Module 1 Activity Research

Weekly Activity Template

Jingwen Han

Project 1

Module 1

In Module 1, our group explored physical computing through three activities using Arduino, ProtoPie, and TouchDesigner. Arduino was used in all activities — to control an LED light in Activity 1, to connect with ProtoPie in Activity 2, and to link with TouchDesigner in Activity 3. These projects helped me understand how sensors collect real data and how it can be used in interactive design. TouchDesigner was the newest and most unfamiliar software for me, but it helped me understand how physical data connects to digital design. I may want to chose the Design Path because I like creating designs that help people and building interactive experiences that are both useful and creative.

Activity 1

Arduino Uno and breadboard setup <a href='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tgbNymZ7vqY' target='_blank'><p>Project Video Link</p></a>

Basic circuit wiring and LED connections <div class='container'><iframe class='responsive-iframe' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tgbNymZ7vqY'></iframe></div>

By turn on/off the button the LED will turn on and off

Activity 2

Designing ProtoPie interface with temperature display

Arduino sensor boards prepared for testing

Testing breath sensor with real-time mobile display

Activity 3

TouchDesigner interface with 3D sphere visualizationt

Exploring node connections and Arduino setup

Testing visual effects with sensor input

Adjusting parameters and visual responses

Research Activity

WGSN Consumer Trend Research

In this research activity, I explored two WGSN trends: Open-Source Tech and UX/UI Design for Emotional Connection. The first trend focuses on how open-source hardware and software empower people to create affordable and flexible technology. The second trend highlights how design can build stronger emotional connections between people and digital products. These studies helped me understand how technology and empathy shape future design directions.The art path is more like personal expression.

Open-source technology gives users freedom to build, repair, and share ideas. Example: Arduino lets people create smart devices and prototypes easily.

This trend focuses on emotional design — using colors, sound, and motion to create warm and human-centered digital experiences.

The “Kawaii Tech” trend explores how cute and emotional design can influence user behavior by combining technology with joyful aesthetics. It draws from cultural nostalgia, color, and playfulness to create emotional experiences that make people feel happy and connected. This artistic approach focuses more on visual storytelling and emotional impact rather than functional problem-solving. While I appreciate its creativity, I chose the Design Path because I prefer interactive designs that are practical and help people in everyday life.These trends inspired me to combine open-source systems with emotional UX design. I want to create projects that connect people through technology in meaningful ways.

WGSN Personas Research

The New Independents Values sustainability, quality, and ethical design. Prefers repairable, customizable technology made with natural materials. The Energisers Seeks joyful, emotional, interactive tech experiences. Loves colorful, soft, sensory designs that feel friendly and uplifting. Relevance: Inspired DeskPet's playful caring aesthetic and SoundPrint's multisensory approach. Both personas want technology that's accessible and emotionally meaningful—exactly what my concepts provide.

The Energisers:persona page showing design strategies and product examples for joyful, emotional tech experiences.

The New Independents:material research featuring sustainable, eco-friendly design approaches and natural materials

The Energisers:material and finish guide showsing colorful, playful textures and interactive product designs

HMI Research

Following the "How Might We" framework introduced in class readings (Interaction Design Foundation, Nielsen Norman Group), I identified design opportunities from WGSN research by reframing problems as open-ended questions.

Read the two articles to think about hmw question.

From the WGSN insights, several problem spaces were identified: digital interfaces often feel cold and disconnected; music experiences tend to exclude hearing-impaired users; and productivity tools frequently come across as judgmental rather than supportive. These issues lead to the central question: How might we create technology that responds to emotional needs with caring feedback?

While answering the HMW questions in the table, I gradually clarified my design direction.

Project Path

I chose the Design Path to create user-centered emotional technology that solves problems through accessible tools. Through three weekly activities, I built technical skills that directly informed my concepts: Activity 1 taught Arduino basics with sensors and LEDs, Activity 2 was the breakthrough where we connected Arduino breath sensors to ProtoPie mobile interfaces—proving that physical actions can create expressive digital feedback—and Activity 3 introduced TouchDesigner's visual programming potential. Based on WGSN research showing that 92% of Gen Z want meaningful connections and 50% of adults experience loneliness, combined with technical validation from Activity 2, I developed two concepts: DeskPet, a pressure-sensing desk companion that provides caring support for stressed students using the same Arduino-ProtoPie integration we practiced, and SoundPrint, a multisensory music system that translates sound into vibration and visual patterns for accessibility. I'm planning to focus on DeskPet for Module 2-3 because the technology builds directly on our class activities, I can authentically test it with my target users (stressed students like myself), and peer feedback confirmed it addresses a real need in an achievable way.

Multisensory music system making emotional audio experiences accessible through vibration and visual mapping

Pressure-sensing desk companion providing caring emotional support for stressed students

Project 1 Concept

The Emotion-Adaptive Smart Lamp explores how technology can perceive and respond to human emotions in daily life. Among numerous smart home systems, automation is efficient yet devoid of emotion—it reacts to actions while ignoring emotional fluctuations. This project reimagines lighting systems as an emotional interface between humans and machines. Using Arduino sensors, the lamp detects sound and motion patterns to understand a user's energy levels or stress state. Using ProtoPie simulation technology, it translates environmental feedback into empathetic expressions: soft diffused light during calm moments, while cool tones gradually brighten during focused periods. The system learns from user behavior rather than controlling them—creating a collaborative and comfortable interaction experience. This concept embodies a human-centered vision for predictive home automation: smart devices not only logically anticipate needs but also perceive emotional requirements.

test2Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit