iSerendipity is an ambient lounge that enhances mood, sociability and interactivity among people. Organic-shaped pods float amongst each other through space and light up once a person steps on. These pods detect the activity levels of people on each pod and drift through space, either isolating people for contemplative reflection or clustering active groups to enable chance encounters – serendipity. Pod lights are time- and context- sensitive: initial activation of a pod stimulates a glow that intensifies over time and colour hues change according to activity levels. The exterior façade displays the harmonious movement and colour intensity of each pod as aesthetic visual information to passersby.

Images

Videos of iSerendipity’s interaction points in motion

Download final presentation here.

 

' {$STAMP BS2}

counter VAR Word
speed VAR Word

speed = 757

OUTPUT 0
OUTPUT 1
OUTPUT 12

INPUT 14
INPUT 15

start:
    'motor rotation
    PULSOUT 12, speed
    PAUSE 20

    OUT0 = 0                    'turn LED off
    IF IN15 = 1 THEN led_1_on   'switched on

    OUT1 = 0                    'turn LED off
    IF IN14 = 1 THEN led_2_on   'switched on
GOTO start

led_1_on:

  'keep light on for a few seconds
  FOR counter = 1 TO 75

    'continue the motor pulse
    PULSOUT 12, speed
    PAUSE 20

    'turn on the LED
    OUT0 = 1
  NEXT
RETURN

led_2_on:
  'keep light on for a few seconds
  FOR counter = 1 TO 75

    'continue the motor pulse
    PULSOUT 12, speed
    PAUSE 20

    'turn on the LED
    OUT1 = 1
  NEXT
RETURN

Since we will have 3 pods circulating the track and hitting switches along their paths continuously, we had to find a different method that eliminated loops and kept seperate incremental counters.

' {$STAMP BS2}

led1On VAR Word
led2On VAR Word
led3On VAR Word
led4On VAR Word

led1TimeCount VAR Word
led2TimeCount VAR Word
led3TimeCount VAR Word
led4TimeCount VAR Word

ledOnLength VAR Word
motorSpeed VAR Word

INPUT 1
INPUT 2
INPUT 3
INPUT 4

OUTPUT 7 'green
OUTPUT 8 'blue
OUTPUT 9 'red
OUTPUT 10 'green

OUTPUT 12

start:
  led1On = 0
  led2On = 0
  led3On = 0
  led4On = 0

  led1TimeCount = 0
  led2TimeCount = 0
  led3TimeCount = 0
  led4TimeCount = 0

  ledOnLength = 20
  motorSpeed = 755 '750 = stop

GOTO main1

main1:
  PULSOUT 12, motorSpeed
  PAUSE 20

  IF led1TimeCount>=ledOnLength THEN led1_off
  IF led1On=1 THEN led1_add
  IF IN1=1 THEN led1_on
GOTO main2:

main2:

  PULSOUT 12, motorSpeed
  PAUSE 20

  IF led2TimeCount>=ledOnLength THEN led2_off
  IF led2On=1 THEN led2_add
  IF IN2=1 THEN led2_on
GOTO main3:

main3:
  PULSOUT 12, motorSpeed
  PAUSE 20

  IF led3TimeCount>=ledOnLength THEN led3_off
  IF led3On=1 THEN led3_add
  IF IN3=1 THEN led3_on
GOTO main4:

main4:
  PULSOUT 12, motorSpeed
  PAUSE 20

  IF led4TimeCount>=ledOnLength THEN led4_off
  IF led4On=1 THEN led4_add
  IF IN4=1 THEN led4_on
GOTO main1:

 
led1_on:
  led1On = 1
GOTO main2

led1_add:
  OUT8 = 1
  led1TimeCount = led1TimeCount + 1
GOTO main2

led1_off:
  OUT8 = 0
  led1TimeCount = 0
  led1On = 0
GOTO main2

led2_on:
  led2On = 1
GOTO main3

led2_add:
  OUT9 = 1
  led2TimeCount = led2TimeCount + 1
GOTO main3

led2_off:
  OUT9 = 0
  led2TimeCount = 0
  led2On = 0
GOTO main3

led3_on:
  led3On = 1
GOTO main4

led3_add:
  OUT10 = 1
  led3TimeCount = led3TimeCount + 1
GOTO main4

led3_off:
  OUT10 = 0
  led3TimeCount = 0
  led3On = 0
GOTO main4
 
led4_on:
  led4On = 1
GOTO main1

led4_add:
  OUT7 = 1
  led4TimeCount = led4TimeCount + 1
GOTO main1

led4_off:
  OUT7 = 0
  led4TimeCount = 0
  led4On = 0
GOTO main1

Wiring, wiring, wiring

Light at the end of the tunnel!

All 3 pods are now wired up with working LED lights.

Next step then is to activate the lights using switch controls….

Next, in order to convey the idea of pods changing colour according to activity clusters, we first considered each pod carrying 3 LEDs of different colours and activating each one depending on its location on the track. The implementation details started becoming too complicated, especially if the pod needs programmable lights, meaning that the moving elements require wires connected to the BasicStamp board.

Thus, we decided on a simpler solution in which the coloured lights for each section would be statically placed on different locations on the actual track that will switch on whenever it senses a pod travelling over that section.

Colour-changes on each individual pod would have required a more complex pod construction of a non-rotating bottom layer to hit a specific switch location and use a bearing on the top to allow for pod rotation above the track.

Our circuitry diagrams:

We currently have a cardboard prototype of these elements but are trying to piece together the pieces so that the centrepiece of the top layer will be held up and kept still while the bottom disk rotates.

Motion of the pods will follow natural clustering behaviour based on noise and activity level on each pod. Colours change based on the activity occuring on the pods.

The pod movement can digitally “paint” its track on the floor marking a history of the path and levels of activity during a visit. Leaving a pod will cause the track to fade away for marking other pod tracks.

Stepping on a pod will activate its movement. After having sat in the pod, standing up will cue it to stop so the user can setp off safely.

Pod components can link up when it detects certain directed gestures and attention between two particular pods. 

The digital table can act as a coaster to keep a drink hot or warm.