Making Toys

Updates from October, 2008 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Yury Gitman 7:20 pm on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  antisocial animals 

  character design
  

  

  I would like to make a bunch of antisocial animal plush toys. They are antisocial and they have antisocial behaviors, but they do cute things.

  Ideas of toy function so far:
  1. stick out tongue
  2. crossed arms
  3. yell "shut up" when it detects words it doesn’t like
  4. puff out cheeks
  5. never be face to face with you
  6. air guitar
  7. it will roll its eyes and say "what ever"
  8. when holding  the toy, it would say "leave me alone"

  They all have the same characteristic: they’ll feel embarrassed after doing "bad things".

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  Yury Gitman 6:10 pm on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  Winbond Recorder 

  http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2030777&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=ffffff&fullscreen=1
  Winchip Recorder from Fuki on Vimeo.

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  Yury Gitman 6:09 pm on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  Midterm Proposals (To be Updated SOOON… sorry) 

  At this time in the semester, I can’t stop thinking about my thesis, so I’d like to make something related. 

  For my thesis, I’m exploring simple games that are fun and effective for neuro-rehabilitation. I’ve come up with several simple games that I’m hoping to develop further, both conceptually and technically.

  Each game focuses on a particular function of disability.  For the first one, I’d like to focus on proprioception (one’s sense of position in space).   A person with a proprioception problems often have difficulty sensing where their arms/legs are in space.  For this reason, it’s importan to exercise and train the person by making connections between distance, proximity and posiiton.  One of the games that I have been playtesting is similar to "Pin the Tail."   Using sensors can  possibly help the patient in getting closer to the "target". 

  

  Another game that I’m looking into is called Blinded Samurai.  There are two main players, who have to find each other, as they listen to their personal guides. 

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• 

  Yury Gitman 5:57 pm on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  05 Midterm Concepts 

  #1 A penny a day, keeps a piggy happier
  

  As money gets more, the piggy’s cheek becomes redder/ piggy sounds more pleased.

  #2 Floating duck
  

  While you are taking a bath, the duck will change color with the wave. Or the duck will inform you once the water arrives certain height while you are away and keep storing hot water in the tub to avoid wasting time or water.

  #3 Answering Door
  
  Using IR sensor to release voice message from the host.  Or using push button to allow visitors to leave their message to the host.

  #4 No real height
  
  This height measurement machine won’t hurt anyone with telling your real.  It will only tell you who else has the same height as you.

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  Yury Gitman 5:06 pm on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  Audio Recorder 

  Here is the push buttons and LED lights:

  

  Here is the speaker cover/with plastic tube beneath to amplify the sound
  

  (More …)

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• 

  Yury Gitman 4:57 pm on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  Midterm Concepts 

  1) Omnipod Installation — I have type 1 diabetes, on an insulin pump, etc. Recently I have been looking into this newer pump called the ‘Omnipod.’ Basically each pod is a microcontroller, a couple gears, batteries, a needle, plastic catheter, and reservoir of insulin. You get 10 of them a month, they are controlled wirelessly by a PDM device that tells the pod how many times to move its gear to get insulin out, basically. So I was thinking of hacking into a couple pods. I was given some free ones by the sales-rep…and have already taken one apart. I’m so geeky. Anyway, I was thinking of trying to re-control it, without the PDM. Perhaps making the gear move/some kind of liquid coming out. I think I could also attach a speaker to it and make it say things like "0.5 units" or whatever. I want to bring it alive! Maybe there could be three or four on a wall, with proximity sensors, lit up by LEDS, and when someone gets close they will drip liquid.

  

  

  
  

  See my other project ideas at the following link

  (More …)

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  Yury Gitman 4:48 pm on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  Midterm Concepts 

  Pandas

  

  This concept involves two pandas, which both detect presence. One panda, when detecting someone near by, sends a message to the second panda, which sneezes, alerting the second person of the first person’s presence. Naturally this concept makes the most sense when the two pandas are in different places.

  Time Bird

  

  The tenatively named Time Bird monitors the amount of time someone spends in front the computer. The bird will chirp every hour, counting the number of hours that pass, and when someone gets up from the computer the bird will reset.

  Ambient Sound Frame

  

  This photo frame would play ambient sound from the day the photograph was taken, or a recorded message related to the photograph when someone picks up the frame or gets close to it.

  Proximity Alert

  

  I thought about this the other day while setting up a photo studio in my apartment. I came close to falling over the lights and cords several times and could have used a little extra help steering clear of all the obstacles.

  Magic Music Box

  

  The music box would play a short tune, much like a traditional music box (or snow globe), but it would mysteriously sense your presence and begin to play! Like Magic!!

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  Yury Gitman 4:27 pm on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  04 Recorder with push buttons 

  http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2029953&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
  04 Recorder from Hsiang Ju Hung on Vimeo.
  order of the buttons from left to right is: Erase, Forward, Rec, Play, FT, Vol. There are only three white push buttons that have graphic. The speak is at the left bottom. I recorded four sounds, tried to turn up and down the volume, and pressed Forward and Play to play next sound.

