SEMESTER GUIDE SMART OBJECTS

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page 1 | semester guide SMART OBJECTS | THUAS | 2018-2019

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SEMESTER GUIDE

SMART OBJECTS

FIRST VERSION August 2019

Welcome to the semester Smart Objects. The world is becoming an increasingly connected place, where people are using technology to extend their

social reach. The newest technological developments however are not extending this reach for people per se; they are extending the reach (social or

otherwise) of products. The trend word for this is Internet of Things, in short: IoT. In this semester you will discover what the sense and nonsense is of

IoT by creating your own experimental Smart Object of Desire.

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Overview

Units

The semester is divided into 4 units of 5 weeks. Throughout the first three units you will be working on your smart objects design project.

In unit 1 you will kick-off the design project, meet your client and formulate a concrete design brief. Next to that you will develop skills in system thinking, electronics and programming.

In unit 2 you create a concept and build a proof-of-concept prototype to convince your client. This will be supported by a.o. workshops on electronics prototyping.

In unit 3 you will develop your concept and prototype in more detail. It will be concluded with the expo where we hope to see hi-fi prototypes of your Smart Objects!

Finally, unit 4 is filled with portfolio weeks: you will update your portfolio with the semester work and do some extracurricular projects during these weeks to spice up your portfolio even more. On Thursday in week 19 the portfolio event is organised, where you present your portfolio in the morning and ask feedback on your portfolio from the professional work field, lecturers and peers in the afternoon. This event is the final activity of the semester, and worth a celebration!

Lessons learned from previous edition

In the old curriculum this semester was partly represented in the elective course Interaction Lab. Evaluations showed that students found it difficult to

immediately apply new skills like programming and electronic prototyping in such a short project. In this semester you will jump in right from the start to make sure you develop the skills necessary, to apply them some weeks later in your design project.

Last year was the first run of the Smart Object semester. Since then, we have build upon our learnings and will be providing a more rigid path to mastering the basics of electronics and programming. Furthermore, we will be collaborating

with research group Healthy Lifestyle in Supporting Environment in order to plan for and execute quality user testing.

During this semester we will ask for your input again, in week 5-6, and in week 15-16, via an online form and a feedback meeting with the coordinators. That way we can improve things along the semester, as well as for the next run.

Learning activities

Projects

The topic for this year’s projects is getting kids to move. Within this theme we defined several different project cases with different clients. Below you will find a brief description of the projects, more detailed information will be provided separately.

Project: The design project for the Smart Objects semester 2019/2020 revolves around getting kids to move more while socially engaged. Student groups will design smart objects to achieve this goal, in different contexts and for different clients.

BACKGROUND

Digitization of society & internet of things

Rapid developments in electronics over the last decades have increased capabilities like computing speed and memory size, while bringing down both size and price of hardware. This has led to integration of these technologies in many aspects of life. Both work and leisure are increasingly digital, and more and more products contain electronics and are connected to the internet. Lifestyle changes and consequences

These developments have led to a more sedentary lifestyle, where people spend a big amount of time sitting down and looking at some kind of screen. Physical social activity is decreasing, which brings along problems like obesity and other health risks. Furthermore, for children, the decrease in physical social activities is

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causing a decline in the development of motor skills. And, in a way, sitting behind a screen influences practice of social interaction in the physical world. This project focuses on getting children to move more, in social interaction, in different aspects of their life. This does not only bring benefits in the short term, as children will enjoy it and develop skills, it will also help develop a healthy lifestyle for the long run.

ASSIGNMENT

Design, prototype and test a smart object* for kids to get away from their screens and to engage in physical (educational) activity** while socially engaged.

* A Smart Object is considered any interactive electronic device that can sense its surrounding in one way or another and behaves accordingly. It could be either a physically static device, a mobile or wearable device or anything you envision. ** With physical activity we aim at movement in the broadest sense of the word, using either fine or gross motor skills. The physical activity can be the goal of the interaction, or a means to another end. As long as they move!

Project teams

Teams and topics are decided upon in week 1 or 2, by coordinators in

collaboration with you (student/teams) depending on experience levels (similar levels together) and preferences concerning project topic as far as possible.

