TAKE A LOOK...
PARTY PEOPLE, HERE YOU GO...
GETTING STARTED
Through our research and the Crazy Eight method, many ideas came together that could be considered for our interaction concept. After several discussions we decided, among three promising ideas, to implement a light stick (mobile device) and a stationary device that complement each other.
LOFI - PROTOTYPES
We first constructed the first mold prototypes out of cardboard and tape to get a feel for the shapes and proportions. On the stationary device is a rotating LED ring, for the adjustment of color and brightness.
FUNCTIONS
The mobile device has two main functions, both of which are controlled or triggered by gestures. The first gesture is triggered by a quick up and down movement of the wand. This causes the LED strip on the wand to flash and the flash light is equally transmitted to the lighting system in the room. The second gesture is triggered by a change in the horizontal position. The effect is that both the color of the LED strip on the wand and the LEDs on the lighting system change according to the HSB color scale.
DESIGN PROTOTYPE / 3D-MODEL
In the further course of the project, the focus was on the mobile device. For this, we gathered inspiration again and created more design sketches. Subsequently, we determined our favorite, which was modeled and rendered in Cinema 4D in different variants.
After the renderings were completed, we decided on the final design. Our device now has an LED strip on the top and two dot-shaped indicators that give a hint when the color changes to the next color. The sensor that controls the deflection of the light strip and the feedback of the installation is in turn controlled by a weight. This is pulled towards the handle by a spring and can be moved along a track to the tip of the rod by applying sufficient centrifugal force. The light strip on the rod follows the position of the weight. When the weight reaches the end of the track, all the lights of the associated light installation are triggered.
CONNECTION WITH ARDUINO
A functional prototype is also being implemented so that the functional principle can also be tested in practice. The shape of the light stick was produced using 3D printing and equipped with a gyroscope and LED strips. The associated light installation is a self-built LED matrix. These two elements are controlled via two coupled Arduino boards.
THE RESULT?
airDrum - an interface designed for party people.
By discovering and trying out the different gestures, the fun factor with the various functions and light settings while the music is playing is given and turns out to be intuitive after repeated use.
