ideas for phase 2

Here are some of my ideas for how I will expand my first project into my final project.

Arduino

In the next iteration of this project, I want to incorporate sensors so that whenever someone picks up a rock, a recording is triggered to play. For the recordings, I will invite the people to whom I have given rocks to record themselves saying the sentence, “Healing is [fill in the blank with whatever healing means to them].” I will use Arduino to program sensors so that when someone touches a rock within the display, it triggers my laptop to play a randomized “healing is” recording.

I think I will be able to pull this off by setting up a break beam sensor extending across the display. Thankfully, break beam sensors are very affordable! Here’s an option I’m considering. Perhaps I’ll need 2-3 sensors to ensure that no matter which rock someone goes for, the beam is broken and the sensor is triggered to play a recording.

Parametric design

I am also considering creating a piece to hang above the display as it sits on a table, perhaps a mobile type structure that I could design using Grasshopper and easily fabricate using the laser cutter. I was inspired by this lamp I saw on Instagram @parametric.3d

I’m thinking I could create something sorta similar that shows a progression of my spine from its original 44 degree curvature to its current 15 degree curvature. Here’s a very rough sketch of what the entire set up could look like.

I’m afraid that my idea for the parametric lamp might be like the first sketch I made for the project in that the form doesn’t fit conceptually. I will continue to think about how a hanging component might conceptually fit with the component that sits on the table. It’s possible I might not even have the time to take this on.

Project Plan

• I will reach out to the people who might be interested in sharing their “healing is” recording and invite them to participate.
• I will continue to think through the concept behind the mobile element. I might decide I just don’t have enough time to create it.
• I’ll dive in to tutorials about Arduino, sensors, and Grasshopper since right now I have no idea how to make all this happen.
• Since I can use Arduino on my personal laptop (unlike Rhino and Grasshopper), I will try to get started on the Arduino programming and order any sensors I might need.

• If I decide to incorporate the mobile, I will create the Rhino model using Grasshopper and prototype it using cardboard and the laser cutter.
• I will continue working on the Arduino programming and likely will need to reach out for help this week on that component as my sensors arrive in the mail.

• This is my week to prototype and improve the design based on the results of my prototyping.

• Put final touches on each component
• Final presentation on Thursday, Dec. 13