Leena Al Sallakh Design

Coding for A3 - IR The coding for A3 is quite fustrating. I'm not sure what I'm doing is correct and since its infared its hard to see what's working or not. Without the serial monitor, I would not be able to tell if it works. (The code I have been working on for this post was from https://www.dfrobot.com/blog-648.html (project 14)) Which is a good thing I guess, as it would tick the subtle box, with nothing showing... As you can see in the video below, the demonstration by itself only shows me clicking the remote but there is no visual que/output that can be seen/ That is until you look at the monitor on the computer where you can see that something is happening on an invisible line. Below are also some pictures of my simple set up. I sadly coudn't get the LED to work with this code.

   DNH603 Recommended Reading  The next reading to be is  1. Interaction Design - brief intro  by Jonas Löwgren ( https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/book/the-encyclopedia-of-human-computer-interaction-2nd-ed/interaction-design-brief-intro ). Notes from Webpage; interaction - equivalent of ID but in software, the needs and desires to give lasting satisfaction and enjoyment it began to ultilize asethetic qualities of use to shape digital things for usage...for people - this idea brings a new meaning to modifying/making modifcations or improving already existing design. I find that as I continue wokring on my A3 product that I'm not creating something new but creating an attachment to improve whats already there through both product and digital things its about transformation, change - using user studies to find the opportunities and design for possible futures... the problems - are we can find the opportunities and hence design for a solution, this can ...

 A3 Prototype Using disposable straws, felt materials and some sticky tape, I tried to recreate a demo of what my prototype may look like. For the monitoring device, I am looking at created some sort of pouch that protects the catheter bag as well as attaches itself around the leg. The straws act as the the tubing for the catheter bag, that you would be able to attach to the catheter that is secured in the pouch.   I plan to have the electrical/arduino components on the side, as side panelling...that will hook up to the battery pack..while I ideally would like it to be a wireless, it won't be for the prototypes to show how it works....The monitoring device will be linked to an arm band that show the notifications etc in a subtle way.

Design directions for my product has finally simplfied to where I am happy with. I have a more solid position thatn I did before. I actually feel confident in this direction. So from the images below, I have started to focus on the monitoring device in more detail. I have very briefly mentioned in this in one of my crappy drawings but never focused on it as I felt it was too simple for this project and scope etc. But basically, the monitoring device is for people with spinal cord injuries to keep track of their colostomy/catheter bag and to notify them when it gets 3/4 full etc. It's a device that monitors the fluids going in using 3 IR receivers and 3 IR LEDs (senders) where I plan to code it so that if the link between the two receivers is blocked for more than 10 seconds than it means its a constant and not a spontantous block, like would happen when fluid etc first enters the bag. These notifcations, (excuse the crappy band and hand, literally drew it 2 secs) would be displayed...

Trying to visualise what my product would look like, the form is would follow and how the practical functions would be in use is quite difficult. Through talking to collegues, I was directed to the Juicero, a failure of a product that cose $400. If you haven't heard it, the juciero presented an expensive way to squeeze juice out of a bag. An extremely expensice. I think this quote from the periodical article, 'Silicon Valley’s $400 Juicer May Be Feeling the Squeeze' by Ellen Huet and Olivia Zaleski on the 19 April 2017; "...after the product hit the market, some investors were surprised to discover a much cheaper alternative: You can squeeze the Juicero bags with your bare hands." Anyway, while the product was ultimately crap, the form and asethetic look of it wasn't. I feel inspired by looking at its shape and can actually see how you may use this Juicero to drain a catheter or colostomy bag...you place it inside instead of the juice, and you can empty it in ...

SERVO OR NO? The below video is my attempt at trying to figure out how I could potentially use the servo in my assessment. My aim is to try and use the servo to maybe twist or rotate my device that I attach to the bathroom, the toilet? My concept is at its very early stages and is quite hard to narrow down. I feel I might need more than one servo or look at the use of other sensors, such as a water pump, a gear motor that was suggested to me last week. I find its quite hard to figure out the sensors that will be needed in order for my concept to progress.

In preparation for the A3 interactive product, my design team met up to discuss our initial concepts that are part of our focus area; preventing injuries. I chose the initial concept 3, but thought I should look back as I fear it may be to complex for me. My initial concepts focused on the bathroom and some on the kitchen.  My first initial concept aims to prevent burn injuries in the bathroom, especially when having a shower or path, and not being able to feel the temperature etc. The second initial concept was for reachability in the kitchen. A device that pushes spices or something in the cupboard to the forefront. (Though it could go too far and be the cause of injuries instead of preventing it) The third initial concept is for the bathroom, involving the Catheter bag and the colostomy bag. I've been looking at how to recreate the experience and prevent infections etc. The fourth initial concept is quick one, trying to help maintain hair...something that helps put the hair up. ...

The more I work on my chosen initial concept the more complex it becomes as I find myself trying to design for everything, the whole experience of going to the bathroom. It's becoming more and more difficult to try and factor in the Arduino side of things, to figure out the sensors needed and how I would code the mechanics of the product. From talking to some of my colleagues and my Tutors, I have more of a direction in terms of how I would build it, so to speak. The images below are my crappie (apparently architectural) sketches as I try and figure out how I will simplify my idea and go about manufacturing and coding it. By the end of the session today, the one thing I really took away from today, was that I have a lot to do…I probably, no I definitely, bit off more than I can chew…

Feedback, attention and status From a previous class we were taught what the above mentioned are in relation to our arduinos. Feedback – objects immediate reaction to input Attention – object communicating with the user that there has been a state change Status – output that indicates the object current status They can be many different things, it just depends on what your inputs and outputs are and the interactions. The same experiences could be created using Arduino components, haptic motors, buzzers and LED’s Status is passive, attention is active When something goes wrong you might draw the users attention to something (hence active etc) Daily stack challenge using Arduino e.g. https://vimeo.com/29710376 Attention, the blinking light and display screen blocks Each block has weight, colour differentiates between each other How can you lead through the interaction in the simplest way? Knock knock project (simple calculator) https://vimeo.com/60773296 Getting...