Week 16.

Before the presentation we finished up the report and the B.O.M. We even put together a bloopers reel as something we could keep to remember the project. On the day the process began by everybody setting up their boards and models around the room. During this time people wondered around and looked at presentation layouts and took photos and discussed the products functionality. We also did some product demonstrations for staff members. We decided to go with the name message in a bottle as an overly descriptive label as well as making it relatable to the Police song message in a bottle.

After the programming was completed we were able to implement soldering techniques to the electronics. The electronic arduino was then implemented into the foam model. The foam model was cut in half. This would allow for the electronics to sit within. It also allowed for access to tweak the arduino wiring and connections. The outside of the large model was then painted for better aesthetic visualization. 





Our presentation table: 

Overall we found this a very engaging assignment that kept us on our toes until the end.

Week 15.

This week we started with a very direct plan:
Cad: Iain
Model: Iain and Monique
Videos: Everyone, Monique compile
Boards: Rafe and Iain
Report: Rafe template and everyone on separate parts

Powerpoint: Rafe template and everyone compile
Arduino: Iain and everyone
BOM: Jordan East

Report breakup:
BOM: Jordan
Context: Monique
Scenario: Monique
Storyboard: Rafe
Process of use: Jordan
Case Study: Jordan
Object form and Interaction: Iain
Behaviour within object: Monique
Intuative Interaction: Jordan
Key of use in menu: Rafe
Tech drawings: Iain
Hero shot and renders: Iain

I picked up the models from the workshop and painted them ready for the movie. We met more with Yasu to finalise our Arduino codes. The video of the working Arduino can be found on google docs group 8.

I needed help to get the interactive foam models cut in half so I went to see the workshop guys and they helped me out.

The model which would be used in context was 3d printed. This would allow for accurate portrayal of shape and size. It was then painted to represent the product exactly. We also tested it on multiple bottles to try the fit.

The materials were then decided. It was neccissary to include materials that had corrosion resistance.

It was decided that the LED was to be interchangable. As a result the cover piece would have to be removed. The cover piece would consist of a thread with an O-ring wedged inbetween to prevent water leakage. 

We then bunkered down for a night and completed the movies and boards.

For our presentations it was neccissary to produce two different videos. The videos would contain both an interactive model demonstration and a context use demonstration. 

When developing the induction charging unit for the device numerous existing designs were examined (including: wine bottle holders, spice racks etc.)

It was decided to integrate the charging unit into a system which can interchange between hanging onto walls and sitting on benchtops. Ideas such as flexible storages and bending designs were investigated.

Week 14.

We began finalising our product and drawing the final version on Solidworks in order to get a better understanding of it form and possible function. Our two CAD experts Jorand and Iain began work on the form of our product and completed simple renders so we could get an idea of aesthetics.
We were advised to make the product more interesting and extravagent, however still keeping in within the design brief and context aesthetics. The inital sketches showed the product to be very simple and small. 

The body/shell was to be made from stainless steel. The insert and the touch points were to have rubber pads.

As described by Rafe Delaney: A design change which developed due to materials was the lower wings. This made an easier grip point and provided strength to the inner section. The sealing ring which prevented water from escaping when poured was changed from outside to inside the bottle. This would prove manufacturing to be easier and provide a better seal. Rubber nodules would be inserted on the inner section of the wings to clip the bottle cap into position. These nodules would not wrap the full section of the rim. This would make it easier to remove the bottle cap.


I organised a meeting with yasu to gain a better understanding behind the coding of the arduino for the project. He provided a more advanced three axis accelerometer which would help identify movements accurately. However we had troubles with this and changed to an X and Y axis accelerometer. 
After talking to the workshop guys we decided to make the interactive model from CNCing Foam and 3D powder printing for the two scale models The scale of the model was to be increased to 3x the size to contain the arduino components.

This led us to 2 conclusions of combing a mixture of Stainless Steal and Rubber.

This led us to 2 conclusions of combing a mixture of Stainless Steal and Rubber.
This led us to 2 conclusions of combing a mixture of Stainless Steal and Rubber.

Due to our product water sealing we needed it to be durable enough not to fall out when tipped upside down. At the same time the product needed to have durable materials that could be washed and cleaned.

These two materials are already commonly used in similar contexts for wine stoppers.

Week 13.

I have worked in hospitality for many years from five star dining to bars and pubs. Therefore I already possessed a lot of knowledge about water bottles used in the context of our product. We then tested to see how lights would work inside the bottle and how it would look with different water heights and light colours.

We found that a frosted finished glass diffused the light and spread it more evenly over the bottle surface. With out the frosted glass the light pin pointed and was less brighter as an overall object.

The bottle was brought to the workshop and it was sandblasted. The test was completed again. We submerged the light within the water and test weather there was a different glow effect.

