that’s too loud!
i designed an interactive physical computing exhibit exploring noise levels for a childrens’ museum.
Team:
Ash Tiwari
Lead interaction engineer
Kensuke Sato
Interface designer
Michael Cooper
Systems engineer
Timeline:
January 2022 - June 2022
*in conjunction to other projects
Key responsibilities:
Designed and developed the interactive experience
Designed and developed a React.js single-page application using Electron, integrating advanced audio processing to display decibel levels on an on-screen scale.
Physical computing using a ‘phidget’ microcontroller
Integrated the application with a tower of LEDs using a Phidget micro-controller, programming the LEDs to display maximum decibel values and to perform dynamic idle sequences, including glow, odd-even, and chase patterns.
User research and testing
Adapted and refined the project through user testing with children, addressing performance issues and bug fixes to ensure the final product was efficient and reliable.
Overview:
That’s Too Loud! is an educational interactive exhibit designed for children to explore the concept of noise levels. The exhibit features a sound-proof chamber equipped with a microphone and a touch-screen application. The application includes a decibel meter that measures and displays the loudness of users' voices. Additionally, it is connected to a tower of lights via a Phidget microcontroller, which illuminates according to the maximum decibel level detected.
user experience:
The user experience is straightforward. Upon entering the booth, users are greeted by a touch-screen application. By pressing "Start," they see a decibel meter that displays noise levels from safe to dangerous, along with examples of common sources of these noises. The application prompts users to get ready, gives them a 3-second countdown, and then instructs them to scream into the microphone for 5 seconds. It then shows the maximum decibel level they reached and how dangerous it was. Simultaneously, the LED tower at the top of the chamber lights up according to the maximum decibel level. The experience resets automatically after a minute or can be restarted by pressing "Start" again, allowing for infinite replays.
the tower of leds connected through a ‘phidget’ microcontroller
user testing:
User testing was conducted with a small group of children, adhering to all COVID safety protocols, in a makeshift booth in the workshop equipped with a touch-screen running the application software. This allowed us to evaluate the application's ease of use and the overall installation, while addressing any performance or efficiency issues. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with the children enjoying the experience more than anticipated, making it an ideal addition to the Health Inside Out museum.
final product
✦
final product ✦
final video
A final test during installation at the Health Inside Out museum confirmed that the application worked perfectly.