Feb 28, 2023
My idea is super simple, just a device to monitor the distance between the user’s head and the screen. When the user crosses the border, the warning signal will light up. The device is called ‘Guard4Eye’, hopefully, it could correct my improper posture.
This week, there have been a few changes on the dashboard. I just modified the code of the warning part in Arduino, from the period in seconds to the times of crossing the border. You can find all of the code HERE
Since the device should be able to mount/clamp on any screen, the device should be light, and the clamp should be compatible. So I will power the device with a power supply rather than install the battery inside of the device, and I found the screw-on clamping knob to make a clamp that could be adjusted and installed on any kind of screen.
For the fabrication, the sketch is shown below.
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Mar 6, 2023
This week I worked on the soldering and fabrication for my device. To make it lighter and thinner for clamping on the screen, I used the nano adapter and soldered the sensor and LEDs on the PCB board.
Message:
The device is aimed at monitoring a person’s sitting posture and hopes to cultivate a good sitting habit. Since the Arduino cannot connect to my apartment’s WiFi, I’m going to leave it on the floor during spring break. The device could also be a communal monitor to give warnings to users who have incorrect sitting postures.
Sensor: VL53L0X
Schematic Diagram:
Code: here.
Final Output:
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Web Layout:
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Mar 28, 2023
Data Analysis:
Because of the internet issue, I installed the device on the floor in one individual room.
I installed the device on Thursday (March 9) and gave it to Ding to use.
She worked about 5 hours, getting the warning nearly 200 times. Data showed that sometimes she will close to the screen by around 40cm.
2 guys used the device on Friday (March 10). The first person is always close to the screen, less than 30cm. The second person has good habits; data is always around 50cm to 60cm. Or they might be the same people, just try to stay away from the screen after the blink signal.
A person is working on Saturday (March 11), and the data is relatively around 35 cm to 45cm, so there are lots of warnings. Worked about 1 hour; warnings: more than 300 times. The interesting thing here is that the blink of LEDs did not disturb the guy’s work. But for me, I think the blink of four ultra-bright LEDs at the same time makes me feel dizzy, so I stay away from the screen.
After that, most of the data shows “leave” in line with spring break being empty. The increase in warning times is triggered by every single warning detection, maybe by some people around it or staff cleaning the table.
Reflection:
The device I made for the midterm is more like the start of how a monitor device should be rather than a useful device. For the circumstances I set, the current webpage is not necessary for the use that I have mentioned in class. The historical data should be applied and shown on the web if I want to make the existence of the webpage more rational. This is a part that I can work on in the future.
Another thing I found is that the device seems to be a data collection station since I installed it during the spring break on the floor. The data gave me a picture that people did have different sitting habits (if the distance between the user’s head and the screen can be regarded as a piece of useful information for sitting posture). The device could be helpful as a tool if I want to make a marketing product related to sitting posture.
And I also think that the threshold of distance should be customized by a physical input, even though it should be a helpful monitor for cultivating good habits. The height of different people should be considered within the setting of the threshold.
When I think about the application of a network connection, the remote is the kind of circumstance I need to think about. If the circumstances are not remote, just like what I did for the midterm, the network might be necessary. I am interested in discovering the relationships between different fields through a more artistic expression; the free API seems to offer lots of chances to connect.
Two-way communication might be the thing I want to try, for example, the physical output shows the changes from the API, and the sensor detects, collects, and sends the data to a server for some research or expression at the same time. Of course, I prefer that the rationality of the contents and interaction should be the first thing to think about rather than the tech being cool to choose.