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  Yury Gitman 1:27 pm on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  MidTerm Prototypes 

  ChatBot Voice-Replacement Surgery

  

  I got this robot a few months ago because I thought he was cool. He is named ChatBot, except his chat functionality doesn’t work. You are supposed to be able to record on his little tape face and he’ll play it back to you. Instead he just goes forward and turns (He can’t go backwards. Poor chatbot). This project would help give ChatBot back his voice, and also, as a bonus, it will let him warn you about his proximity to objects that might hurt him (like walls).

  Taunting Cat Toy

  

  My cats like cat toys. They are also feisty and tend to think they are (every pun intended) the cat’s pajamas. I propose a cat toy that will a) entertain them and b) put them in their place. I like the idea of the cat toy sensing motion, and, if nothing has come close to it recently, it will go through one of its 10 pre-recorded taunts. Only after the cat approaches it will it tone down the insults. I could also include a motion sensor that could do something when it was rolled. Fun!

  Facebook Adicts

  

  Are you tired of being tied to Facebook? Well how’s about a little sensor that pulls data from your facebook account and tells you "There’s no need to check your account now," whenever you get close to your computer? Could be useful.

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  Yury Gitman 2:06 am on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  Chipcorder with buttons 

  Below is a video of my chipcorder working, and some photos of what it would look like if I could get it to work inside it’s cute little box-like shell. I’ve apparently killed my other chip, and I think I’ve done something iffy to the volume pin on my second chip. Ruh roh. Before I screwed everything up, though, things were beautiful:

  http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2024267&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1
  Chipcorder with Buttons from Joana Kelly on Vimeo.

  The Case

  

  Look, there’s my speaker, some holes for the LEDS, and all my buttons! Hooray!

  Lodged

  

  Also, this is a photograph of some stuff from Sparkfun lodged in my mailbox. Great! I know it looks like maybe if I tilt the box then it will slide out of the mailbox quite easily, but I assure you it does not work. I’m going to hack apart the box inside the mailbox tomorrow. I’ll let you know how it goes.

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  Yury Gitman 2:05 am on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  Katrina’s Midterm Concepts 

  Below are some storyboards of concepts I was thinking about. Some of them are kinda ‘out there’ and probably not completely feasible to do. But I’m throwing them out there anyways…

  
  
  Concept 1: The Secret Teller
  Description: A lamp detects when someone is in its proximity and lures that person toward it by inviting the person to hear a secret. When a person approaches, the the lamp fades low and will blurt out some random quote or embarrassing sounds, etc. It’s silly. That’s the point.

  
  
  Concept 2: 3D Theater Box
  Description: A small box with 3D lenses lights up inside when a person peers in it, revealing a little story told through a strip of anaglyphs. User listens to story and moves the strip forward when prompted by the narration.

  

  Concept 3: The Gathering Table
  Description: A lit table repeatedly asks someone to sit with it. When a person does, the light on that side of the table goes off and the table then repeatedly asks someone else to site with them. Once a second person sits, the light on their side of the table goes off and the table invites the two people to have some conversation.

  

  Concept 4: Red Light/Green Light
  Description: A cube asks people who get near it to relocate it elsewhere. Using an accelerometer to detect how it’s moving, the cube get scared as it’s being moved and will freak out if it’s moved too fast. This will probably make the user want to put the cube down. And once the cube is set back down, it will only ask to be moved again…

  

  Concept 5: Thesis Prototype
  Description: A dual trash/recycling bin make ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ sounds depending which bin wast is thrown into. If more trash than recyclables are thrown away, the bin glows a yucky red/warning color. If more recyclables than trash are thrown away, the bin glows a happy green color.

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  Yury Gitman 1:58 am on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  Proposal for my IR sensor device 

  
  
  
  

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  Yury Gitman 1:56 am on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  The Envelope Recorder 

  http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2024017&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
  Portable Recorder Device from Jennifer Dopazo on Vimeo.

  (More …)

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• 

  Yury Gitman 1:17 am on October 21, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  The New Boom(less)Box. 

  Yes, the Winbond circuit now comes in a sleeker, more stylish look
  complete with toggle power switch, built-in 1/8" jack for recording,
  and mystery buttons for playback which I haven’t labeled yet. Ships
  with random quotes from Don Hertzfeldt animations. Bonus.

  http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2023657&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
  The New Boom(less) Box. from Katrina Bekessy on Vimeo.

  Here are some pics for some details…

  

  Title: The Boom Box
  Description: Box with matte board top custom cut to accommodate playback buttons, the speaker, LED’s, toggle power switch, and jack for recording from device.

  

  Title: Top View
  Description: Toggle switch has been turned on, as shown by the lit LED.

  

  Title: Closeup
  Description: A closer look at the switch, the jack, and the LED’s. One LED signifies power, and the other blinks when performing a playback action.

  

  Title: Another Closeup
  Description: This closeup includes the playback buttons. They’re not labeled yet, but they will be. I promise.

  

  Title: Boom Box Guts
  Description: Top is attached with Velcro for easy removal. Inside, one breadboard contains the circuit with chip and the other is for button placement. A paper cup help to reverberate the sound from the speaker and a battery pack is hooked up to a 5 Volt regulator which is then controlled by the toggle switch. Huge thanks goes out to jumper cables and electrical tape.

  

  Title: Another Angle
  Description: In case you wanted to actually follow my wiring, here it is!

  

  Title: The Meat of It
  Description: How can I even begin to explain this thing? Thank goodness for datasheets.

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