Reflection

In these intensive four weeks, I repeated going forward and looking back. I felt that it was a tough course for me. But now, I feel the time flies very fast, especially after I acquire new skills and knowledge as well as experiences. I always desire more time to complete and develop my project.

From Exercise Reminder to WEMOVE attachment, my idea changed a few times. But the main core is still sharing daily data during the whole process. The idea came from my friends who don’t have much time to do exercise. In addition, there are so many people have not moved enough in this world. So I decided to make something to help them have motivation to do sport or exercise.

At first, we had some lectures about the things connected home to expend the definition of HOME. I learned the different ways of thinking by discussion with classmates and tutors, watching videos of examples, making scenarios and so on. I realized that the problem usually is more important so we suppose to focus more on problem rather than concerning on solution immediately. During the period when I was looking for better problem for project I was impacted by my friends who gave me significant inspirations. That helped me to set up vivid scenario to think about the story – how does it work. But usually when I have got strong ideas abruptly like brain storm they will be not well-organized. So the next step would be making them in order and finding the core of the concept since sometimes it is easy to make concept too complicated.

Another major part of this course is technology – Arduino. I regard the technology as a tool to support the concept. Because sometimes the function can just be achieved by some small and simple parts like Arduino. I cannot deny what Arduino is very useful for product design. And it is helpful for beginners. We can operate some basic parts on Arduino only in one week. However, when we want to approach some goals which need particular effect then it will be challenge to us. For example, I need some kind of sensor to track the balance for my product. So I was thinking the devices in mobile phone. But considering the time limitation, I used tilt switches in stead, which was much easier to obtain.

We share the videos and codes on Github while learning from each other. We also bothered Ali a lot to learn how to connect wires and other parts on Arduino board. Sharing and learning with classmates is an efficient and healthy way to achieve our purpose. It was awesome to study with interactive surrounding. It is also one of the places where inspiration come from.

In addition, as designer I should have the eyes which are good at observing details. The theme of the project is Connected Home thus every detail and data can be the resource of the whole project.

THIRD WEEK CHALLENGE

For this week I kept developing ideas. On Tuesday, I had Skype tutorial with Jon, he expended my thoughts. My idea was social dumbbells which encourage people do exercise together. But exercise can be different style, not just using dumbbells or other gym equipment, like doing housework, cycling, cooking and so on. So the exercise can be regarded as some movements which are possible to be low strength or high strength for people in different ages.

Sharing the movements with others is positive and interesting interaction for the members who have some distance from each other. I also talked with the friends who are into sports and activities. Most of them told me that they prefer to do sport with friends. And they are also curious about what activities are their friends doing.

That would be fun to know what movements your family members and friends are doing, even can be your pet like cat and dog. So I was thinking about sharing daily activities by visualizing behaviors. There were a few methods to visualize movements after my research. One of them is the function on the phone which tells the horizontal angle with moving circle.

However, considering about time wise, I chose tilt switches connected Arduino boards. But for sensitivity, I would like to find out better devices to support the concept in the future. Each LED lights will be connected with one tilt switch, then it works as the application on smart phone basically. It is designed as an portable attachment which can be attached on our body or animal’s or the products we are using. It is also available to carry in pocket to everywhere. The holders could be linked through internet so that people can monitor their partner’s activities. The product is possible to be in different use, for elderly and children, we can check safety; for pets, we can see how crazy they can be at home; for friends, it decrease their psychological distance.

I enjoyed the process when I develop my ideas. I can see how does my concept grow from the first one. And the story help me to think the problem and solution. I created various scenarios in different locations like home, park, office as well as with people in different positions or ages. The same product might occur different effects so it is playful to see people use it in different ways. Additionally, I expect my product to bring people together – Light Orchestra.

For the repetitive movements, it seems to make its own rhythm like drumming. I use the LED lights to present the behaviors. If members work at the same time, the light will blink simultaneously. After that, users can workout together to create their own light performance. I would like to say it is a movement game.

Next week, I should focus more on prototype to explain my concept. Material, structure, shape need to be concerned.

SECOND WEEK CHALLENGE

After intense Arduino study last week, this week we focus more on our ideas. I developed my idea of digital coaster at first but it is not understandable idea because of the difference between Chinese and British culture. So I was looking for better problem afterwards. Occasionally, I had new idea after meeting with friends. They inspired me. The idea is about social exercise. My friends don’t have much time to go to gym because of heavy desk-work. So usually they are not able to go to bed until late night. Therefore, their back and shoulders are quite stiff. At the same time, they are getting more fat since they spend most of time on chair. And another reason of lack of exercise is laziness. It is difficult to have motivation to do some sports if they are alone.

 

However, we stretch a bit together and try to do yoga or indoor sports together when we gathered at someone’s flat. This scenario enlightened me to make product for friends to enjoy doing exercise. After that, I found that one of factors of doing sports with more passion is working out in group. Group exercise can happen among family members or friends with nice interaction for fitness.

Working out with friends is better than exercising alone, researchers say. A study of 1,000 women found that 64 per cent of those who run, go to the gym or attend group exercise classes with chums will push themselves harder than if they went alone. Those who exercise together train for longer, burn more calories and go to the gym more often.

The target suppose to be the people don’t do much exercise or work a lot at desk. For them, I searched some light indoor exercise online which can relax their muscle. Twisting waist on spin chair is suitable for them because it is easy and not strenuous.

My original idea was that the lamp will be turned off on time (10:30p.m) to tell you to take a break potentially, then the LED light will be on to invite you to join to do exercise together when the members start twisting their waists. But this is a little complicated as a product design. I should focus on one aspect instead of linking many different things. Sometimes it is easier to make concept not strong enough or too complex when I have many thoughts of possible function. After the advice from Fraser and Martin, I amended my idea, which focus on the method of encouraging members to do exercise together(at the same time).

I started looking at the portable equipment – dumbbell.

The main merits of dumbbell:

1. Portable, doesn’t need much space
2. Balance body and muscle
3. Safer
4. Good for shoulders, back
5. The place doesn’t matter

The current idea is Digital Dumbbell.

The dumbbells are connected, so the lights of dumbbells will be aromatically on when people start doing exercise. It invites your friends or the people you are linked to do exercise together. More people join more lights blink.

For next week, I would like to figure out the technology part to support my concept.