Assignment #2
For the second assignment we were asked to create a wearable using conductive thread, For the first five days of the projet I researched different types of lo profile switches, after looking through hundreds I determined that the best type of switch for the application I had in mind was a N/O Magnetic switch, which affectively behaves in a similar way to breakbeam IR sensors. This switch uses two small magnets that when the connection is broken the switch turns on. This switch, I determened would solve my electrical complications however I most likely would not recieve the switch in time for the class where a working prototype was due. I then settled upon including logic in the equation. I designed and coded a simple switch that would behave in the same manner, but with the use of a microcontroller, specifically the 10F202 which is a simple six pin chip. Over the weekend I came upon an epiphany however.
The concept of this project was to create a brassier that when it was unclasped an alarm went off. Through my epiphany I determined that I could wire the circut direct from the battery, so that essentially the alarm is always on.On the opposing side of the clasp I could have a ground wire. If the circut is grounded, essentially when the ground wire is removed, as would occur by removing the clasp connection. The circut would be complete and the alarm would activate. As with any project the importance of branding is as important as the concept. This project I titled: Dadsbra
The obvious problem with this design is that the battery is always on, and therefore has a short lifespan. Ideally the N/O switch would solve this problem using nearly no power in the clasped, or standby, position. This solution however achieves the goal I had intended under the time constraints.
As with any project the feedback given in user testing is often the most valuable aspect of the design process. Through this feedback the possibilities were opened up, literally. The option of having romantic music play when the brassier was unclasped was discussed. This came after the option of having Dad's actual voice play. Additionally the idea of having the device record the audio for a time once the circut was activated. As the creative power exponentially increased it was mentioned that perhaps this could be an RF device that signals a remote alarm, and even, in the case of the audio recorder, the sound was channeled via bluetooth to a mobile device that would then port the recording on the web. In light of the time I had available for this prototype I deemed the original idea to be sufficient. It became immediately evident that this could easily become an entire line of smart wear.