After completing this test we would bring the bottle outside and both under direct sunlight and undercover. This would determine whether it was suitable for daytime outdoor lighting. The daytime light made it difficult to see the illuminative glow.

A test was then conducted to show the bottle when put through certain movements. It proved to be very successful as different lights were portrayed onto the ground when moved.

The design of the product changed further as we considered placement of the LED and the spout for the product.

After user testing we decided that a spout needed to be improved for water flow and handles added to help pull the top off when needed. We began playing with the shape and style to help create an identity which suited the context.

To help work out the form of the product we moulded clay to see how different shapes worked over the bottle and how they fitted within our hand.

The model helped to understand the exact shape of the design and figure out how it would work.

Last week we went away separately to research prototyping and user interaction. A video was taken which can been seen on google docs group 8 page, shows a user responding to key words with the bottle. Testing began by testing how the light laminates in the bottle with both clear glass bottles and frosted glass bottles.

To get the bottle forsted we had to sand blast it down in the workshop after our initial testing on the clear bottled glass.

We tested all colours of the LED that we planned on using. We then had to work out what lighting demonstrated the best illumination of the LED and with what style of bottle FROSTED or CLEAR GLASS?

From our testing we discovered that the frosted glass gave the best illumination that wasn't too bright or distracting to users compared to the clear glass bottle.

Week 11.

We found that it would be best to introduce a product that would fit to an existing part of a restaurant rather than making the restaurant purchase new product that didn't already belong. This was established from working out what both a waiter and customer interacted with in the Restaurant Scenario. The complimentary bottled water is an object that is constantly used in restaurants as soon as the customer is seated the bottle of water is brought out or in some cases is already waiting for them. In cafes and restaurants it is usually positioned on the table rather than on a stand by itself to the side for everyone to use.

This bottle shape gave us a strong influence over the form of the object. This drew focus on and object that was quiet visble to both users and somthing that all users would use in a restraunt scenario.

We then had to figure out how the customer and waiter would interact with the product that was intuitive and interesting. This led to the top of the bottle and working out a product that would sit in almost like a cork.

Based off existing products that acted as wine savers and corks, we were able to grasp a certain style that would be aesthetically pleasing and practical for the context would work. 

After we researched existing products we then began to figure out what interactions could be used and what outputs the Arduino could make.

We then began playing with interactive methods on the lid. Our initial proposal contained too many metaphorical uses and not enough intuitive form.
With much refining we came up with a list of interacitive purposes for the cap:
Tap (with cutlery) - Attention of waitor (Red LED)
Twist top - Order (Green LED)
Shake bottle slightly - Drink refill needed, senses water in bottle (Blue LED)
Cup over top - Bill (No light, smothered like a flame)
Idle (white Light)

Week 10.

This week we strived for concept approval. We pitched our new findings and ideas and got excellent feedback from this. We were told we were heading in the right direction and given tools to use to develop our ideas further. One of these tools was looking specifically at interaction and how the user behaves. So that for next week we would have videos showing how an actual user would interact with the product or something of a similar task or shape.

However feedback led us to creating a more interactive product that worked in function with both the waiters and the customers, where both users benifited from the use.

Listed requirements for waiter and customer:

Customer:

Bill

Drink Refill

Order Food

Receive Food

Waiting for Food

Clean Up

Attention

Drink Order

Alert When Food is Ready

How Long the Meal Will Take

Seating

Plate Collection

Air Conditioning

Fans

Music

Baby Chairs

Wheel Chair Access

Pram Access

Complaints

Compliments

Information

Tasting’s

Spills

Arguments

Unruly Behaviour

Ordering
Ordering Food

Waiter:

Ordering Drinks

Display of Cutlery

Addition Cutlery 

Dirty Cutlery

Dropped Cutlery

Refill of Water

Refill of Drinks

Refill of Ice

Refill of Condiments

Refill of Milk and Coffee

Clean Up

Spill Clean Up

Clothes Clean Up

Table Clean Up

Floor Clean Up

Questions and Answers

Plate Collection

Glass Collection

Empty Bottle Collection

Rubbish Collection

Table Attention

Customer Attention

Food Drop Off Attention

Drink Drop Off Attention

Correcting Unruly Behaviour

Remaining on Hand

Keeping an Eye on all Events

Throughout the Mid-semester break the design team found it incredibly difficult to confirm our concept as to head into further design development. It was absolutely vital that during this session, we completely finalised our interaction, concept and scenario. These insights resulted in a better understanding of our original concept. 

Week 9.

Today we pitched our design idea. It went really well and we got lots of good feedback before we presented from the tutors. However this changed our whole idea before we did the actual pitch.

The design we presented was based around a product which is placed on every table in a restaurant or busy bar and would have certain interactions which would produce different outputs for the staff.

Ideas such as incorperating an interactive game were used. This helped customers interact with the product as well as activate its key functions. Because we decided that the idea was appropriate we decided to do research on all the interactions between customers and waiters.