Group 5_Lumitouch - Memeonic
Made by Shama Patwardhan and Shivani Kannan
Created: December 14th, 2024
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Intention
Memeonic is a reinterprets of MIT’s LumiTouch, which explored emotional connection through tangible interaction and light-based telepresence. Our project is a reinterpretation that aims to evolve the concept of emotional telepresence for today's digital-native users, blending the tactile comfort of physical objects with the expressive power of internet memes.
HISTORICAL CASE
Our project is inspired by MIT’s LumiTouch:
Chang, A., Resner, B., Koerner, B., Wang, X. C., & Ishii, H. (2001). LumiTouch: an emotional communication device. CHI '01 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 313-314[9].
What is it?
Interactive picture frames - when you touch one frame, paired frame lights up
Why do we need it?
Create sense of remote presence, enhance long-distance relationships
How does it do it?
Transmitting touch as light via the internet
Who is it meant for?
Friends/Family/Couples separated by distance.
Features:
- Tangible Interfaces: Integrates digital communication into physical objects.
- Ambient Communication: Maintains peripheral awareness without constant attention.
- Asymmetric Communication: Supports emotional exchange without simultaneous interaction.
- Personal Emotional Language: Allows users to develop unique interaction patterns.
Significance:
- Bridges physical and digital realms in communication.
- Demonstrates technology's potential for conveying emotional content in long-distance relationships.
- Inspires subsequent research in emotional communication devices and ambient displays.
PHASE I: REMAKING
Approach
Our approach to this project was to be incremental: incremental in terms of building the concept & circuit and recording all our explorations in the process. We started simple by remaking Lumitouch as it was - with the touch sensor & LED (minus the photo frame) and evolved it to become Memeonic - a table top device with Neopixed
Process
Our design process involved several stages, each with its own challenges and learnings:
Research
- Analyzed LumiTouch's key features and significance
- Created a bill of materials, modifying it based on feedback (e.g., using touch sensors instead of piezo sensors)
- Developed a high-level workflow diagram for the desired logic
Prototyping & Debugging
Adopted an incremental approach, adding components gradually - Started with a simple touch sensor and LED circuit
- Implemented Webhooks to connect two devices, facing significant challenges in configuration and debugging
- Integrated NeoPixel strips in place of LED
- Created a rough cardboard model of the form to test ergonomics and component placement
- Added a second touch sensor in both circuits, encountering and resolving configuration issues
- Placed functioning circuits in the final foam board model of Memeonic
Key challenges included: - Webhook configuration and debugging, requiring multiple iterations and external help
- Ensuring correct syntax in configuration files (e.g., 'access_token' vs 'access_code')
- Integrating multiple sensors and managing their interactions
PHASE II: REINTERPRETING
Approach
The initial concept was designed for couples, but we decided to give it a contemporary twist by creating a meme-sharing device for friends. In today's digital age, we often express our emotions through memes on social media. This device is a playful take on that trend.
The design features two separate pieces, one for each person involved. Each piece is has two different memes, representing two distinct emotions. This allows friends to share their feelings in a fun and modern way, using the universal language of memes.
Process
The first part of our prototype involved getting the circuit to work.
We started with a simple LED and capacitive touch device. The idea was that when one sensor was touched, it would send a signal to another board, causing an LED to light up. We faced some challenges getting the two Photon devices to connect over a webhook. However, after multiple attempts at creating new access tokens and a lot of trial and error, we finally got the two Photons to connect.
Once the devices were connected and the LED was blinking, we brainstormed the form of our product to decide how to place the lights.
Our reinterpretation involved creating an emotion-sharing device through memes, designed for two friends. Inspired by the LumiTouch, we envisioned a device that wouldn't send a discrete message but rather indicate a person's feelings. We decided to create a small box with multiple memes on it. Person A could touch any of the memes to communicate their emotion to Person B, with a light color corresponding to the selected meme.
We sketched several box designs to understand how to accommodate the circuit and create an appealing, fun-looking product. For this prototype, we chose a small house-like structure to evoke a homely, comfortable feeling of friendship. This design also allowed us to fit the circuit and have enough space for the memes.
