Module 1 Activity Research

Weekly Activity Template

Livia Kurti - Physical Computing: Input Data

Project 1

Module 1

Learning about Arduino chips, how to code, and how to use LEDs and wires with them, later expanding that knowledge with the Arduino sensory kit and integrating it with ProtoPie, and then with Touch Design.

Activity 1

I wanted to include this. It might not seem like much, but it was the first code I ever completed successfully on the Arduino chip. I didn’t even realize that the Arduino has a small built-in LED that can light up. I added this because, at first, I didn’t think you could connect an LED directly to the Arduino. That’s when I started noticing how completely different Makey Makey and Arduino are, and how much more potential Arduino has shown. Going beyond using the Arduino and breadboard for small prototyping, such as lighting up an LED. As we made more progress, coding and building became more challenging. In this case, my button didn’t work at first because I hadn’t realized that the button’s metal sheets had a small gap between them. I went a little crazy checking the image and code to see what I had missed it was the first time I got stuck during an in-class activity. I did a little experiment, and I was surprised it actually worked! I used just one wire, so the board detected it as a single LED, even though there were actually two. That could be interesting if I want to make something with multiple LEDs without needing a million wires for each one.

Activity 2

Introduction to Arduino sensory kit and applying previous coding experience. Learned to write basic code to read temperature and humidity, and modify the data using a turning dial Learned how to transfer data to ProtoPie and explored how to harness the sensory kit’s potential such as for high-fidelity prototyping, like creating a home sensor that can monitor light and temperature I was surprised that MakeyMakey could connect be connected to ProtoPie as well, though I had issues with my tablet and couldn’t fully try it out. It still showed interesting potential for how MakeyMakey could be used. Tested the prototype Steve made with ProtoPie and Arduino, which senses which wire (left/right) is being touched or held

Activity 3

Used the Arduino sensory kit from last week, this time, we transferred the data to Touch Design via the Arduino IDE. After fixing errors, we started from sketch to build the interactive code in Touch Design. Then, we rebuilt the example, though Touch Design still feels complex to me with all the filters and settings. I found this part interesting because of the small animation created with the data when turning the dial on Arduino. I then changed its colour, which created a delayed ripple-like effect whenever a circle shrank or expanded, making me wonder if interactive art could be created in Touch Design.

Research Activity

WGSN Consumer Trend Research

After looking through many home tech articles, I came across these two. Even though they are a year old, they are still emerging and address issues that are happening now.

<b>Summarize the category in 1-2 sentences</b><p>AI toys are transforming play into personalized, educational experiences that foster creativity, problem-solving, and curiosity. They adapt to each child’s interests, blending digital interaction with real-life engagement</p><b>What makes this category unique? Give an example of a product.</b><p>This category is unique because it transforms AI from purely digital interfaces into physical, interactive companions that engage with users in real time. AI toys like AIBI Pocket act as personal, adaptive friends, learning users’ habits and providing intuitive, conversational experiences. Unlike traditional toys or apps, they offer both companionship and personalized learning, making them especially valuable for younger generations who may experience social isolation.</p><b>What’s the most important research statistic listed and how has this data affected your choice?</b><p>I found in the article that the global smart toys market is projected to reach $35.5 billion by 2030. This statistic highlights the significant growth potential of AI toys and supports the choice to focus on this category, showing that there is strong demand for adaptive, technology-driven learning and play experiences, particularly among Gen Alpha.</p> <b>Summarize the category in 1-2 sentences</b><p>3D printing in construction can make housing more affordable and sustainable, letting companies build faster, create complex designs, and make homes stronger while producing less waste and emissions. Exploring prototypes with biomaterials now can help prepare for wider adoption as costs go down</p><b>What makes this category unique? Give an example of a product.</b><p>It’s unique because it combines speed, affordability, design flexibility, and sustainability in construction, allowing homes to be built faster, with less waste, and in ways traditional methods can’t achieve. For example, Portuguese start-up Havelar designed an affordable home that can be built in just 18 hours using a special 3D printer, while using biomaterials to reduce emissions and create resilient structures that can withstand harsh weather or fit into tight urban spaces. </p><b>What’s the most important research statistic listed and how has this data affected your choice?</b><p>The most important research statistic is that 1.6 billion people worldwide lack access to adequate housing, a number expected to exceed 2 billion by 2030. This highlights the urgent global need for affordable housing and directly supports the choice to focus on 3D printing as a construction method. By lowering material and labour costs, 3D printing can help meet this growing demand, enabling faster, more sustainable, and cost-effective building solutions.</p> test2Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit test2Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit

WGSN Personas Research

As mentioned in class, WGSN provides a very detailed view of emerging future users, even those who are just beginning to show themselves.

<b>Persona Name</b><p>The Energisers</p><b>Summarize the Persona in 1-2 sentences</b><p>Energisers harness play, curiosity, and positive social interactions to navigate stress and cultivate wellbeing, embracing creativity, imagination, and community as essential parts of daily life.</p><b>Describe the Generational Impacts</b><p>Main generation that are impacted are Alphas, Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers</p><b>Name the most point of data from each of the following sectons: Behaviours, Buying Priorites, Actons</b><p>The Energisers view play not as frivolous but as essential to learning life skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity. Finding small moments of joy helps them maintain balance, reduce stress, and strengthen social connections with family and community. They value creativity, curiosity, and mindfulness, seeking experiences that spark delight and foster a sense of belonging. They are drawn to playful, inclusive, and emotionally uplifting designs that encourage exploration and unite people across generations. Brands can appeal to these needs by cultivating joy through engaging, imaginative, and community-driven experiences that empower users and promote wellbeing.</p> <b>Persona Name</b><p>The Conventionalists</p><b>Summarize the Persona in 1-2 sentences</b><p>Conventionalists favor intentional living, balancing technology with offline connections and mindful practices. They value creativity, resourcefulness, and purposeful experiences, striving to engage in socially responsible and meaningful ways.</p><b>Describe the Generational Impacts</b><p>Main generation that are impacted are Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X</p><b>Name the most point of data from each of the following sectons: Behaviours, Buying Priorites, Actons</b><p>The Conventionalists more mindful and selective with their use of technology, seeking a balanced and purposeful relationship with it rather than constant connection. They prioritize high-quality, durable materials and nostalgic, comforting designs that feel authentic and long-lasting rather than overly digital. They also favor physical and tangible experiences aided by technology, embrace simplicity, and aim to rebalance convenience with meaning by choosing tech that supports real-life engagement.</p> test2Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit test2Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit

HMI Research

It was interesting to see things from another perspective, as it showed how these trends can lead to problems and how they can be addressed.

<b>Identify two problem Spaces for each of your Tech Trends</b><p>AI-powered toys often collect personal data from users, which can be uploaded to cloud servers. This raises privacy concerns, as sensitive information may be accidentally recorded, stored, or misused.</p><b>Write two HMI/HMW statements in response to the two tech trends you've selected</b><p>How Might We protect sensitive user data while maintaining AI toy functionality?</p><b>consider: 1. Is it based on an existing problem or insight? 2. Does it track a desired outcome? 3. Is it writen positvely? 4. Is it broad enough to ensure many creatve ideas? 5. Does it suggest a soluton?</b><p>1, Yes, studies show that digital products often track user behaviour, and AI toys are no exception, creating potential risks for sensitive information. 2, Yes, it targets the outcome of protecting user data while maintaining the toy’s functionality. 3, Yes, by phrasing it as designing safe AI toys, it encourages solutions instead of emphasizing potential problems. 4, Yes, it doesn’t specify how to protect privacy, leaving room for solutions like encryption, local storage 5 Not directly, but it hints at solutions around safe data handling and privacy protection</p> <b>Identify two problem Spaces for each of your Tech Trends</b><p>While 3D printing is effective for small-scale housing and low-rise buildings, current technology struggles to support large-scale structures like skyscrapers. This limits its potential for high-density urban development and large commercial projects such as apartment buildings.</p><b>Write two HMI/HMW statements in response to the two tech trends you've selected</b><p>How Might We make 3D-printed homes faster and more scalable to meet growing housing demands?</p><b>consider: 1. Is it based on an existing problem or insight? 2. Does it track a desired outcome? 3. Is it writen positvely? 4. Is it broad enough to ensure many creatve ideas? 5. Does it suggest a soluton?</b><p>1, Yes, global statistics show over 1.6 billion people lack housing, highlighting a clear need for new construction solutions. 2 Yes, the desired outcome is to use 3D printing to create affordable, fast housing solutions. 3Yes, it frames 3D printing as a potential solution rather than emphasizing the problem of housing shortages 4 Yes, designers can explore many creative ways to speed up construction, reduce costs, or optimize urban spaces. 5 Partially it hints at 3D printing as a solution, but doesn’t specify how it should be applied</p> test2Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit test2Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit

Project Path

After looking through WGSN, I explored other sources and found two project examples that piqued my interest for my project idea.

<b>Are you more interested in following an ART or DESIGN Path? Explain why for each.</b> <p>I am more interested in following a Design path rather than an Art path. While I appreciate art, I don’t feel confident in expressing ideas through traditional art or in mixing art with technical tools effectively. </p><b>Are you more interested in working INDIVIDUALLY or COLLABORATIVELY? Explain why for each.</b><p>I am more interested in working collaboratively rather than individually. While working alone allows for complete control over a project, I find that it can become overwhelming to handle everything by myself and it limits the perspective to just my own. </p><b>Describe two possible project direc ons based on your WGSN, Persona, and HMI research as well as the Path you are interested in following.</b><p>I am interested in exploring Art path that combines sensory interaction with 3D-printed objects. Specifically, I am drawn to creating objects that respond to environmental stimulation, such as light. For example, I could design flower-like structures that open or close depending on the intensity or direction of light, creating a dynamic and reactive experience.</p><p>IMG source: https://www.designboom.com/design/interactive-installation-glowscape-emits-warm-array-light-3d-printed-shell-12-25-2022/</p> <b>Are you more interested in following an ART or DESIGN Path? Explain why for each.</b> <p>I am more interested in following a Design path because I enjoy creating solutions that are focused on the end user. I like the process of understanding user needs and making something that is not only visually appealing but also functional and meaningful for the people who will interact with it.</p><b>Are you more interested in working INDIVIDUALLY or COLLABORATIVELY? Explain why for each.</b><p>I am more interested in working collaboratively. In real life, projects like this are usually done in groups, so I want to gain more experience working as part of a team. So far, most of our projects have been independent, and while I enjoy working on my own, I think collaborating with others will help me learn new perspectives, share ideas, and improve my teamwork skills.</p><b>Describe two possible project direc ons based on your WGSN, Persona, and HMI research as well as the Path you are interested in following.</b><p>I’m interested in designing educational experiences or augmented games that use projection mapping and sensor-based objects to create interactive experiences where users can engage directly with the projections and objects.</p><p>IMG source: https://momentfactory.com/products/mission-mars?_pos=1&_sid=cf1afaf2e&_ss=r</p> test2Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit test2Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit

Project 1 Concept

Project 1 Concept

After receiving feedback, I decided to go with the design part of projection mapping and sensory responsive interactive experience.

One of the design concepts I came up with, inspired by WGSN and Moment Factory, focuses on creating a sensory-based learning experience through interaction. It combines objects with sensors and projection to make the experience more engaging and responsive.
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