Outcome

Overview

How do we represent and capture a particular memory that's meaningful to us? How can we use media and computational technology to bring back certain memory that are particularly meaningful to us, possibly engage all five sense? Memory box is an Internet of Things project that incorporates image, objects, sound (music), light and smell to recreate the scenario that happened in your past. When you open the box, you hear the sound, smell the smell, and look at the objects in front you, and the goal is go preserve the memory but also enable new understanding of yourself. It makes people more willing to engage in growth-oriented behaviors and encourages them to view themselves as growth-oriented people.

Process

I started this project by interviewing one of my childhood best friend. I noticed that a lot of objects in her house, that is meaningful to her, has a story behind that. Objects preserve memory, and people tend to attach to these objects oftentimes because of the meaning, or memory attached to it. We started to discuss the idea of using IoT object to evoke the sentimentality of the past, and how that can help us view ourselves from a different perspective. The idea of memory box was born as a result of the conversation. 

Memory was composed of all of the senses, so I decided to engage 4 senses: sight, hearing, smell and touch. After learned all the sensors, I immediately recognized that sound can be played by buzzer, and the circuit will be switched on with Tilt sensor which acts as a switch. 

The box contains a picture, an object, and the box is scented, light (represented by LED) and sound (buzzer) that mimic a past situation. (see below image) 

IoT Circuit and Outcome

LED light to represent the light effect of the memory, Tilt sensor to attach to the cap of the box, and buzzer to represent an audio to play the background sound in the situation which the memory took place.

The following is a list of components that I incorporated in this project:

• Particle ARGON
• Tilt Sensor
• Buzzer
• LEDs
• Resistor(1k ohm)
• Jumper Cables
• USB wire
• Breadboard
• Power Source (5V, PC)

I tested the tilt señsor and figured out that it acts as a switch. After I wired it to the circuit, I tested out the tilt sensor by placing it vertically and horizontally. When it's positioned horizontally, LED light up and buzzer starts to buzz; when it's positioned vertically, LED turned down and buzzer stops. 

Reflection & Next Steps

This is definitely a meaningful project to me. Seeing ideas (capture memory and evoke nostalgia feelings) that are dear to my heart turned into my first IoT project is very rewarding.  I hope the next step of this project is to find ways to scale this type of project, and explore other ways or methods that can be implemented into this type of projects.