A. PROJECT TITLE: “Keep The Balance！”
B. PROJECT STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
At first we were trying to design a computer game like the bouncing ball which only involves a keyboard experience. We were worried that our project does not have a high purpose, but after talking to Professor Marcela, we realized that our project is not lacking in meaning, but a new experience. Marcela showed us the example of decoding the bomb, which involves collaboration between two players. The example of running around the room for sensors also reminds us that we can extend the experience from merely on the keyboard to a real space. Based on this research and discussion, we decided to revise our original plan. This time we want to create a new experience in the game we design. It came to us that we can create a game based on the movement of our entire body, using the balance board below.
The purpose of this design is to take our movement on the board as the input of interaction, and due to the constant movement the game will be very interactive.The balance board is originally for gym, but in our game the players can not only try his/her sense of balance but also collaborate to have fun and thrive with uncertainty. This game is targeted at pairs of good friends we are well-coordinated in achieving a common goal in the game.
C. PROJECT PLAN
The first step is to get 2 balance boards shown above. We can either digital fabricate them or buy them directly. After talking to Andy who advised us to buy those boards directly and make modifications on them, we decided to buy 2 boards from the Internet.
While the boards are being delivered, we will start working on the processing code. We will need a screen for the game, as the players’ bodies move and stretch, the corresponding figures on the screen would also move. We want to create a scenario in which we the two players need to first play individually and then collaborate to achieve victory. We are still thinking about what code we exactly need to create a smooth game experience. Ideally we will finish this step at the end of Thanksgiving holiday.
After working on Processing we will turn to Arduino and sensors on the balance board. We may need to dig holes in the board to place the sensors, and we might decorate the board a little bit and add some digital fabrication component to it. Finally we will communicate Arduino and Processing and work on the code and put everything together. We will try to finish the project at the end of next week.
D. CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
In the preparatory stage, I decided that my definition of interaction would involve an input and a changing output. Ideally the output will be unpredictable and a new input is needed so that the project will be more interactive instead of merely reactive. Also the project needs to expand the human experience – from fingertips to the entire body. I consider these elements central to our project and I think my current proposal fits such criteria.
The unique part in our project is the adaptation of the balance board. In order not to fall, humans have to try to keep the balance on the board, a metaphor for our constantly shaking life as well. With the uncertainty we need to move or stretch our body carefully to achieve our goals, and sometimes we have to ask help and collaborate with our friends to achieve a common goal. I think this game can be physically challenging and fun. We can also adapt the game scenario as we want later. Also there seems no already existing game like this. It can be a great tool to bring laughter and strengthen friendship.