Places Mental-Soothing Device by Shin Chen and James Yeh |
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| DESIGN NAME: Places PRIMARY FUNCTION: Mental-Soothing Device INSPIRATION: Living in the era with information broadcasting daily, our minds are often filled with meaningless thoughts. We've found that deep and slow breathing can help calm our minds efficiently. Also inspired by the beauty of nature which humans are genetically prone to find calming and engrossing, we've designed a product that can calm user's breathing rate and showcase a series of lighting effect resembling scenes of nature, such as the twinkling surface of the sea and the red and lavish sunset. UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Places creates an immersive calming experience which helps user eliminate distracting thoughts. By using pulse sensing technology and a series of fading white light, the user is able to breathe at a more sedate flow. When the heart rate turns gentle, a series of splendid lighting effects and calming music which are inspired by the beauty of nature are then showcased. All of these combined creates a multi-sensorial experience, filling the user with unforgettable peace. OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Places is placed on the desk or other surfaces where the user could have a clear horizontal view of the product. It is equipped with a backboard which the light projects on. The backboard is removable if the user prefers a bigger projecting area of the light when set against a clear wall. When using this product, the user can first choose a preferred glass panel. Each panel has a different pattern, which matches different lighting effects and music. Then, the panel could be placed onto the slot so that the device could detect which kind of panel is being placed. Once detected, the user can then slide out the Pebble and hold it between the palms. The breathing light will then emit through and project onto the backboard. At the same time, the Pebble will detect the user's pulse rate, and provide a vibration for the user to follow. When breathing is calmed and the heart rate turns gentle, the breathing light will slowly fade and turn into a series of splendid light effect. At the same time pleasant music is being played, letting the user immerse into. Eventually calming the mind and releasing stress. PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project started in February 2021 in Taipei and finished in June 2021 in Taipei, and was exihibited in National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Digital and Electronic Device Design |
PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The main material of the product uses injected molded white abs plastic, and the final finishing of the surface gives off a slight tint of metallic feel to provide a more elegant look. To prevent light from emitting through the plastic, the inner surface of the product is also treated with a light-proof coating. The glass panels with unique carvings and patterns which the light emits through are casted by directing molten glass into a mould where it solidifies. Then hand-cut into circular shape with a glass cutter compass. Technology-wise, to create different types of lighting effects, we've chosen to use the ws2812 RGB led light strip. This particular light strip allows us to control the color and brightness of each led independently through programming with an Arduino Nano board, creating endless amount of combinations of effects. As for the Pebble which the user holds in hand, it uses pulse sensors to detect user's pulse rate and uses vibrator to mimic breathing. Brushed metal is selected as its material and finishing to help better measure and collect pulse data. SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: The main material of the product uses injected molded white abs plastic, and the final finishing of the surface gives off a slight tint of metallic feel to provide a more elegant look. To prevent light from emitting through the plastic, the inner surface of the product is also treated with a light-proof coating. The glass panels with unique carvings and patterns which the light emits through are casted by directing molten glass into a mould where it solidifies. Then hand-cut into circular shape with a glass cutter compass. Technology-wise, to create different types of lighting effects, we've chosen to use the we2812 RGB led light strip. This particular light strip allows us to control the color and brightness of each led independently through programming with an Arduino Nano board, creating endless amount of combinations of effects. As for the Pebble which the user holds in hand, it uses pulse sensors to detect user's pulse rate and uses vibrator to mimic breathing. Brushed metal is selected as its material and finishing to help better measure and collect pulse data. TAGS: Places, emotionaldesign, sensorydesign, breathing, lightdesign, mentalcalming, nature, glassrefraction, heartrate, stressreleasing RESEARCH ABSTRACT: We've gone through multiple stages of research and design methods. In the ideation stage, we looked into the core of the problem and try to come up with ideas that might be both practical and impractical. Coming up with as many concepts as possible is key to this stage. Mind map is a brilliant method, it shows relationships between ideas and stimulates your thinking while giving you a thorough view of the main concept like a web. In the research stage, we first did a lot of data collecting through reading books and looking through related materials online, trying to understand what truely helps relaxing the mind of human. We then did multiple interviews with people from different ages and positions to look deeper into this subject. After that, we step into the analyzing stage, we gathered our collected data and materials and sort them into information, which is more readable and will provide us a clearer path of what we are heading towards. Also, we created a persona to sculpt out the outline of what our potential users will be like, including his or her personality, behavior and needs etc. This stage is about exploring and define, then scoping down the focus of the concept. We then come to a point where we clearly define our problems and concepts, then going into the design phase. In the design phase, we explore the possibilities by creating sketches and making prototypes and then testing the lighting effects, the pulse sensing technology, the glass panels and the forms and functions over and over again. We come up with a finer working product and get feedbacks from others. Eventually, after going through a lot of refining, we've come up with our final product - Places. CHALLENGE: One of the challenges was to find the best medium to display the effect we wanted. We wanted the effects to be quite abstract but at the same time still recognizable and distinctive in order to truely capture the traits and essence of nature. After tons of testing and research, we've come up with the solution of using the refraction and projection of light. In the end, we chose to use the controllable ws2812 led light strip which gave us a quite satisfying result. Another challenge was the selection of material which the light refracts through. We've tested multiple transparent materials, such as bent acrylic, carved plastic, glass etc. We eventually found that patterned glass panels gave us a versatile effect. Another challenge was encountered when trying to fit all the components into one compact shape. The distance and angle between the led strip and the glass panel was repeatedly and carefully tested until we get the best visual effect. ADDED DATE: 2021-06-24 07:14:47 TEAM MEMBERS (1) : Designer: Shin Chen, James Yeh IMAGE CREDITS: Photos by: Shin Chen, James Yeh Videos by: Shin Chen |
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| Visit the following page to learn more: https://www.behance.net/gallery/12188294 |
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| CLIENT/STUDIO/BRAND DETAILS | |
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NAME: Places-Mental Soothing Device PROFILE: Places creates an immersive calming experience which helps user eliminate distracting thoughts. By using pulse sensing technology and a series of fading white light, the user is able to breathe at a more sedate flow. When the heart rate turns gentle, a series of splendid lighting effects and calming music which are inspired by the beauty of nature are then showcased. All of these combined creates a multi-sensorial experience, filling the user with unforgettable peace. |
| AWARD DETAILS | |
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Places Mental-Soothing Device by Shin Chen and James Yeh is Runner-up for A' Design Award in Digital and Electronic Device Design Category, 2021 - 2022.· Press Members: Login or Register to request an exclusive interview with Shin Chen and James Yeh. · Click here to register inorder to view the profile and other works by Shin Chen and James Yeh. |
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