Outcome

Solution

Think about how reluctant you are to go to gym after a long day's work. Tired, huh? Why not just sneak home, lie on the couch, drink some hot chocolate, and better off with marshmallows and BBQ-flavored chips? But no, you glance up and see Buddy, your avatar that represents your fitness. 

You've been sitting at your desk for most of the day. Your Fitbit has not achieved beyond 1,000 steps. Your Buddy's tummy, consequently, looms up quite significantly. Oh-no! You silently moan. That would be me in like a month! 

What's more, your best friend Alex, or rather his buddy, is asiding yours. He looks fit! You know he swims at the pool his company provides every day just before dinner. What's more, your Buddy's head just glowed red. Ugggh! He must be making fun of your big belly!

You gather your gym clothes and head down to the gym.

//Briefly describe the solution you produced. Include a video if appropriate, image and/or illustrate with a workflow diagram

Approach

We propose a connected device that displays fitness information in an ambient and interesting way, that not only provides people with motivation, but also a sense of connection with the friend as he sees their progress side by side and feels that they are working towards a shared goal.

This kind of display also offers a sense of competition or gamification, that is helpful in persuading people to stay motivated.  

//How did you approach the design of your device? How is your approach distinct from other precedents? How did you approach it creatively? Refer to ideas from class or related projects to give appropriate context to this project. Explain in as few words as possible.

Process

It is usual for friends to depart to different cities and even countries to pursue their careers and studies. However, all of them still want to stay connected with their cared ones and maintain the feeling of being next to each other despite the distance.

We understand that the sense of connection is important to people. However, just deliberately keeping track of activities or showing companionship may make the relationship seem meaningless and burdensome after some time. People also need motivation to keep them in daily routines of habit-training or exercise.

Therefore, we combine aligning shared personal goals with staying connected to create a device that both connects friends at distance and help them achieve success, for example, staying fit. 

First Attempt: 

Foam core

X No humanly look

X Not enough space for the cam wheel

X 

Second Attempt: 

Fabric

Stuffing too tight

Cannot hold up straight

Third Attempt: 

Foam core as backbone, Sufficient space for cam wheel and motor, cotton outside for appearance. 

//Be able to tell the story of your work. What ideas did you generate and how did you refine or reject them? What did you research and explore? what were the design choices? What challenges were encountered and how did you resolve them?

Implementation

  The device is connected to a health-monitoring device e.g. Fitbit and retrieves fitness data from there. It then translates the data into mechanical movement and displays the change in a physical way. When data shows lack of exercise, the belly of the corresponding avatar will grow larger, imitating real people and also eliciting concern about health. 

The device will be two side-by-side avatars on a magnet that can be placed in an office or on a fridge. The form removes sensitivity and makes such information displayable in public space.  

Be able to illustrate the final outcome and how you produced it. Your documentation for this section must include:

• Completed code
• A circuit diagram (use Fritzing or similar)
• A list of parts

• 
  
• A video of your completed project (use in context, operation, etc.)

Include illustrative diagrams (workflow, etc.), additional photos, or a video of the implementation

Next Steps

What would you do if you took this project forward and why? What would you do differently?

Reflection

Reflect on the process of making this project. What did you learn from this project? What skills have acquired? What did you as a student get from the experience? 

References

Include any sources (precedents, projects, literature, etc.) relevant to the project and referenced in the text