final project

First ideas for final project

I consider myself to be a very indecisive person which has made it a challenge to choose a final project within a limited timeframe. My first two choices are the following:

  • I have a lot of trouble waking up so I was thinking about designing a product that could help me wake up. There are some existing alarm clocks that wake you up with light in order for it to emulate the natural process and for it to be less invasive. I was thinking of designing something similar but adapted to my own specific needs.
  • My second choice is continuing developming a collaborative project initiated with three friends last year. This project involves creating an add-on for pencils, pens, or drawing tools, aimed at guiding users to express their emotions through art. Due to time restraints and lack of knowledge on coding and sensors we were not able to finish this project with a fully functional prototype. It would be a challenge given that the electronics would have to be compacted to fill a small area and the design would also have to be very efficient.

I prefer the second idea, I see it as a project with significant potential for growth. However, my concern lies with its size, as accommodating the electronics within a compact space will be challenging.

Inspiration

First sketches

pressure

movement

sound

ink

colors

thickness

How will the device guide the user to express their emotions?

To start, there are some biological indicators that can provide insights into our emotional states. I want this device to be able to detect the emotional state of a person and depending on that to guide the user into expressing what they are feeling.

Some of these biological indicators are the following:

  • Heart rate variability: when we experience intense emotions such as fear or excitement, our heart rate tends to increase. On the other hand, feelings of relaxation or calmness may result in a slower heart rate.
  • Respiration Rate: when we are stressed or anxious our breathing becomes shallow and rapid. On the contrary, when we are relaxed or at ease, our breathing tends to be slower and deeper.
  • Body Temperature: in some cases, feelings of stress or anxiety may result in a slight increase in body temperature due to physiological responses.

How will it work?

Data Collection:
  • The user holds the device for a few seconds
  • During this time, sensors gather data about the user's heart rate variability, respiration rate, and possibly body temperature
Interpreting Data:
  • The device analyzes this data to determine the user's emotional state
Art Expression:
  • Once the emotional state is determined, the user selects a drawing tool
Guided Expression:
  • When ready, the user presses play
  • The device will guide them through expressing their emotions using visual cues like lasers, hand movements (possibly through weighted feedback), sounds, and pressure sensitivity