Bubbly, bricolage prototype.
BUBBLY
Aquarium timer
January, 2021
January, 2021
A short exploration of form in interaction design, and a redesign of an aquarium light timer.
For me, the timer means that my aquarium can be on a steady day/night light cycle, for the life of the small ecosystem within. Without the risk of my personal schedule affecting its well being.
With the redesign I aimed to improve the overall usability and emphasize the timer’s sustainable aspects. Since it is used for the benefit of my non-human companions, saving energy and prolonging the life of the actual light, I wanted the design to embody this and give these properties attention – as opposed to tucking the timer away behind furniture.
Interaction
Setting the timer using the Bubbly interface.
Bubbly timer next to aquarium.
Bubbly material and light play.
Bubbly in context of use.
Video showcasing some of the struggles with my current timer.
Process
Starting from my own experience with setting the timer, I went through a set of quick form explorations. Starting with Arduino Uno and Processing 3 visual coding, and then moving on to crafting the physical interface and more tangible interaction.
>Autoethnographic user testing
> Computational form
> Graphics
> Physical form
> Interaction gestalt
> Computational form
> Graphics
> Physical form
> Interaction gestalt
Potentiometer and LED text
Potentiometer, LED and button, modality exploration
Reading potentiometer input
Adjusting ON setting of timer.
Adjusting OFF setting of timer.
Modes: Set ON, set OFF, manual OFF and manual ON
Cardboard casing
Sketch prototype
Prototyping process.
