Thesis 3. Last semester finished experiment (2014)
At the end of last semester, I wanted to prototype a handle bar that has turning signal lights. I wanted to understand and learn how cyclists and others react to the signals, to also explore more possibility of better awareness and smarter safety solution for cyclist.
I attached LED on one side and connecting with a push button; the lights will start blinking when it is turn on from the push button.
I started by experimental with different types of push button and connected with a LED light. I was able to control the LED to have the soft blinking effect and switch on and off by using Arduino.
I used wooden dowels as the handlebar so I can easily drill holes and cut with it.
Push button attached to the handle bar.
After all, I connected the wires together inside the handle bar.
What was the strongest component of my prototype?
Understanding there are the needs for it. It speaks the connect and the function much better than just word or sketches.
What was the weakest component of your prototype?
The prototype wasn’t complete and can be redesign. It should have more functions and other materials to tell a better story of the concept..
What are the areas in your thesis concept to further explore for: a) interaction, b) design, c) technical?
The interaction between bicycle and the cyclist was where I started my thesis, I wanted to created a better safety solution for cyclist during their bike ride. Awareness for the cyclist and others transportation in the environment is really important. I started to question how are other better solutions or possibility to have better awareness than only creating a smart safety lighting system for cyclist.
What new areas have you not yet explored?
GPS tracking, if the transportation are sharing the same GPS tracking language, I believe that bicycle can use the same language to track where are other cars within the environment.
What are the types of Bicycles? What is the most comment one and non comment one?
Different kind of the cyclist and what are the behaviors during their bike ride?
What are the other area that I can explore?
In thinking about the user’s experience what phases have you overly focused on? What parts of the experience have gone unexplored?
Yes, I was focusing on what the final prototypes would look like from very beginning of the semester, which limited me to be able to explore high level thinking or possibilities for my thesis.
As you consider the above list, identify which aspects are more beneficial as a research investigation or prototyping investigation.
To document and ride with different type of cyclist’s route. This can helps me to understand different insights for my thesis, and allows others to agree the needs of it.
Post image and/or re-writing of your Fresh Start Brainstorming Part 1 (“a totally different approach”)
How can I create a better or smarter safety system for the cyclists during their ride? I felt designing and building safety lighting system in different bike parts doesn’t really solve the needs of “awareness” for cyclists and other transportations. If cyclist can received warning from their bike during their bike riding, this prevents cyclist from unnecessary incidents.