Learning activities overview

In the table below, you can see a quick overview of a regular week. There are 2 semester specific workshops per week, plus a tutoring moment. Next to that there are methodology workshops on Tuesday mornings, expert hour to involve other teachers and drawing classes to improve visualization skills.

Client meetings and excursions will usually take place on Thursdays and might account for a longer time frame.

MON TUE WED THU FRI

9:30 – 12:00

Project work 9:30 – 12:00 Design methodology

9:30 – 12:00

Workshop 9:30 – 12:00 Project work

13:00 - 16:15

Workshop 13:00 – 14:30 Expert hour 13:00 – 15:30 Project work 13:00 – 14:30 Tutoring 15:30 – 18:00

Sketching

Detailed schedule is available through intranet / timetables (Webber). There will be some deviations, these will be communicated via Blackboard announcements.

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Learning activities details/assignments

In the table below you can see the topics for all classes for the semester.

Week Day Date Teacher Topic Quest Methods/skills/knowledge

1

MON 02-Sep M, J Semester intro, software DJ/VJ Programming

TUE 03-Sep M Hardware DJ/VJ Electrical components

WED 04-Sep J Semester setup, domain _exploration DJ/VJ Domain understanding

THU 05-Sep M, J, S Projects + BBQ DJ/VJ Project info, wrap up DJ/VJ

2

MON 09-Sep M Basics of electricity Electrify Electricity basics, U=IxR,

WED 11-Sep J Electric circuits Electrify Circuit reading & drawing

THU 12-Sep M, J, S Project kickoff - AT Sport campus?

3

MON 16-Sep M System thinking, diagraming Hack-it System thinking: black box, function analysis, _{system diagram.}

WED 18-Sep J Interaction processes Hack-it Processes: storyboards and flowcharts

THU 19-Sep M, J, S Tutoring - Draft design brief, first ideas

4

MON 23-Sep M Introduction arduino Activate Arduino hardware/software, breadboard

WED 25-Sep J Arduino Activate Arduino input reading, serial monitor

THU 26-Sep M, J, S Client presentations - Design brief, developed ideas

5 Assessments

6

MON 07-Oct M Microcontrollers, smart Smart Light Automated systems, programming arduino

WED 09-Oct J Sensors & Actuators Smart Light Sensor and actuator diversity.

THU M, J, S Tutoring - Idea development and selection

7

MON 14-Oct M Ethics of technology Mission Impossible Techniek filosofie

WED 16-Oct J Smart technology Mission Impossible Applications of smart technology

THU M, J, S Tutoring + test MI Mission Impossible Concept development & protoplan

- Autumn break

8

MON 28-Oct M Connection Connect it Networking, wifi, bluetooth

WED 30-Oct J User testing intro Connect it Test goal, broad setup

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9

MON 04-Nov M Debugging Connect it Finding and fixing errors in hard/software

WED 06-Nov M, J, S Client presentation

THU 07-Nov (ThinkFST)

10 Assessments

11

MON 18-Nov M Inspiration guest lecture T.B.D.

WED 20-Nov J User testing plan Test plan, procedures

THU 21-Nov M, J, S Tutoring Concept detailing, proto building

12

MON 25-Nov M User testing plan Test plan, procedures

WED 27-Nov J Screen design & prototyping Prototyping screen design, wireframe, Adobe XD

THU 28-Nov M, J, S Tutoring Concept detailing, proto building

13

MON 02-Dec M User testing session Execution of user test?

WED 04-Dec J User testing session Execution of user test?

THU 05-Dec M, J, S Tutoring Test results, design iteration

14

MON 09-Dec M

WED 11-Dec J

THU 12-Dec M, J, S EXPO Design proposal, testing conclusions

FRI 13-Dec ThingsCon Design proposal, testing conclusions

15 Assessments

16+

Research paper? Concept development?

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Ask it: Expert Hours

For specific questions you have about your project, which weren’t answered or addressed during project time, there is expert hour on Tuesday afternoon. You can find the lecturers in their rooms, ready to answer your questions and give expert feedback.

Lecturer Expertise Satish

Kumar Beella

Sustainable mobility & transportation design, sustainable product design (methods), alternative energy; embodiment, materials and manufacturing, production technology, (dis)assembly; 3d CAD (solid works, fusion360, etc.)