We selected two memes, happy and sad, both featuring cats since we both like cats. We also envisioned that the memes could be changed when the person buys the house. We selected the colors and backgrounds to evoke the corresponding emotions, and used light diffusion to enhance the product's aesthetic appeal.
#include "Particle.h"
#include "neopixel.h"
#define TOUCH_SENSOR_1_PIN D3
#define TOUCH_SENSOR_2_PIN D2
#define PIXEL_PIN SPI
#define PIXEL_COUNT 8
#define PIXEL_TYPE WS2812
bool wasTouched1 = false;
bool wasTouched2 = false;
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip(PIXEL_COUNT, PIXEL_PIN, PIXEL_TYPE);
void setup() {
pinMode(TOUCH_SENSOR_1_PIN, INPUT);
pinMode(TOUCH_SENSOR_2_PIN, INPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
Particle.subscribe("toggle_led_1", eventHandler);
Particle.subscribe("toggle_led_3", eventHandler);
strip.begin();
strip.show();
}
void eventHandler(const char *event, const char *data) {
Serial.printlnf("Received event: %s, data: %s", event, data);
if (strcmp(data, "on") == 0) {
if (strcmp(event, "toggle_led_1") == 0) {
setStripColor(255, 165, 0); // warm orange yellow for toggle_led_1
} else if (strcmp(event, "toggle_led_3") == 0) {
setStripColor(0, 0, 204); // deep Blue for toggle_led_3
}
}
}
void setStripColor(int r, int g, int b) {
for(int i=0; i<PIXEL_COUNT; i++) {
strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(r, g, b));
}
strip.show();
delay(1000);
strip.clear();
strip.show();
}
void loop() {
int sensorValue1 = digitalRead(TOUCH_SENSOR_1_PIN);
int sensorValue2 = digitalRead(TOUCH_SENSOR_2_PIN);
if (sensorValue1 == HIGH && !wasTouched1) {
wasTouched1 = true;
Serial.println("Touch 1 detected! Publishing event.");
Particle.publish("toggle_led_2", "on", PRIVATE);
} else if (sensorValue1 == LOW && wasTouched1) {
wasTouched1 = false;
Serial.println("Touch 1 released.");
}
if (sensorValue2 == HIGH && !wasTouched2) {
wasTouched2 = true;
Serial.println("Touch 2 detected! Publishing event.");
Particle.publish("toggle_led_4", "on", PRIVATE);
} else if (sensorValue2 == LOW && wasTouched2) {
wasTouched2 = false;
Serial.println("Touch 2 released.");
}
delay(50);
}
Prototype
Introducing the Memeonic, a unique emotion-sharing device designed for friends who want to stay connected in a fun and meaningful way. Inspired by the LumiTouch, the Memeonic allows users to communicate their feelings through memes and light signals, creating a playful and heartfelt experience.
The Memeonic features a small, house-like structure that evokes a sense of home and comfort. Inside, a simple circuit connects two Photon devices, enabling seamless communication between the boxes. When Person A touches a meme on their Memeonic, it sends a signal to Person B's box, lighting up an LED in a color that corresponds to the selected meme.
For this prototype, we've chosen two cat-themed memes to represent happy and sad emotions. The Memeonic's design allows for easy customization, so users can change the memes to suit their preferences. The light diffusion enhances the aesthetic appeal, making the Memeonic a charming addition to any space.
Whether you're feeling joyful or a bit down, the Memeonic lets you share your emotions with a friend in a delightful and visually engaging way. It's more than just a device; it's a bridge that brings friends closer, one meme at a time.
Conceptual Design(s):
In the future, we envision a multi-sided, 3-dimensional product with multiple memes on each side. Each meme will have a corresponding color to capture a broader range of emotions from the sender, beyond just the current two. The device will also provide feedback to confirm that the message has been sent.
We also imagine that the product can be customized, allowing consumers to choose any memes they like. Additionally, it will be a DIY product that friends can assemble together, making the connection more meaningful and personal. This shared activity will not only enhance the emotional bond but also add a fun, collaborative element to the experience.
Acknowledgements
Provide credits to any sources of code, images, etc. that you have used directly within this project.