Proposal 2; An Interactive Table: Table Tron

Research Topic

An Interactive Table: Table Tron

Background

The light emitting diode (LED) could be considered the ultimate general source of continuous light due to its high luminescence efficiency, quick response time, and long lifetime. (Nakamura, Fasol and Pearton, 2000).

Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.

Arduino can sense the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and other actuators. The microcontroller on the board is programmed using the Arduino programming language (based on Wiring) and the Arduino development environment (based on Processing). Arduino projects can be stand-alone or they can communicate with software on running on a computer (e.g. Flash, Processing, MaxMSP).

(http://www.arduino.cc/)

In this project, the focus will be more in experimental on human computer interaction. Using table as the platform and LED lights to make it more interesting. The sensor will detect or sense movement and the LED slowly change its color/fade. The common use of table will be change by transform it into this way. Research and surveys will be conducted to obtain results.

Problem Identification

A common use of table quite boring, well placed there and doing nothing. Normal conversation and interaction between human. Expensive electronic stuff to buy.

Aim and Objectives

This project aims to change the common usage of table in full of interaction and applying the latest human computer interaction, technology, graphics and computer vision.

• To change the way people communicate and interact.
• To explore more about the world of technology that has developed rapidly.
• To create the future furniture.
• To experiment about on how an interactive table can change the common environment of sitting, talking, eating etc.
• To design a new look for a table.

Motivation

I’m fascinating on to see thousands of LED lights switching on and fade according to the movements and by that I was trying to implement it on a table. To see peoples reaction about the new way of to communicate and interact to each other.

Ideation and Concept

For my project, I would like to design an interactive table that can open people’s eyes and minds about this new ideation and concept.

Review, Analysis and Precedence Studies

Arduino is a tool for making computers that can sense and control more of the physical world than your desktop computer. It's an open-source physical computing platform based on a simple microcontroller board, and a development environment for writing software for the board.

Design Approach

Basically, this project involves more in human computer interaction and electronic stuff. The programming will detect movement and control on how the LED fades in or out. Lots of LED light will be used in this project and a table as its platform.

References

1. Abbtech. (2006, May 24). Interactive Table - Featured on Hacked Gadgets. [Video file] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tem1wtbzEZA

2. Unquestionably1. (2007, July 24). Interactive Tables @ Beatles Revolution Lounge. [Video file] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qai11AzymD4

3. Shuji Nakamura, Gerhard Fasol, Stephen J Pearton (2000). The Blue Laser Diode: The Complete Story. Springer Verlag. ISBN 3540665056.
4. Arduino. (2010) from http://arduino.cc/