Representation of weight
RW CHAIR
Exploring Trust and technology
A Measuring object or a scale, represents the weight or mass of an object. Tough the centuries we developed a lot of different ways to measure depending on the subject. Measuring body weight became a way to go after an ideal. We created formulas and tables to give more meaning to the numbers of the outcome. With the plaster scale I visualised the relationship between body and the scale, how do we treat this object in relation to trust. The measurement of weight becomes more trustable when comparing it to others. That could declare why BMI an WHR are still favourite formulas for giving a meaning to weight. Inspired by these formulas to visualise general ideals, I designed a chair what represents this relation. The BMI of the object it self stay’s the same, but outside the rules of the formulas there is space to fill in your own representation of weight.
Karen Borgers 2011
INTRO
The scale
1700
1780
1820
1980
2000
2010
Main materials
WOOD RUBBER RUBBER PLASTIC PLASTIC PLASTIC IRON IRON IRON FABRIC GLASS 1700
1780
1820
1980
2000
2010
200
225
125
125
150
150
1700
1780
1820
1980
2000
2010
30
20
10
4
2
3
1700
1780
1820
1980
2000
2010
Max. Weight in kg.
Weight scale kg.
With what thought do you step on the scale?, percent out of 300 votes
10%
ore nce m on t ne ou fully o ying to pu tr Hope se I’m becau t weigh
6% T ho her u e an se is n t t be o o ca sc kn us ale ow e I in do th n’t e
13%
w
I never weigh my self because I’m not worried about my weight
is ht
ee
s To
ht,
eig ew s o l to less ing for y r t pe I’m I ho o s
93 %
ble
sta
92 %
eig yw m if
H HISTORY OF THE SC ALE
BMI of the scale
0,1
82
0,5
16
12
18
1700
1780
1820
1980
2000
2010
Regular use of scale
Regular use of scale
Prize Bathroom Scale in euro
Woman
Men
_
90% 60% 04.- 176.+
Presentation of the scale in history
Measuring and trust have always been strongly related to each other
H HISTORY OF THE SC ALE
How does it works, Increasing trust by technology
0.0
Step on the Scale
Springs in the four feet turn the switch on
1 load cell measures the difference of two elements
W HOW DOES IT WORKS
Metallic sheet is straits or squeezes
1 Chip converts digital information to number
Step of the scale and after a few seconds it turns off
Materials Scale
How much trust are we putting into materials, after knowing how things are working trust can increase. But also the materials are important. They can have different properties but can also have emotional value. For the scale for example I used plaster. What is known as fragile. What will question the trust aspects of using it again.
M MATERIALS SC ALE
Formula
If we want to know if we can trust something, we compare it to others or experiences we had before. To compare and to analyses these we created formulas to give us more certainty, for ex. the golden section. Measuring weight doesn’t say more than a few figures.
TRUST FORMULA
So we developed also for weight comparing formulas. Often used is BMI (Body Mass Index) It gives us borders and an Ideal. But does this affects or products?
BMI
weight / ( Length x Length ) = BMI 160 150 Unhealthy overweight 140 130 120 110
Serious overweight
100 90
Over weight
80 70
BMI
Normal weight
60
RESEARCH
50
Under weight
40 1,50
1,55
1,60
1,65
1,75
1,80
1,85
1,90
1,95
Invented BMI around
following the formula of BMI
Country BMI
Country BMI
by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet
of Dutch habitants has overweight
Lowest, Japan
Highest, MicronesiĂŤ
1830 48% 3.2% 92%
2,00
Research: what is the BMI of existing products
2,4 BMI 23 cm, 0,28 kg
4 BMI 95 cm, 4 kg
18 BMI 16 cm, 8 kg
2 BMI 10 cm, 0,2 kg
21BMI 38 cm, 2,5 kg
5 BMI 95 cm, 4 kg
Stock-taking of BMI by existing objects. How is BMI related to form and material
BMI PRODUCTS
12 BMI 29 cm, 1 kg
9 BMI 46 cm, 2 kg
Research: Products who are representing weight
FAT & SKINNY Beautiful examples of objects who are representing weight. I like the one without a link to the human the most. Because I don’t think it is a necessary to tell the story.
Research: Making it into a perfect BMI
21 BMI 16 cm, 0,49 kg
25 BMI
Repairing the BMI of existing products by putting weight or changing height
23 cm, 0,30 kg
21 BMI 34 cm, 2,5 kg
19 BMI 16 cm, 0,5 kg
BMI OBJECTS
Designing
Measurement in relation to width Designing an object for measuring, translated from the use of formulas. I choose for a chair because it is an object that suits the body. With holding to the same BMI only the width can change of an object as we have seen on previous pages. Aim is a chair who can represent measuring with formulas with a BMI of 20
D DESIGN
Thinking of a extendable chair in width I went trough a lot of options. But Important was that it was strong and with a one level sit seat. Also important where the armrest. They where an other starting point of the design. They prevent to sit on it when didn’t represented your width. The design is mathematical and strong, because of the representation of formulas and measuring weight.
Designing
D DESIGNING
Making
M MAKING
Before starting building the chair, it was searching for the right material. I found some used iron what fitted the design perfectly. I choose to let the iron unpainted. First of all because it represents something mathematics and it looks trustful strong. The other reason is because of the sliding it will scratch the paint.
20 BMI 86 cm, 15 kg
BMI CHAIR
In the end I don’t believe in starring blind on formulas to measure. If we look objective to we are able to make or own representing. This chair will represent this, but can also be confronting or surprising if your own vision on weight is incorrect.
Karen Borgers Representation of Weight February 2011 Design Academy Eindhoven Master Contextual design.