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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 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 of 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 behaviour and the faces to show on the OLED.

  • The game: I will design the sprites and some parts of the behaviour 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 later, 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 seeing 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 controll the ball using your smartphone app or control the game on the app using the ball.
  • Tamagotchi
  • RingFitAdventure: It’s a ring that control in-game movements plus a Leg Strap. You need to connect Nintendo Switch controllers to these accessories to play.

I found these when making some reaserch of other devices that have similar features or ideas:

There are many devices to learn, many smart watches, many game controllers that use more than just buttons.

What parts and systems will be made?

Electronics

I will be fabrication the main board where I will connect the modules. I will define how the device work and I will design 2 faces that will be trigger 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 on 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
  • The battery charger with a Lipo battery 3.7V 300A

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

I will be using Illustrator for the 2D graphic pieces and 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 come from and how much will they cost?

Most of the materials I’m using where in 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 the steps are going to 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 he has to play?
  • How to make the silicon case as simple as posible to try multiple colors?
  • How should be the link between the person and the device?

How will it be evaluated?

As a first prototype I expect the following things:

Requirements for the device prototype:

  • The device to be able to count the steps when moving and to change to 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 go back 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 silicon case.
  • The device has to rely on battery power.

Requirements for the game prototype:

  • The game should show a starting screen with a CTA.
  • The game should give feedback to the user when charging the steps.
  • The game should explain the users how to play.
  • The player must lose energy when an enemy hits it.
  • The game should show the player’s energy.
  • The game should give feedback when the player has no energy left.

Last update: June 18, 2021