Step 3 (New Casing and Documentation):

Despite the challenges faced developing the project, we used the time we had left (Friday to Sunday) to switch back to the tasks most related to our backgrounds (JD [Mechanical Engineering] to hardware & Travis [Information Systems] to Software) allowing us to create a project closer to our original vision. JD redesigned the casing: a hook was added to allow it to be hung up, a space was added to fit a screen, the slit for the Peltier devices was widened, the words "Political Thermometer" engraved in the base, the number of LEDs was changed to 3 and snapfit connections were added between the top and base. The parts that were ordered (9V battery caps & lay-flat wires) came and allowed the electronics to be more compact. Travis also changed the python script to cycle through a list of the most popular politicians allowing PoliTherm to stand alone as an ambient device. The device came a long way but was still a couple of iterations from being finished as the snap fit connections were too exact for the 3D printer and as a result did not work properly (forcing us to close the device with tape) and though added attention had been paid to improving the casing, the interaction between the user and the Peltier devices was underdeveloped.