Module 3 Activity Research

My personal journey of mixing module 2 and 3 within the development iteration cycles.

Andrew Chui
From idea to drawings and a real prototype.

Module 2

Building Interactions for Car Dash Console

Module 2 was unfinished due to delays in testing and rebuilding an appropriate tester. I discovered that finding the "Energiser" demographic was challenging because of their proactive style—I realized this approach worked better with larger test pieces rather than small pieces at the beginning. However, testing smaller pieces first proved invaluable; without it, I might not have arrived at my current prototype direction. Module 2 focused on building the interactions that would define the car dash console experience.

Project 3

Module 3

A car dash console that integrates physical computing to enhance user experience and safety. This site documents the process of building an integrated physical computing interface for a better cabin experience.

Workshop 1 : Action Research on bettering the protoype v1 from module 2 (technically)

Interface design that is for a display screen that is common on dash consoled. It is a horizontal screen that is wider than it is tall. This type of screen is common in cars as it fits the dash console shape and provides a wide view for content display. However this type of screen can be distracting as the driver has to look away from the road to interact with it. This is primarily due to the distance the screen is located and the driver position. Audio controls in digial format. These screens if available are usually behind other screens, not easily accessible.Audio is a great sensory experience for drivers in their car. Hearing, Seeing,soft touch, smell are all being more designed for interior car spaces. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit Testing ph physical interface and their proposed fucntions through roleplaying. Different layouts of interfaces were changed to test for different driver rteaction and preference. One preference noticed from 3 testers was the want to have main always using functions to be on the right hand dominant side and accesory or relaxing functions to be on the left hand side. LEss priority was given to the left side while driving and in parked. This provided an opportunity to explore what type of interfaces would fit in the two sides of the dash console and how they might be interacted best. Testing physical interface of how one driver would interact with the proposed dash console. Vertical physical screen interactions or gesture interactions were deemed to be less cognitively distracting compared to horizontal content. This helped determine what type of content can be positioned within the cockpit. The type of content relates to the feature the driver would want to use while driving versus when parked. This also helped determine what type of physical computing components (possible sensor or the feature) would be necessary to build the dash console prototype.

Workshop 2 - Making better prototype - Better lighting from 1 led to a strip

The lighting with ledstrip was inspired by lecture and in-class reference. However my lighting choice is due to the priority of visual sensory for drivers. Drivers also preferred lighting controls over audio controls due to the practical use of it over a period of time. Testers see the appeal and experience of a visual paired with audio is more fun comapred to being able to control sound but no lighting or minimal lighting. Lighting was found to be less distracting when it is not near the leg well for prolonged period of time. Functional use is the core for the lighting control.

Mode switching. Personalization for the drivers' visual style can be done through sketch code. Light birhgtness detection that then dims or brighten led strip Temperature sensor range was narrowed to provide the color change affect from wamr to blue cold when temeprature change levels were detected. The sensor was the one on the SeeedStudio sensor kit. External temp sensor was going to be attached to the console for interior cabin temp.This could be extended to the cup holders detecting cold or hot drink and whether they became chilled if it was a hot drink for example. Proximity sensor and led strip through ultrasonic distancing. This was found to be better than IR line tracking sensor or IR normal sensor that only sense when something is shadowing within its detection area. Led and microphone response. The data from the mic was tuned to different threshold. The mic themselves also provided different values depending if it was digital or analog values. Analog being more fine tuned but digital;1 or 0 is easier.

Activity 1: My Research

Lists Help (And They Do)

Assess Your Software

Known

- Screens can be made with Protopie and Sigma
- Sensors can send signals to Protopie
- Data can be sent from Protopie to Arduino

Unknown

- What system to use
- Not familiar with Protopie or Arduino

Sensor Technology Testing

Used: microphone, light sensor, LED screen, LED light, potentiometer, temperature sensor

Key Findings

- Dials are necessary for natural interaction
- Physical buttons preferred for direct controls
- Physical interface equally important as digital response

Materials Assessment (Prototype V1)

Known

- Prototype size too small for testing
- Modular pieces more interactive
- Groupings necessary for clarity

Unknown

- How to make mock dash testable
- What parts to add

UI/UX Assessment (Prototype V1)

Known

- Driver gestures are intentional
- Many screen layers to navigate
- Widgets help personalization

Unknown

- How to integrate screens naturally without becoming another Tesla-like system
- Balance control without distraction

UI Unknowns

- Screen orientation
- Control style
- What features to offer
- What feels invasive to drivers

UX Unknowns

- Easiest controls for users
- Behavior changes with new interfaces
- Modular testing feasibility

Critical Unknowns

Hardware/Software: Using sensors & microchip, UI-hardware connection

Interaction: Driver confusion about capabilities, Interface accessibility

Strategizing - Progress Blockers

- Testing & redesign coordination with limited tester availability
- Need to determine which system connects components
- Time and research investment in learning; difficult to know when to stop research/testing
- Blind spots would be mostly time and research while learning. Deciding on when to stop research or testing is also hard and pushes project behind.


