Coding and Designing final outcome

As we come near the end of the project, for the past two weeks my main focus was learning how to code, setting up the triggers for the audio and visual effects and finalising design ideas.

This was a very challenging section of the project because I was learning everything from scratch and had to do a lot of testing and re-coding.

After setting up the initial code for the sensors, I began to work on adding the visual and audio aspects.

Testing triggering audio and sound with test files

Over the course of the week I learnt a lot about coding and how to get around different issues that arise. For example, once I figured out how to trigger the video to start playing, the video never stopped. I therefore had to learn how to tell the code to stop playing and go back to 0 once it is finished. Small things like this were frustrating but really important to learn.

Slowly over the week, the code started to come together more and more. I set it up so that a new video and sound would play every time you use the sensor. I also created a 'home' page of a red background so that the video wasn't always on display and set up audio files for the light sensor. This background I would later change to an image.

However, after setting all this up, challenges started to arise when I transferred the code to play the specific media needed for my project.

For example, when I added to audio about Jod's guitar to the sensor, because it was recorded in a different frame rate than the one I was practicing with, the sound game out in slow motion and with reverb.

Video of the audio being slowed down

Similarly, when playing the video, the image was no longer clearing and going back to the red home screen. Eventually I learnt that this was due to me needing to put in the exact duration of the new video in a different way that I previously had.

Once I finally was able to finish the code, I learnt how to solder all my wires together so that could been to organise them more and not need as many attached to the breadboard

Design of Triggering memories:

Along with the coding, I was also planning how to design my final outcome and attach these stories in a tidy way to the objects.

While I could hide the sensor inside the Photo-box and guitar, the train tickets seemed to prove the most difficult due to the nature of them.

Therefore I wanted to find a way that the participant could easily trigger memories with them, without disturbing the original object.

Brainstorm of ideas

When thinking of ideas, knew that I wanted to trigger the video in a way that is related to a ticket to keep the continuity. Therefore I was thinking of the different ways people validate and get tickets checked.

After brainstorming ideas and comparing to what would work with the sensor I have, I decided to go with the idea of stamping the ticket. This way, it is like you are validating the ticket with the stamp and through that process get to see the memories of the day. Additionally, this would work for attaching a sensor but not having to have it on the actual ticket itself.

Therefore, over the next week while I finished the coding, I also worked on creating a design for the tickets.

Brainstorm of stamp ideas

Mock up for how to hide the sensor

Making the box and stamp

When designing the box for the sensor, I needed to make it so that the sensor would be hidden but also able to still in a location that it could be detected. Therefore I designed the lid of the box to have several thin layers of wood so that when pressed it would move and put pressure on the sensor.

Video of testing the movement of the box

Video showing how the remediation of train tickets work

Video showing how the remediation of the Bass Guitar works

Refelction:

Overall, I am really happy with the progressed I made over the past week or two. I feel like my project is now beginning to come together and ready to be tested with participants. Next week my focus will be on trying out each of the objects with the person they belong to and see what the outcome is.

Additionally I am really happy with the way I have been able to learn code and try out new skills. While it has been challenging and a lot of work, I am lad that I pushed myself to do something new.

Next Post: The act of storytelling