Product Design Thinking and Latest Products from Ben Arent » finalyear

How to create a (magnetic) tangible user interface.

benarent — Mon, 26 May 2008 13:34:07 +0000

One of the main components of my jive project was a tangible user interface, this was meant to be a RFID+TUI but I wasn’t able to create thin enough antennas to work in this manor. That is why there is a RFID Antenna on the middle stand.

The tangible user interface uses Phidgets magnet sensors to sensors when a ‘friend pass’ is placed onto the screen. This then triggers one of three actionscripit animations, the initial design and implementation is really simple, but this is just the beginning.

If you are an experienced AS3 coder and know anything about XMLsockets, I would be great full of a hand to get this prototype working to its full potential at the graduate shows. Also, if it could dynamically load photos from Flickr, or really get Tweets that would also be amazing!

Jump in to find out more…

Testing the Sensors Work.

Using Phidget magnet sensors I first worked out if the magnetic I was using were strong enought to work through a laptop LCD. I was lucky that event 5 year old laptops only have a 8-11mm thickness. There are some points that are shielded, but so far there has been no problems with using rare earth magnets so close to the display. A quick good search found out that the magentic problems are mainly associated with Cathode ray monitors.

Embedding the magnetic sensors.

The next stage was to embed the sensors into the rear of the screen. I completely stripped down the Dell laptop that I was using, and taped the sensors in place to get the initial feel for the tangible user interface.

The Flash (AS3) Code

The last stage was to create an image on the screen that aligned the physical object to the location of the magnet sensors. This animation will now apear as if its a tangible user interface, move a object to explore, and the explore diagloge comes up.

Download the AS3 FLA – Source Code

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence. Ben Arent also hold a UK patent pending [0808775.1] on some of this tech, so if your VC and want to get in on the action get in touch!

The ‘Friend Pass’.

The friend pass had to be modified to work on the screen. The resulting friend pass had to have two magnets one to trigger the sensor, and a larger one to stick the avatar to the screen. This is mainly because the weight of the acrylic. Early prototypes used steel, but the final device had to have another magnet placed 30mm about the sensor to hold the pass in place.

You should now have a tangilbe user interface!

This is just the begging of what could be possible, it would be great to see manufactures build sensors directly into screens. If you are a AS3 coder, or think you could even create this in Blend, please get in touch. It would be great to link this up to some live services.

I’m also looking for someone who can help me with an XML socket, which is meant to read the RFID reader.

jive – social networking for your gran.

benarent — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:19:43 +0000

Finally after 6 long months I have finally gone public with my product design project. I have created a new social communication device that has been designed to make staying in touch with your friends and family simpler.

You can view my jive mini site at http://jive.benarent.co.uk

2008 Summer Update. Coming Soon.

benarent — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:19:47 +0000

Just a quick post to let everyone know that the website shall be being updated in the coming weeks. I have just finished my degree, and I’m in the process of creating a showcase mini-site for my final year project. This shall be hosted on this site. I can’t say much about the project as I’m currently applying for a couple of patents. Until then you can see a teaser about my exhibition at http://www.pdeproduce.com.

I have a lot of posts that I would like to get on-line, I have a whole bunch of content to upload to the bog, but I’m currently trying to uphold a good level of quality. This has meant that I have had to go back though my website and copyright the whole site.

Its a very exciting time for me, I have been busy applying for jobs, and currently waiting to find out from a couple. But if you are looking for a product / interaction / UX designer. Please get in touch.

Older Adults Technology related social interaction.

benarent — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:09:06 +0000

I’m now working on my final year project. We were allowed to create our own brief. I wanted to work on a project that would be very Web 2.0, and would allow me use a whole bunch of new interaction design methodology. I decided to pick the 60+ crowd to design a product to encourage social interaction. I think this project is going to be really challenging and I can’t wait.

Watch the blog for lots of updates!

Watch 5min Presentation

View and download my slideshow from SlideShare.

[slideshare id=204403&doc=design-breif-for-closing-the-digitial-divide-in-the-eldery-119773958779788-5&w=425]

Hidden Pleasures in Products- My Dissertation Title.

admin — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 16:29:26 +0000

DISCOVRING HIDDEN PLEASURES IN TECHNOLGOY RELATEDRODUCTS.

An ethnographic study investigating ‘late majorities’ experiences and interactions, with technology-related products in relation to Lionel Tigers framework of pleasure.

I have been working on my dissertation, and have left my theme and topic quite open. I have attached my PDF submission. Watch this space for insights into my ethnography.

The full 3 page dissertation proposal submission.