Process

Working within the constraints of using a socket, proximity sensor as input, and relay as output, I found that the greatest challenge resided in communicating changes in state in an observable, predictable way. It was important for me to create an interaction that allowed participants to fully understand the relationship between their actions and the object's behavior. 

Flow State is heavily situated and contextual, necessarily connected to the phone charger. But rather than acting as the subordinate peripheral, Flow State places the extension socket at the center of the interaction, giving it the power as an intermediary to withhold or provide electricity. After successfully writing and testing code to detect varying proximity ranges, and integrating differing relay output within those ranges, I connected the relay to the socket. Based on an approximated configuration made with foam core, I tested out ideal relative placements and sketched out rough dimensions for the enclosure. Once that was laser cut and assembled, I adjusted the proximity thresholds one last time, resolving the rhythm and timing of the relay to accommodate the speed and reactivity of the iPhone display. Originally, the on/off cycle was much shorter, but upon realizing that it would not be reflected through feedback provided through the phone itself, I decided to extend the delay within each cycle.