Designing Interactions: Visualizing Data with Prototypes

Adaptive Resistance Band

Module 2

Design Statement

Extending from Project 1, our group of four continued along the Design Path, aiming to create a wearable smart resistance band capable of tracking and adjusting resistance levels based on the user’s settings.   In this project, our goal is to develop an early-stage prototype by expanding our existing knowledge of Arduino and ProtoPie, and aiming to develop a working circuit that demonstrates the core concept of our design. We conducted additional research to better understand unfamiliar technical aspects, explored various methods to achieve the desired functionality, and closely followed tutorials step-by-step throughout each activity to identify effective ways for building and refining our prototype and technical concept.

Workshop 1 & 2

Workshop 1 | Geurilla Prototyping: Phone Stand

Watching and following the provided tutorial to build a cardboard phone stand, using iPhone 16 as the measurement reference.

First prototype design and dimensions.

Second prototype design and dimensions.

Image of the first prototype.

Image of the second prototype.

The goal of this workshop was to learn guerrilla prototyping through a quick, hands-on activity by building a cardboard phone stand, testing its functionality, and refining the design through rapid iteration and problem-solving.

Workshop 2 | Geurilla Prototyping: Gear

Cutting out the basic shapes of different-sized circles.

Trimming edges and shaping the cardboard into gear components.

Layering components to compare sizing differences.

Building the container to fit the gear and allow it to turn securely.

Placing the assembled gears into the container to test if the idea can be implemented in our project prototype.

In the second workshop, I was unable to attend class, but my group brainstormed different ways users could interact with the prototype and created a cardboard gear model to test whether this mechanism could be applied to our project.

Activity 1 & 2

Activity 1 | Testing Air Pressure Sensor with Arduino and Using LEDs to Represent Pressure Levels

Connecting and testing the air pressure sensor with Arduino.

Connecting the circuit following the diagram and experimenting with different inputs.

Observing pressure changes by blowing air through the pipe to the sensor.

Adding LED lights onto the breadboard.

Successfully receiving real time pressure data on the Serial Monitor.

In this activity, Olivia and I connected the Arduino Uno with the HX710B air pressure sensor to receive live pressure feedback and used LED lights to visually represent different air pressure levels, simulating how our resistance band detects and responds to varying resistance.

Activity 2 | Testing Sensor Data Integration with Inflatable Wearable

Connecting the sensor to the air pipe.

Placing the other end
of the air pipe into a zip bag and testing the pressure changes by
inflating the bag with air.

Encountering the same issue as shown in the tutorial video: the reading doesn't reflect pressure changes correctly.

Troubleshooting: Discovering some useful solutions from the video comments.

Troubleshooting with ChatGPT and testing alternative solutions for code changes.

In this activity, Olivia and I use a simple airbag with a sensor inside to test air pressure, simulating how our smart resistance band could track and respond to changing resistance levels when air is added, released, or the bag is squeezed.

Addtional Research & Workshops

Air Pressure Measurement, Arduino-Compatible Sensors, and Final Prototype Development

Researching blood pressure monitors, focusing on component design and measurement methods as references for our project.

Researching similar projects that use Arduino to create blood pressure monitors.

Comparing different air pressure sensors and their applications.

Comparing different air pressure sensors and their applications.

Documenting the process of building the final physical prototype.

I conducted additional research on how blood pressure monitors measure air pressure and explored how similar methods could be applied to our smart resistance band. And conducing research on identifying Arduino-compatible sensors that are affordable, accessible, and resource for measuring pressure inside the band’s bladder.

Project 2 Prototype

For the final prototype, our group implemented improvements based on previous activities and research. Enhancements included adding a patch pocket to hold the Arduino, sensor, and breadboard, using a long balloon to mimic the airbag, wrapping it in an outer fabric layer for comfort and appearance, attaching an air pipe for inflation, and adding adjustable buttons to fit different users' body shapes.

Imagery for the final prototype of the Adaptive Resistance Band.

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