One in five people have a language based learning disability, the most common of which is dyslexia. However, most of the population, even some dyslexics themselves, misunderstand the disability completely. Dyslexia effects the part of the brain that processes language and thus, most dyslexics have difficulty decoding sounds and relating them to letters. This slows their reading rate and makes spelling a challenge. A Dyslexic’s Experience is a project designed for anyone to understand this language processing barrier first hand. Throughout the interaction the user will learn and spell words using a visual representation of the alphabet designed by measuring the volume inputs of spoken letters and drawing circles with radii based on that input. The barrier between the user and this new alphabet is meant to recreate the challenges individuals with learning disabilities face. When the user scans a symbol from the visual alphabet in the ‘learn’ section of the board, the corresponding letter will play over the headphones. Requiring the users to learn the alphabet by matching the oral sounds of letters to the symbols is meant to highlight the difficulty dyslexics have decoding sounds. Once the user learns enough letters to make a word, they will scan the letters one at a time in the ‘write’ section of the board. As they scan, their word will be displayed on the screen and they can submit it into the library of words written by previous users. The symbols that make up the alphabet are purposely similar yet unique in order to make the interaction somewhat challenging. In conclusion, the user will gain a first hand experience of a dyslexic’s learning differences.
This project was exhibited in the ITP 2018 Winter Show.
For a more detailed look at this project visit this site.
During my first semester at ITP, I was in a class called Visual Language. In this class we explored many types of graphic and visual design. One week we were asked to develop a series of expressive words. Here are some of the sample words that I developed during this exploration.
For one of my final ITP projects, I decided to use data visualizations to explore what happened in the 2016 US presidential election. As the project progressed, the motivation became one that would inform readers about our election process and why we should care. The webpage follows the votes in the 2016 elections and tells the story of how and why some voices get eliminated in the process. Toward the end, the visualizations get manipulated in order to explore faults in our electoral college system. Hopefully, this webpage will inform the uninformed and empower everyone to care about future elections.
To visit the webpage click here.
For a more in detailed look at this project visit the ICM blog.
For this project, I worked with a partner to develop a Halloween game controlled by two knobs. When you win the game, the skull dispenses candy. The following images and videos show the results of this project. The Arduino and javaScript code can be found at these links. For a more in depth look at the process, visit this blog post.
The physical design consisted of a control box and the dispensing skull.
This video shows the halloween game we designed. The two knobs on the physical controller allow the user to move the pumpkin. The object of the game is to “consume” all of the candies on the screen while avoiding the bats. Once all of the candies are “consumed” a signal is sent to the physical skull and real candy is dispensed.
As soon as we had a working model, we completed some initial user testing to ensure our design was easy to use. We used the feedback from this testing to modify both the software and the hardware.
Once the design was complete, we asked other users to play.
A classmate and I designed and built this interactive moon animation. We loaded images of the moon phases into our p5.js sketch and mapped each image to a different slider range. We plan to continue this project by adding more sliders in order to allow the user to manipulate the night sky and the stars independent of the moon phase.
First, we created a mock up of our interface in illustrator. We then built the sketch in p5.js, focusing on just one slider.
To try the interface out yourself visit this site.
Using the laser cutter I made these coasters out of thin plywood. Each coaster consists of a patterned base and two rings. Once the pieces were glued together the rings acted as a rim for the coasters. The patterns were based off of ones I found online and were redrawn in illustrator.
For my first JavaScript sketch I developed an elephant out of triangle elements. Elephants are my favorite animal and the mascot of Tufts University, where I got my undergraduate degree. This sketch highlighted the triangle() function and RGB color system. The following images show my processes.
I drew the elephant out by hand and kept track of the coordinates of each vertex as I coded the elephant into my p5.js sketch.
I made the elephant using white triangles with a black stroke to ensure the shape of the elephant was successful. Then I added color to each triangle and adjusted the color scheme to my liking.
This project was inspired by the work of David Roy, a kinetic sculpture artist who works primarily with wood. I was particularly drawn to David’s Deja Vu project which uses a simple pattern to create the illusion of growing and shrinking flowers. I decided to use a motor to experiment with a similar pattern. The result of this experiment is shown in the following images. In the future I would like to create some sort of wall with many flowers and incorporate an interactive component in order for someone to control the growing and shrinking of the pattern. The Arduino and javaScript code for this project can be found at these links.
First, I experimented with different patterns using Adobe Illustrator.
I laser cut my favorite pattern out of plywood and created a motor mount so that the bottom piece would remain stationary, while the upper piece would rotate on the motor axle.
This key holder hands on the wall and has an embedded magnet. When keys are placed on it, the magnet holds the keys and the keys look like they are floating. I used the ITP shop to design and construct these key holders. This project served as a great project to help me learn how to use new power tools. I used various techniques during the process to get repeatable results so that I could make many, identical key holders.
Using a stop block I cut each key holder to an equal length with the miter saw.
I used two stop blocks on the drill press to drill holes in the same place on each piece.
Each key holder was fitted with a D-ring and a magnet.
Each piece was finished using a sanding belt.
I spent the summer of 2018 working with a team of designers, engineers, and tinkerers at Teknikio. Teknikio develops electronic boards that can be embed into craft projects and provides an educational STEM tool for children. At Teknikio I helped to develop educational packages for STEM based programs in school, camps and makerspaces. I also designed and built electronic store displays and new sample activities for the company. Here are some projects I worked on along the way.
I designed and built this moving store display with a Arduino nano, Teknikio LEDs, servo motors, and various craft materials. The display was designed to catch peoples attention and highlight the Teknikio product in a store that sells Teknikio retail.
I designed and built this project for the Teknikio Makerspace Kit using Teknikio heart LEDs, a coin battery, conductive tape, embroidery floss and a mason jar.
I designed and built this wheel to highlight various Teknikio boards in stores and at trade shows. Keep scrolling to see how this project turned into an interactive wheel display.
Here is an amplifier that I designed and built using laser cut pieces and Teknikio electronic parts. The user can play music on their phone and place it in the center slot to amplify the sound. As the phone slides in, Teknikio lights turn on and change color.
I built this ice rink to display the Teknikio penguins at a trade show.
I designed an built these wallets using Teknikio boards, conductive thread, snaps, and fabric. When the wallet is closed, the snaps close the circuit and turn on the LED.
For kids, the best part about their parents receiving packages is that they get to play with the box with which it came. Kids love to turn boxes into play houses, cars, ovens, etc. Why not develop a kit where kids can add Teknikio circuits to bring their play boxes to life? Here is a car prototype for this idea that I had at Teknikio. The headlights and lights on the wheels turn on via switches on the side of the car, a buzzer is connected to a button on the wheel to act like a horn and a light sensor in the back turns on siren lights in the back when it senses darkness. The video below shows how the headlights turn on and off with a switch.
I have always loved to cook and bake. Over the years, I turned my passion into a business, creating personalized cakes and cupcakes for any occasion. Here are some sample treats that I made…
