MICRO INTERACTIONS — “Groove Tube”
The initial thought process was to create a device which would reduce the human effort to walk through the rooms of the house to change the song playing on the music system. The device would be a portable controller operated from any room of the house and also carried from one room to the other.
Idea 1
An electric panel situated above the switchboard of the room. It would use simple screen-based gestures to interact. This would involve:
1. A simple tap to activate the panel 2. a right/left swipe to change the music 3. up/down swipe to change the volume.
Why didn’t the idea work?
An electric panel situated above the switchboard of the room. It would use simple screen-based gestures to interact. This would involve:
1. A simple tap to activate the panel 2. a right/left swipe to change the music 3. up/down swipe to change the volume.
Why didn’t the idea work?
Even though we tried eliminating the screen based interaction for the music player, the panel still involved screen-based gestures.
Also, since the panel would be restricted to the top part of the switch, A person would still have to get up to access the panel. Can it be made more convenient for the user?
Also, since the panel would be restricted to the top part of the switch, A person would still have to get up to access the panel. Can it be made more convenient for the user?
Idea 2
We looked more for the basic human gestures which can be incorporated in this device to make it more lively and screen-free. Basically, we are in need of a control that has 4 basic functions of the front , back for the change of music and up, down for the volume. The device which had a similar motion is a Video Game Controller.
After looking at some examples and ideations, we sketched out the basic functioning of the controller.
Why didn’t the idea work?
While we thought a lot about the controller, we surpassed our context and the relation between the controller and the context (i.e. music). Where a controller would be a good idea to control a car in a video game, can it be also used to control the music in the house? In other words, can we use this device to get closer to the music that we usually hear on the speakers yet different than the music we hear on earphones?
After looking at some examples and ideations, we sketched out the basic functioning of the controller.
Why didn’t the idea work?
While we thought a lot about the controller, we surpassed our context and the relation between the controller and the context (i.e. music). Where a controller would be a good idea to control a car in a video game, can it be also used to control the music in the house? In other words, can we use this device to get closer to the music that we usually hear on the speakers yet different than the music we hear on earphones?
Idea 3
While looking at the micro-interactions, we observed that the word, micro-interactions are nothing but a technical and fancy word given to the everyday ignored actions we do. It can be tapping our feet to an upbeat song to shaking our hand in disgust when we touch something unpleasant. We designed a device that would use these everyday actions and perform the tasks for a music player.
Our idea is to create a device which doubles its functionality as an attractive table piece.
Its functionality involves
1. Tapping of the device on the surface to activate it. The light will start glowing after it starts. 2. Tapping fingers on the surface to change the song. 3. The device is an extendable body which when lifted up will increase the volume and decrease when the device is pushed down. 4. It is fitted with a microphone on the top which will recognize the song one will be singing and add it to favourites. 5. By saying “play the favourites”, the device will play the list of songs added by it in the playlist.
Our idea is to create a device which doubles its functionality as an attractive table piece.
Its functionality involves
1. Tapping of the device on the surface to activate it. The light will start glowing after it starts. 2. Tapping fingers on the surface to change the song. 3. The device is an extendable body which when lifted up will increase the volume and decrease when the device is pushed down. 4. It is fitted with a microphone on the top which will recognize the song one will be singing and add it to favourites. 5. By saying “play the favourites”, the device will play the list of songs added by it in the playlist.
The thing to be kept in mind is that this device will not have a speaker. It will use the speaker already installed in the house and it will just be used to control the basic functions of a remote control.
Code to Change the volume: Using ultrasound sensor
The project was done as a part of a college assignment with Chinmayee Murugkar and Calvin Stanley
