17. Applications and Implications¶
Week Assignment
I need to answer the following questions for the final project:
- What will it do?
- Who’s done what beforehand?
- What will you design?
- What parts and systems will be made?
- What processes will be used?
- What materials and components will be used?
- Where will they come from and how much will they cost?
- What questions need to be answered?
- How will it be evaluated?
What Will I Design?¶
My final project is a game for children between 5 and 7 years old. It is composed of a device that fulfills the double function of counting the steps and functioning as a game controller, and a game to which this device is linked.
I divided my product into two parts:
- The Device: I will design the device case, electronics, the behavior, and the faces to show on the OLED.
- The Game: I will design the sprites and some parts of the behavior, as I will use a template as a base.
What Will It Do?¶
The device is a wearable that counts the kid’s steps, which, when synchronized with the game, will become the energy of the character. The game will validate if the steps are greater than 0; if so, it will charge the character’s life, and then the device will become the game controller.
The game is a 2D game that will be developed in Unity 3D using a Space Shooter template as a base. The assets/sprites will be developed in Illustrator. At first, I considered making the game in 3D, but given the limited time to develop it, I decided to move to 2D.
Who’s Done What Beforehand?¶
There are plenty of devices that have a double functionality. When I started the project, I had these products in mind:
- Sphero: You can either control the ball using your smartphone app or control the game on the app using the ball.
- Tamagotchi
- RingFitAdventure: It’s a ring that controls in-game movements plus a Leg Strap. You need to connect Nintendo Switch controllers to these accessories to play.
I found these when researching other devices with similar features or ideas:
- Leapband: A device to prevent child obesity.
- TobySmartwatch: A friendly smartwatch.
- Bcon: A wearable game controller.
There are many devices to learn from, including smartwatches and game controllers that use more than just buttons.
What Parts and Systems Will Be Made?¶
Electronics¶
I will fabricate the main board where I will connect the modules. I will define how the device works and design 2 faces that will be triggered by movement or lack of it.
Case¶
I will 3D-model the internal case for the electronics, which will be 3D printed. Then, I will 3D-model the protective case that will be milled on wax and then cast in silicone.
2D Game¶
I will illustrate and develop all assets, characters, CTAs, backgrounds, and any graphic element. I will define how the game works and how the game controller behaves.
What Materials and Components Will Be Used?¶
Electronics¶
- Attiny3216
- OLED I2C 128 x 64
- MPU6050
- Bluetooth HC-10
- Battery charger with a LiPo battery 3.7V 300mAh
Case¶
3D Printing
- PLA - 2 parts
- FilaFlex - 1 button
- PLA - 1 internal piece for the mold
Molding and Casting
- Wax mold
- Silicone + glitter and color
2D Game¶
- Illustrator for the 2D graphic pieces
- Unity 3D for the game
What Processes Will Be Used?¶
- 3D printing
- Molding and casting
- Milling the electronics board
- Interface programming
- 2D and 3D design
Where Will They Come From and How Much Will They Cost?¶
Most of the materials I’m using are from the lab, and the cost is not high.
| Component | Cost | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Attiny3216 | €0.85 | AT3216 |
| OLED I2C 128x64 | €6.99 | OLED |
| MPU6050 | €6.99 | MPU6050 |
| Bluetooth HC-10 | €9,99 | Bluetooth |
| battery charger | €11.95 | Charger |
| battery 3.7V | €8.41 | Battery |
| PLA | €20.99 | Fillament |
| WAX | €18.73 | WAX |
| Silicone | €25.41 | Silicone |
| Cooper board | €2.34 | Board |
Total: €112.65
What Questions Need to Be Answered?¶
- How will the steps be charged as energy in the game?
- How to switch from one face to another using movement?
- How should the behavior of the game be?
- How to explain to the player how to play?
- How to make the silicone case as simple as possible to try multiple colors?
- How should the link between the person and the device be?
How Will It Be Evaluated?¶
As a first prototype, I expect the following things:
Requirements for the Device Prototype:
- The device should be able to count the steps when moving and change from the sad face to the happy face when moving on a single axis.
- The device should be able to connect with the game device via Bluetooth.
- The device should be able to send the steps and reset to 0.
- The device should be able to control the player on axis X and Y.
- All components should be inside the 3D printed case and the silicone case.
- The device must rely on battery power.
Requirements for the Game Prototype:
- The game should show a starting screen with a CTA.
- The game should provide feedback to the user when charging the steps.
- The game should explain to the users how to play.
- The player must lose energy when an enemy hits it.
- The game should display the player’s energy.
- The game should give feedback when the player has no energy left.