Sally Williams @ Fab Academy 2015

Assignment: 

      what will it do?

                Digial counter for counting mantra recitations, prostration counter and mindfulness training (as a wrist wearable)

               
           

      who's done what beforehand?
                Traditional Buddhist Malas and various digital hand counters (see images below)


      what materials and components will be required?

                Silicone Rubber (suitable for skin),
                Electronic components:
                circuit board, rechargeable LiPo battery, charging unit, Attiny45, button presses x 2, LEDs x 4, vibration motor)


      where will they come from?

                Local suppliers (Bentley Chemicals (UK), Fred Aldous, and Fablab inventory


      how much will it cost?

                < £30 (to produce a one off prototype)
               

      what parts and systems will be made?

                • Circuit board;
                • Structural core - sprung steel band also acting as closing clasp (or embedded magnetic plates);
                • Network;
                • Software;
                • Milling / Moulding;
                • Silicone casing.




      what processes will be used?

                Circuit boards (Modella), Milling (Shopbot), Moulding, Casting, 3D Printing, Lasercutting.
               

      what tasks need to be completed?
               
                • Map out a flowchart for the electronic funtionality;
                • Map out flowchart to get overview of code to programme the board using the input data;
                • Write code for input data; (using code basis already established;
                • Connecting and Networking of boards (using buttons, LEDs, Vibration motor) to test functionality of programme;
                • Write code to communicate the data from the wearable into the application on the PC;  (see images below);
                • Design, ergonomics and interface of the wearable form;
                • Produce CAD file for milling mould;   
                • Mill the mould;
                • Repeat tests for cast the silicone rubber form, embedding unstuffed (waste) boards and spring steel band to test the flexibility, workability;
                • Cast final form;
                • Connect to battery, testing, evaluation.
               
              
      what questions need to be answered?

                None


      what is the schedule?



      how will it be evaluated?

                • Will the digital mala count, record and function as a counter (in reliance of a PC to output data)?
                • Are the counting functions and modes working as expected?
                • Does the vibration feedback provide alerts as and when expected in the functionality?
                • Does the silicone encased sprung steel work effectively as a structural core and as a wrist clasp, without damaging the                   function of the electronics?
                • Does the app effectivley communicate the data to the user?


 
Further detail:

What's already on the market?

          

  

Making sense of the data recorded

This digital mala would enable the user to see their mindfulness accomplishment communicated in a simple graphic display on a computer screen.

I had explored in Interface and Applications Programming (Week 14), how I wanted to convey the data.

As mindfulness is connected with awareness, spaciousness, presence and clarity, there is no better metaphor than an open blue sky.
I decided to use a sky blue bakground, and to use a timeline divided into a number of days. However many times the button would be pressed in each day, that data would be translated into a visual representation of moments of mindfulness on screen; whilst also showing the progress of one's mind training.

This is a simple idea.

Initail sketch illustrating the concept:




 
This is how the app might look in the final project: