibration motor started vibrating right away. The vibration did not stop until the wire was unplucked. It did not work as we expected. We wanted the vibration motor to vibrate when lights are covered (Lights are covered when the user places the feet into the shoe). Hence, we have to rewire everything again.

 

  • SHERRY

 

On one occasion, the shoe started to vibrate even before a user places her feet into the shoe, as her body covered the light source. Furthermore, the hacked object behaves differently in different environments, when the amount of light differs, which affects the strength of the vibration and as well as the shoe starting to vibrate too early, or not even vibrating.

 

What are some reactions you observed from your participants when they interacted with the object?

  • FERIGA CHONG

It was a success that all of our participants automatically walk towards the object and places their feet into the shoe. We realised that when their feet were inside,  they were shocked and it followed by a smile. One of them say that it is comfortable but in the long run, it will annoy their leg. One of our participants told us that before her feet were placed into the shoe, she could feel that vibration. A situation like this may occur when the photocell was covered when the feet were the angle at 45 degrees. It serves our purpose of the project, whereby it is to annoy and prevent them from wearing it. The hacked object was successful.

 

  • SHERRY

 

We made sure that the opening of the shoe was large, the top flap was secured properly, and the shoelaces were tied as we wanted our participants to walk forward and place one of their feet into the shoe. And indeed, people automatically come forward and put their feet into the shoe. People who interacted with the object had different expressions and reactions, such as giggles, gasping, and commenting on how comfortable it is but starts to get annoying after a certain period of time. People who were not involved in the project had larger reactions, with loud gasps and expressions of shock.  

 

What are the challenges involved and how did you overcome them? What problems still exist? How might you overcome them eventually?

  • FERIGA CHONG

At first, our initial idea was to have a delay in our vibration motor, the purpose is to let the participant leave the house after wearing the shoe and the vibration will happen soon after. It will annoy them throughout the day as it will vibrate when they are far from home. It teaches them a lesson never again to wear the owner shoe in the future. Our idea change again during the process, as we discovered that why not have the vibration motor work whenever the participant wears it. It will stop and annoy them right away. The effect will be faster.

 

We faced quite a number of the challenges involved in the coding and the wiring. It was not easy to combine it together when we did not learn the coding using parts such as the vibration motor. We search up online and found some information but all of it uses many different parts that we do not have. So, we decided to try and test the coding that has been taught in class and change it to start the vibration motor. Many experiments were tested and we finally got control of the photocell and the vibration motor. However, the vibration motor broke on us. We have to get it again. Not only that, we found out from Serena that the wiring was very fragile and it may break easily again. So in order to solve it, we tape a layer around the edge of the wire and many layers around the placement go the vibration motor on the sole. During the day before, we occurred an error system but we came down together and rewired everything and changes were made on the code and it works successfully without fail.

 

Lastly, I felt that the only problem that still exists is to make it portable for the participant to wear it easily without letting them know there are wires everywhere. A suggestion was made to use a smaller Arduino Board to improve its technical parts in the future.

  • SHERRY LECK

We were unable to go with our initial idea to create a hacked shoe that only starts to be disobedient and annoys the user when they have left the house for quite some time as we were unable to make the object portable without it looking dubious. Hence, we decided to go for the immediate reaction idea, whereby the object would be placed at a certain area, without it needing to be moved or portable. However, the wires would still make the user suspicious and be aware that something would happen, hence we decided to place the shoe next to a shoebox to hide all the items within it, and specifically chose a Converse shoe as there were two holes at the side of the shoes, which allows the wires to come out of the shoes without looking overly obvious.

 

Our disobedient object required lots of wires, with a sensor and actuator to be hidden within the shoe, which was quite challenging to fit inside the shoe nicely without causing uncomfortability and suspicion. However, we managed to secure the wires nicely along the sides of the shoes and made use of the empty spaces created by curves and grooves of our feet; placing the photocell underneath the flap of the shoe, wires at the sides of the shoes where our feet curved in, and the coin vibrating motor directly underneath the arch of our feet.

 

We also faced quite a number of technical problems, such as getting the coding to work and as well as connecting the coin vibrating motor. The vibrating motor required code which is different from what we have learned and many tutorials online had different codes and used various different items along with it to get it to work. We took quite a while to figure out how to make it work without all the various items used in the tutorials, and it was difficult to know if the object is not working due to an error in our coding, or the wiring, or was it just because the vibrating motor was not connected properly as the wires of the vibrating motor was extremely thin and fragile. However, we managed to overcome the problems of the wires thanks to Serena and Wenlei, and as well as practically fusing the motor with the insole of the shoe using tapes.

 

 

Done by, Sherry & Feriga.