Project 3 Documentation
2019.12.10
Change of Ideas
The object I choose is Humidifier and my first utopian scenario is people put drugs in the humidifier in order to think and create more. So I made the first playtest that I will add a filtration layer in the humidifier. But after the playtesting feedback, I realized that my "seatbelt" cannot solve the basic problem, so I start to do further iterations. The core is I need to figure out a way that can really solve the problem. Since I am not able to solve my initial problem, why don't I change the scenario? After three-days' online research and ideation, I sketched my second draft for my final project.
Iteration
My new future scenario is around the year 2100, the population has skyrocketed to 10 billion, for every country, including my utopian society. Since there is too many people while the resources (Land, education, public infrastracture, etc.) is restrained, the society is suffering from the insufficiency of resources. The focus point is education. Since there is so many people but less school, the overall education level is decreasing, leading to a cease of technology advancement. In order not to let the country easily get passed by other countries, the government forces people to work and think by putting "toxic" humidifiers in offices and factories. Toxic means they put water containing doping pills/nicotine inside the humidifier since these two chemicals will to some extent boost people's inspiration and make them feel less tired. This is the misuse of the humidifier and also the problem. In order to solve the problem, I designed NosePod. NosePod is a air filter we put in our Nose. Very similar to the design of Apple AirPods, it is really easily used and carry. Different from masks and gas masks, the former cannot filter the toxic mist and the latter is too heavy and big to wear everyday. NosePod has three layers of Bamboo charcoal, a perfect medium to attract and filter toxic elements in the air. The "charging case" here is actually the cleaning case, having ultrasonic brushes that clean the pods after you using it. Since people cannot get rid of the humidifier because of government control, NosePod is a pretty good tool to keep our healthy by breathing in the fresh, clean air.
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Prototyping & 3D Printing
3D modeling is never an easy thing, especially for me since I have little experience in 3D modeling. I like the challenge though. For my NosePod, I don't want it to be so similar to Apple AirPod, so I want to design a unique cap - using magnets to remove or close the cleaning case. In order to put a magnet inside the model, I have to cut the model into halves, dig two semi-circular hole. (Picture 1) When it is printed out, I can put the magnet into such holes and stick the two halves together, the magnet will be inside the model. It was hard. After finding various tutorials on YouTube and experienced 4 failures, I finally made the body of the case (Picture 2). I used a similar method to make the cap of the model. After the case is down, it is time to make the NosePod itself. Fortunately, making this is not that hard (Picture 3). After making all the models, I went to the MakerSpace to print them out. (Picture 4) The first print was not successful at all. I tried to print them all in once but the mission eventually failed because all the parts tangled with each other. The second print succeded but the NosePod is too big to put it on the nose and I found out the cleaning case is too short. Redesigning it really quickly, my third attempt finally succeeded. Due to the number of 3D printers, I have to print it twice with two different machines, causing the two halves of the case are in different colors. I have to buy spray paints and paint them in an identical color. After the paint is dry, I used a glue gun to put glues inside in order to fill the hole since the hole is bigger than the magnets. If I just put the magnets in, it will cause sounds and the product will feel less professional. After putting the glues into the hole, I put the magnets in. Last but not least, I used super glue to stick each part together. I found out the gaps are still not painted so I painted the whole model once again. After all the process, the model is finally finished.
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Storyboarding & Filmmaking
In order to better introduce and present my product, I decided to make an advertisement. Since NosePod is really similar to AirPods, I literally watched every Apple AirPods commercial and also other similar ads in order to get some inspirations. First time making an ad, I want to make something convincing and also have my own style in it. So I started to storyboard the video. My storyboard is really useful. Following the frames, me and my friend Eddie, who is the actor in my video, finished all the shots in two hours, which is really efficient. In the film, since there is a morning and night scene shifting and we are filming it in the late afternoon, the light condition is very unsatisfying. I realized I can use black and white filter so that there would be no such concerns. The black and white can also build a world without NosePods. When the actor put the NosePod on, the frame will become in color just to emphasize the functionality of the product. The video has two parts, with and without. By using the same clips but different edits (the sitting scene in the office, the close shot on the humidifier), I created two results. The overall filmmaking process went really well and efficient since this is not the first time I collaborate with others. I included my preferred suspense style in the film. For more of my narrative films, please click: https://www.bilibili.com/video/av23931362
Reflection
After presenting the video, I received a lot of useful feedback. I still have a long way to go in order to make a mature product. From a very young age, I like to make stuff from my imagination. I cherish this experience since it offered me a broad space to think and create which is really important for me. I enjoy the process even I found my problem and started over in the middle. Maybe in the future, I can make more things out of my imagination.