MODULE TWO DESIGN --------------
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS S2 2013 HARRIET CRAIG, YINGLI LIU, ABBY ZAPLAN
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS STUDENT JOURNAL WEEK THREE - DESIGNING IDEAS
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS S2 2013 HARRIET CRAIG, YINGLI LIU, ABBY ZAPLAN
2.2 SKETCH DESIGN
Hands are usually associated with intimate interaction with other people such as holding hands with a lover, placing one’s hands over a loved ones’ (family, friend etc.) to offer comfort – all of which are conducted with those who are to some extent “emotionally close” to the person. Other forms of contact with unfamiliar people include handshakes, but these are only momentary and are usually seen as an act of obligation rather than one of desire.
Research findings indicate that hands are one of the most sensitive parts of the body [1] – in particular the fingertips, due to the amount of nerve endings located at the fingertips. Forearm was found to have less nerve endings than fingertips and the whole hand in general [2]. [1] Oracle Education Foundation. 2013. Sense-Sational Facts. In: Your sense of touch. http://library.thinkingquest.org/3750/touch/touch.html Forearm-hand image (coloured) and [2] Abbott Laboratories. 2010. Why is Alternative Site Testing Less Painful? In: Alternative Site Testing. http://www. abbottdiabetescare.ca/adc_ca/url/content/en_CA/20.10.30:30/general_content/General_Content_0000321.htm By making the link between ‘sensitivity’, ‘social norms’ and ‘personal space’, we have come up with a design proposal. Since there is an increasing amount of sensitivity starting from the area below the elbow until the fingertips (most sensitive), we have produced the following structure of the 2nd skin. It would be the narrowest at the top, widest at the wrist area and would be worn around the forearm. Also, it would be worn on both arms.
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS S2 2013 HARRIET CRAIG, YINGLI LIU, ABBY ZAPLAN
2.2 SKETCH DESIGN The exposure of the hand means that others will be able to see it and that it can still hold and be held by other hands. However, the proposed 2nd skin’s structure – composing of the inflatable system and “spike” appearing panel and fold system – and its shape, gives viewers the impression that the area from below the elbow and hand of the individual wearing the 2nd skin has an increasing need for personal space and thus should be approached or held in caution (the hand(s)).
This is an explaniation of the object that will be paneled on the cloud. We began by imagining an object with three folds, however we soon realised that this wouldn’t be as symmetrical and logical as a square with four folds. The final outcome would look like a pyramid.
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS S2 2013 HARRIET CRAIG, YINGLI LIU, ABBY ZAPLAN
This is a sketch of the final design idea. The inflatable clouds cover the lower part of both arms, just below the elbow. The bottom heavy shape provides personal space as it creates a larger personal area that others can’t walk into than without the clouds.
2.2 SKETCH DESIGN
The arms are an important part of any person’s personal space as they can help create boundries and limit other people’s involvement in a space. As you can see in these sketches, the volume that the clouds create keeps other people at a comfortable distance.
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS S2 2013 HARRIET CRAIG, YINGLI LIU, ABBY ZAPLAN
These are renders of the sketch design in rhino. The arm cloud is to scale (20cm high and diameter of 20cm at the widest points).
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS S2 2013 HARRIET CRAIG, YINGLI LIU, ABBY ZAPLAN
2.2 RHINO MODEL
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS S2 2013 HARRIET CRAIG, YINGLI LIU, ABBY ZAPLAN
2.2 RHINO MODEL
Above is the rendered image of Harriet produced using 123D Catch. Unfortunately, the final mesh of photographs didn’t work out properly after several attempts and the arms were not to proportion.
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS S2 2013 HARRIET CRAIG, YINGLI LIU, ABBY ZAPLAN