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Modulate is a smart and flexible organizational tool that allows for fast group creation, management and idea sharing. It consists of three distinct elements:

The Key stores your ID and interacts with other items so solutions can be customized to you. The Box serves as a hub for group as well as personal work.

By tapping the RFID chip against it, the Box can automatically create groups, keep attendance and record voice and timestamps. By pulling out the top and twisting it to one of four areas of interest, it also allows to share ideas in specific fields and help people find support. If someone would for example have a software related idea, they would pull out the top, twist it so the software area lights up and then speak into it to upload the idea to the cloud.

Last but not least, the Cue is an ambient display that also serves as interior decoration. It communicates the number and area of new ideas communicated through the Box. It thus creates a constant reminder to check the database of ideas uploaded, get inspired and engage with people looking for support.

The smooth integration, low cost and easy setup make modulate a solution that we could foresee to become a reality within less than a year. All the components are readily available and our CMU ID's are already equipped with RFID tags. It is only logical to broaden the range of use cases for these tags. At a reasonably high volume, the cost of a Box could be as low as $20.

As above mentioned, the Key consists of a simple RFID tag although plans could easily modify it into a pager like device that notifies you of upcoming meetings and exams.

The Box consists of a wireless soc (Spark Core), an RFID reader, two potentiometers to read the different states of pulling the module out and select the area of idea. Further, 4 RGB LED's display the area of idea sharing selected by illuminating the translucent top of the modulate.

Finally, the Cue consists of RGB LED strips that are connected to a Spark core via transistors. (The strips need 12v!)


If the RFID reader reads multiple tags within a given time, it automatically creates a new folder on box with all people tapping their tags. Of course more people can be added manually later. If the reader recognizes the group combination, it will automatically take timestamps for the assembled group, record the meeting and upload it. (Due to incompatability issues between Arduino and Spark, this feature could not be implemented)

As for the idea sharing, the vertical potentiometer puts the Box into the idea sharing mode as soon as it gets pulled. A next twist around the rotary potentiometer sets the field of idea and automatically starts recording. Twisting back and pushing the top in will stop the recording. (Again, compatability issues didn't allow for actual voice recordings) The spark then uploads the idea to the cloud where the spark connected to the Cue reads it and changes the brightness, color and amount of lamps lit up.



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