LOW FIDELITY PROTOTYPE

My goal for this week was to finish artifact 2, the one referencing hell. Since I had the basic mechanics down, I decided to create a low-fidelity prototype for user testing and feedback. The first step was to increase the number of servo motors and vibration sensors. As one Arduino can support up to 3 or 4 servo motors, I worked within that limit. It took some time to get the wiring right and fix the code, but eventually, I was able to use my distance sensor as input to activate the servo motors and vibration sensors.

COVERING THE WIRES

The next step was to cover the mechanics with a black cloth and repeat the same process for all four sides, essentially creating a box. Currently, the base was on a styrofoam board, but for the final prototype, I'm considering using either acrylic sheet or wood.

I started feeling apprehensive about how it was turning out. While it technically worked, it wasn't as impactful as I had hoped, and making it look aesthetically pleasing felt like more of a challenge with this prototype at this stage. Before giving up or considering alternatives, I wanted to see if I could improve it, so I continued working on it.

CONSULTATION

During consultation, I shared my dissatisfaction with Andreas regarding this artifact and asked if there was a way to salvage it. He politely expressed that my developments weren't optimal, and while this wasn't the final prototype, hearing that it didn't work as intended was disheartening. He also suggested that a box might be too underwhelming. Though I didn't receive the answers I had hoped for, he helped me manage my expectations, advising me to take things one step at a time rather than trying to tackle everything at once.

TESTING OTHER MATERIALS

Since the black cloth wasn't working out and the feedback wasn't great, I decided to explore other materials before giving up entirely. I gathered a few different materials to test, including a dusting cloth, a soft towel, and a cloth with feathers. While discussing with my classmates, they suggested I should consider materials that are uncommon to hold or provide a unique sensation to the hand. This way, when paired with the interaction of the artifact, it would have a double impact.

A FAILED EXPERIMENT

I tested out the new material and conducted some user testing, but unfortunately, this iteration also failed. Medha found it uncomfortable but not scary, while Joanne saw it more as a messaging device. Neither of their reactions aligned with my vision, and on top of that, the aesthetics were suffering. I couldn't think of a single design element that would look good in this case.