Reflection and Critique:

Kenny: Working on the software & electrical part of the project, I realized how each function/algorithm or electronics has its own interfacing that requires extra time and effort to understand. In coding the whole system, debugging for edge cases is very tough to pinpoint the root cause of the issue. Meanwhile, knowing your resources really help a lot in accomplishing the tasks. In regards to the product, one of the judges' commented on the fundamental project: finding a more fun & thoughtful solution to the problem like having a 'sunlight-collecting' device that you can bring around. This speaks volume to how important is the scope creation & ideation which we could have put more thought into. Finally, with team dynamics, I'm really grateful to have teammates that can be dependable on working with different parts of the products with clear communication and aligned goals.

Jenny: It is exciting to make ideas come true from sketch to prototype. From the process, I realized the importance to divide the prototype into small pieces so the whole project can be iterated based on that! I really appreciate everyone on the team creating this prototype and leaving beautiful memory this winter.

Chengzhi: From this exercise, I came to realize the importance of having all the information clear and updated in a group and also the importance of collaboration in a team. I learned a lot from my teammates who work hard to make our concept finally come true. To push this project further, I may implement the resin for the cubes and real wood for the base. It’s an intriguing project as we come to realize that implementing the natural materials for IoT device is a new venue to research into.

Hongyu: