1. Principles and practices¶
This week I worked on defining my final project idea and started to getting used to the documentation process.
Meeting with instructor¶
- Discuss final project ideas with my instructor
- Settle on the final project
- Try to predict scope of project
- Expectation management regarding projects size/complexity
- Aim for spiral development!
Final project¶
Inspiration¶
In short, during most of my life, my interest have been computers and cars. Now I have a family which takes precedence over most hobbies but what’s better then mixing it all together?
So I wanted to make my final project involve:
-
My family
-
Digital interface
-
An automobile
Research¶
I’m going to look through older Academy projects looking for keywords like {"automotive", "car", "12v", "children", "toys", "activity"} to seek inspiration. If I find any valuable sources, I will make sure to list them properly.
Basic idea¶
Why buy an ipad for hundred of thousands of Icelandic krónur (ISK) when you can make an digital activity-board for long drives with a toddler?
The idea is to mount two units in a vehicle, one parental unit and one child unit.
The child unit should include some input and output devices, for example LEDs, a display, microphone or similar.
The parental unit should include some input and output device, such as a child-sound-meter.
Right now the exact inputs/outputs are not decided but current ideas include:
- LEDs
- Display
- G-force/Gyro/Motion sensor
- Microphone
- Buttons/switches (might be hard to reach for child?)
Notes from meeting with instructor¶
Our discussion was mostly about the feasibility of the project, with regards to complexity and usability.
Notes in no particular order:
- KISS / keep it simple, stupid!
- Start with a single child unit and parental unit.
- During communications week, experiment with communications between units (Serial, Bluetooth)
- Start implementing basic function, spiraling outwards if successful
- Try to locate older Academy projects which might touch on similar subjects for inspiration
- Uses, purpose?
- Introduce children to input/output/feedback
- Entertainment during drives
- Monitoring/quantifying screaming during drives
- Rewarding good behavior during drives (Less screaming => more ice-cream)
- Benefit hearing impaired / deaf parents?
- Allow child to control some functions from it’s seat