Activity 1 : Action research 3 possible items
- The functions that drivers might find useful that utilizes sensors addition.
- The type of digital interface that drivers are okay with ; not just Tesla big screen.
- How to make the dash console better for testing and engaging for testers.
- What type of digital interfaces are suitable for the system to work.
Hyuindai's technology was revisted to see how physical computing uses simple screens that provides a function to the driver. This function is intentional and multipurpose often times when it is near/in the driver's cockpit. Sim racing equipment was looked at and gamer/driver was observed and asked about their preference in the buttons or interfaces they have available for their specific use and need case. This helped focus the attention on what is valuable to drivers in a real car. This is similar to how racing sim steer wheel is smaller and have more dedicated buttons for specific tasks. This is similar to actual formula race steering wheels, their design is intentional for a purpose. This was kept in my mind so that every functionality i make relates the physical world that provides the driver a service that they want and can see its result. The entire cockpit is condusive the the driver's experience and so the prototype was reworked to build that cockpit experience for testers. From module 2 it was also learnt that testers provided better response when they were more immersed into the curated test environment. A personalized hardware interface that provides enhanced user feature. Great for energiser demographics who enjoy this level of control for their experience. This type of screen UI was the common control type of interface that allow minute touch adjustments. Volume or color can both be adjusted with a similar UI. However these pages are usually hidden behind other screens even if available. A seperate interface that provide these features was the idea with the sound controls. This idea was narrowed to visual effects. Conductive touch test for different led mode switching.

Activity 2: My Research

Weightin out what type of cable and protection fits the use case of the led strip. Research about possible drivers and the need for one or not. Can have integrated ones. Arduino board already handle this function unless board is not used. Weather protect led strip for differenrt use case. Ideal goal was full addition into real car cabin space; hence the length being 300 leds. The use of foam to have a sturdier form for the dash console. The actual dash is collaspable for transport if needed. Each part is also detachable. Felt and other forming material was looked at to make the prototype more sterile for a prototype. The goal was something that isn't so messy that the drivers cant test or give comments/feedback.

Additional Research or Workshops

Interfaces that are already existing for funtional uses in consumer goods that were traditionally not used. This provided the overall widget style interfaces that are easy to customize and use. Protopie courses that help build knowledge on digital car interfaces. Great polished example that was trying to be strived for. A clean interface thatusers interact with physically while the digital interface also is connected in a seamless system.

Project 3

Project 3 Final Prototype

The small interface allow for lighting control with specific functions. IDeal function is proximity lighting where if user hands go near the controls the lighting brightens to help with visibility. The feature is only activate when on and can be turned off. Another mode is for temperature related hot and cold withhin the cabin. Third is the brightness of interior cabin or music reactive led strip. Ambient lighting is also ideal to have a light warm glow. All functions can be personalized for the energisers demographic need.

The not finished car dash console prototype that integrates physical computing to enhance user experience while being safe and non-invasive to drivers. This system tires to simualte the physical computing environment for drivers inside their car. The panel is able to be personalized for different functionality that would be buried under different UI screens. The small vertical interface provide an easy to access control panel that extends user want to the physical car they are in. Ideally when the driver is in the car, they can access all the features they need without having to look away from the road. Ideally the physical computing components include light sensors, temperature sensors, potentiometer dials, LED lights, and an LED screen. These components work together to create a dynamic and interactive experience for the driver, enhancing their overall driving experience while ensuring safety and ease of use.

Unfinished prototype of dash console. Back of unfinished prototype of dash console. The potentiometer on the board controls the brightness of the led strip. A dial would be routed to the front of the console as dial hardware was the ideal interaction for visual brightness and hand tuning coordination. Ideally a 3d-printed box or a smaller board could be used for this system. Each individual sensor coudl also be attached to the conseol structure rather than being hoste don one singular board. This would reduce the size footprint, allowing for practical fitting. This setup could be retrofitted into an actual car dash console for application. It also does not cost the same amount that dealerships or manufacturer charge for technology packages; and that is if the service is offered. Image of prototype with led strip dimmed, an example digital or physical interface between the two screens. Image is a still of a vido where a light mode is being selected; warm ambient light.
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