General

The Sketch & Share prototype is now built, tested and reprogrammed with better light control and fun sounds. We gave a final presentation for Mattel (PDF) | (Keynote) on Monday. The computer version was coded in Processing and the two communicate over the Internet using a Lantronix WiPort (visible in the guts of the toy […]

No longer is BlueWay a mere figment of the imagination. There’s a ton left to do but currently it: – Senses Bluetooth IDs in a variety of locations – Matches those IDs to a database of people – Displays the owner’s photo in a collage – Fades that photo away when the ID hasn’t been

Over the past semester I’ve been coordinating the public ITP lobby display. Student and faculty works are presented to the New York City public on a large plasma display facing the corner of Waverly Street and Broadway. Works include: Dancing Trees by Jeff LeBlanc elastotron by Eric Socolofsky thresholdMirror by Leif Krinkle Music Study IV

Here’s the presentation we gave (31MB) on our participatory design work for the BlueWay sign system. The project context has changed to the ITP Spring Show. We interviewed potential users about what they might expect from such a system, had them perform a card-sorting task to organize information about the show, and asked them to

Over the last couple days I’ve created an XBee Practical Example for using the XBee ZigBee radios in paired communication between two PIC microcontrollers. It is intended for use by those who have a basic familiarity with physical computing, and a healthy appetite for shiny, shiny new technology.

Arly Ross, David Yates, Myra Einstein and I gave a presentation yesterday to our Interaction Design class on the Bluetooth-enabled sign system we are proposing for New York’s Penn Station. I have also begun building the electronics as a proof of concept for my Network Objects class’ final project.

Our User-centered Design class ideas for toy designs have been revised. Here’s a website with more information about the project. The links along the right side show our research, ideas and some user scenarios, including terrific artwork by Carlos Borges, my project partner.

This is the progress to date on creating a wireless Bluetooth ID sensor modules. The finished system will be used to deliver useful information based upon who is near a particular sensor. Potential applications include a system to determine who is currently in the office, and a signage system that provides personalized wayfinding information to

1. Mommy Made It A series of kits for adults to make children’s toys. For example, one moderate skill level kit would allow an adult to assemble a self-propelled wooden car using precut parts that needed to be sanded and painted before assembly. Children could help with the construction, but many steps would need to

This is our presentation on Insights and Opportunities for User-centered Design class.