iSerendipity

Now that we have the mechanical pod moving along the track, we need to figure out the LED lights. Firstly, each pod will be able to light up when it senses pressure. This can be controlled by a switch hooked up to a wireless battery and LED.

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:

The mechanism below describes a rotating bottom disk, while a top disk stays static. Our pods will be moving along a track guided by two pins, one of which follows the circular track on the top disk, and the second pin follows the slot on the bottom disk for back and forth movement.

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.