MODULE TWO: Design
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Measured Drawings
One of the objects our group looked at for material systems is the folding fan, and its system of panel and fold. Through exploring this object, we noticed a few aspects of the panel and fold system which we found interesting. It was interesting to see how the panel and fold system allows the fan to expand and contract, which allows the fan to take two different forms and change its mass.
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Measured Drawings
The other object we looked at was the umbrella, and the material system of skin and bones. The most interesting aspect of this object and the material system is its ability to create a large surface area simply through the combination of a frame with fabric stretched over it. We may try experimenting with this framework idea in our designs.
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Precedents Extension of the body Our group focused on using sounds as an expression and projection of personal space, particularly emphasizing on noises produced by the mouth. This altered the way we viewed the ‘second skin’, and instead of being something which protected space, we started looking at it as an extension of the body, allowing the body to do things previously unable to do. For this particular idea, we looked at Aimee Mullins, a para-athlete who uses prosthetic legs. In her TED talk, she described her prosthetics as something which allowed her to be “super-abled”, and extended her abilities. This influenced our design in that it should allow the user to use their voice in a way which they could not before, and that is to express their personal space, simply through the projection of their voice.
Sound manipulation through patterns In order to gain some inspiration and to generate ideas, we mainly looked at auditory and acoustic-related designs, both in products as well as architecture. One form of sound manipulation we looked at was aural architecture, as well as sound scattering shapes often used in environments such as concert halls and recording studios, where audio quality is crucial. In particular, we looked at the design of Knowlton School of Architecture’s main space, which was experimented with by implementing a material with a certain shape to allow sound movement. The material is casted in a repeating pattern to manipulate any noise in the vicinity. We found similar patterns being sold as acoustics products, which scattered sound to create a passive surround sound effect.
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Precedents Passive sound amplification As we concentrated on the mouth being an outlet of sound and using that sound to express personal space, we explored designs of passive sound amplification, and forms that project noises. We came across some sound amplifying devices for mobile phones which did not use electricity to operate, instead only relying on the device’s shape to increase the volume level. Throughout the various designs we looked at, we found that they all shared common elements among them. For example, every design featured a hollowed out channel which redirected the source of the sounds. We also noticed that the designs often had mouths that widened to spread the sound and amplify it.
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Research Material analysis We began looking into how different materials can have different effects on sound. According to some studies, the closer the molecules are to each other and the tighter their bonds, the less time it takes for them to pass sound to each other and the faster sound can travel. It is easier for sound waves to go through solids than through liquids because the molecules are closer together and more tightly bonded in solids. Similarly, it is harder for sound to pass through gases than liquids, because gaseous molecules are farther apart. The volume of a sound wave is affected by two properties of matter: the elastic properties and density. At first, we considered timber, glass, rubber, paper and metal as potential materials for our second skin. After analysing and researching, we found that paper is the least suitable material and metal is the most suitable in terms of sound manipulation.
Personal space exploration The personal space for our design is created by the expression of sound. We tested a lot of different positions to find out the invisible boundaries where can defence ourselves. First of all, because of our design is focus on the transmission of sound, so we want to let our voice be heard by outside. As Sommer (1969) mentioned in his book that “people are able to tolerate closer presence of a stranger at their sides than directly in front”, we decided to develop the area that we can’t see and reach by ourselves so we placed an amplifier facing the back. We also looked at Aimee Mulins’s TED talk, she defined her prosthetics is something allows her to be “super-abled”. Human do not have mouth and eyes behind, so our design is enable to help ourselves to extend our abilities we can’t do before. We expand our personal space to protect our back space. The shape is quite exaggerated. As a second skin on body, the different sizes of amplifierss and multiple amounts can help to indicate “possession”. Everyone wants to be noticed by others to improve their presence. So we developed more small amplifiers around the body as well. Voices can be transferred through the channels.
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Sketch Ideas
The amplifers are all placed at different areas of the upper body and are oriented in different directions so that sound is projected all around the user. This can ensure that all sides of the user are covered by their projected voice, expressing their personal space. Based on the precedent of passive sound amplification, we came up with this design of a wearable amplifier which would project the user’s voice. We first started with a basic design which only consisted of one amplifier, with a channel which looped underneath the user’s arm and up onto the shoulder. From this basic concept, we moved on to creating a more complex idea featuring a whole network of interconnected amplifiers. The multiple “speakers” wrap around the user’s body to create a second skin.
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Sketch Ideas
We took the design of the multiple sound amplifiers and simplified the form somewhat so that it is made up of simple geometric shapes. With this version of the design, we also decided to add protrusions on the shoulder areas as a physical barrier to prevent invasion of personal space. However, after some reflection we decided that this may be unnecessary. We also decided that this physical barrier did not fit in with out focus on auditory space and using sound as an expression of personal space.
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Rhino Model
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Sketch Ideas
From the precedent of sound manipulation, we focused on using patterns to scatter sound. This led us to explore placing surfaces with repeating patterns around the user to manipulate the sounds projected from them. We came up with several designs, all predominantly concentrated on placing the patterned surfaces around the user’s mouth area, as this is the area where sound will be projected from.
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Prototypes
This prototype was created with the purpose of trialing the skin and bone material system. We used wooden sticks to create the internal frame, or the “bones”, and used sheets of plastic wrap for the “skin”. We decided on this tapered shape also as a way to see whether it was possible to create the amplifiers of our design using the skin and bone material system. We found that although the frame does help the object retain its shape, it is rather fragile when used in conjunction with soft material such as plastic wrap. It may be more effective to use thicker and stiffer material for the “skin” such as cardboard or paper.
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Prototypes
For this prototype, we were trying to test the connection between multiple amplifiers, as our design was based around an interconnected network of amplifiers. Through making this prototype, we found that the “mouthpiece� where sound will be inputted needs to be smaller, as a large opening means that sound will escape from the sides instead of travelling through the channel and out the end of the amplifier.
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Prototypes This prototype focused on the idea of sound manipulation through patterned surfaces. We based the pattern off existing sound diffusers which are often used in recording studios.To test out the fabrication of patterns, we first created a 3D model of this pattern in Rhino. We then used the “Unroll Surfaces� tool to create a 2D layout of it, and then printed out the template to create the physical prototype.
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Projected Designs For the next stage, there are other design possibilities that we may explore and experiment with. These design possibilities will be used in conjunction with our existing ideas. We may explore the possibility of having a mask over the user’s mouth, so that all sounds projected from the user will be directed into the second skin. There is also the possibility of altering the shape of the amplifiers by distorting and bending the length of the channel, which may affect the reflection and diffusion of sound. We may also explore the possibility of amplifiers which can be folded up through the use of the panel and fold material system, which will allow the user to turn the amplifiers into a more compact form when not in use.
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References Acoustics First N/A, QuadraPyramid Diffuser, photograph, viewed 25 August 2013, <http://www.acousticsfirst. com/diffusors-quadrapyramid/QuadraPyramid1.png> Acoustics GRG Products N/A, skyline-patent, photograph, viewed 21 August 2013, <http://www.rpgeurope. com/images/skyline/skyline-patent.jpg> Bassetti, F 2013, arkwhat-ark canary-iPhone speaker-iPhone sound amplifier-tech gadget, photograph, viewed 21 August 2013, <http://blog.blomming.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/arkwhat-ark-canary-iPhone-speaker-iPhone-sound-amplifier-tech-gadget.png> Coolpile 2012, iBam 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; iPhone Natural Bamboo Sound Amplifier, photograph, viewed 21 August 2013, <http:// coolpile.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/iBam-2-iPhone-Natural-Bamboo-Sound-Amplifier.jpg> Hiconsumption 2012, Eco-Made-Amp-Sound-Amplifier-for-Apple-iPhone-1, photograph, viewed 21 August 2013, <http://cdn.hiconsumption.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Eco-Made-Amp-Sound-Amplifier-for-AppleiPhone-1.jpeg> JazJaz 2011, Megaphone-Satellite-Passive-Amplifier-for-theiPhone, photograph, viewed 21 August 2013, <http:// cdn2.jazjaz.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Megaphone-Satellite-Passive-Amplifier-for-theiPhone.jpg> Mullins, A 2009, My 12 pairs of legs, TED talk Sommer, R 1969, Personal Space: The Behavioral Basis of Design, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey Welker, A 2010, indivboard, 3D render, viewed 21 August 2013, <http://www.adamwelker.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/indivboard.jpg> Welker, A 2010, 603-Mill-Photos-both, photograph, viewed 21 August 2013, <http://www.adamwelker.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/12/603-Mill-Photos-both.jpg>
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