Hanna de Bruin

Statics/ Construction, Engineering drawings, Mathematics, Engineering embodiment of plastic parts; Textiles, Fabric canopies (membrane structures); Futuring; Team dynamics Gabriela

Bustamante Castillo

Craftsmanship and prototyping; Social Design, Cross-cultural Design, Participatory Design; Design Aesthetics; Design Entrepreneurship, Reflective practice on design Coen

Dekkers

Strategic product design, Futuring; Product preparation, safety, playground equipment / design for children, general design; Product photography, Design history

Matthijs Dröes

HCD for smart products, UX design, Interaction Design, Prototyping electronics (Arduino, R.B. PI); Coding for web & software, Kodi, Domotics, A.I., Drones, (wireless) networks and services (automated systems); User research & testing, Professional reporting; Cultural diversity, team/organization culture, coaching; Critical thinking & design requirements. Marcel van

Geffen

Entrepreneurship (marketing, business economics, organization, entities, taxes, business models, investment etc); Finance (accounting); Project Management; Electronics, Smart home's, (fire) Safety and security, Excel, Linux, Visual Basic (Applications)

Joost van Hoevelaak

Creative problem solving, brainstorming, Design methodology; Interaction design, Electronic prototyping (Arduino); Strategic design, entrepreneurial design Lenny van

Onselen

Human centred research, Design research (research through design); Sustainable product design & methods, sustainable business models; Design professionalism, Values in designing (design values, values led design); Co-design & co-creation, Design & creativity methods; Entrepreneurship, Strategic innovation, Fuzzy Front End of Innovation, Cost price calculation

Senko Kabbes

Design Aesthetics, Drawing & Visualisation, Adobe creative suite; Model making & Prototyping, Materials & Manufacturing, Practical engineering; SolidWorks Janneke

Sluijs

Human centred research; Facilitating participatory innovation, Co-creation with users and/or other stakeholders, Design thinking; Team collaboration, Appreciative inquiry, Design and creativity methods

Laura Stevens

Biomimicry, Biology and Design Engineering, Circular Design, C2C, Bio-morphism, Biophilic design, Responsible Design; Architecture and Landscape Architecture design; Sustainable Development Goals; Coaching

Meggie Williams

Human centred research, Co-creation with users and/or other stakeholders, Service design & User Experience Design; Business Models and Business cases, Marketing and sales, Project management; Design ethics, philosophical aspects of design

Shahab Zehtabchi

Design methodology; Strategic product design, Bio design, Exhibition and interior design, Design Aesthetics; Brand and product management, context mapping; Adobe creative suit, Video and sound editing, Animation (C4D

Learn it: Design BoKS

Next to the project, we offer general workshops that give you the opportunity to train the knowledge and skills you need as a designer and open innovator. The BoKS (Body of Knowledge and Skills) is your designer tool box, and during the Tuesday morning workshops you add tools and methods to this box. They will be useful for both your current and future projects, including your graduation project (where you have to show mastery all by yourself). On blackboard you can find an overview of the sessions and topics that will be addressed each teaching week on Tuesday morning. On Monday late afternoon there are open access product sketching classes, for you to train your drawing skills.

Tutoring

Every project group will have a tutor meeting once per week, usually on Thursday 13:00. You will have one of the semester tutors, Matthijs, Shahab or Joost, as dedicated tutor. Specific arrangements and agreements can be made in contact with your tutor.

Assessment

Enrolment for assessments

First of all: When receiving e-mails from the faculty administration asking you to enroll in Osiris for assessments, please do this right away! If you do not do this, you cannot earn credits and they won’t be registered as such. Please take care of this long before the enrolment closes. If you do not receive a confirmation of registration, go to the front desk of the faculty administration right away and ask them to help you out. Do this before the enrolment deadline as well!! Enrolment for a time slot for the assessment happens as follows in this semester: Signup lists will be available in week 3, 8, 13 either on paper or digitally. The week after the assessment schedules will be communicated.

Integrated assessments

In week 5, 10 and 15 you will have an integrated assessment, wrapping up a 5-week unit. Assessment is individual and based on your progress in the

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development of the competency profile of IDE. You will choose 5

sub-competencies for each unit assessment to prove on the next level, until you have reached 120EC and are ready for graduation. You plan this ahead in the planning and learning tool North at the start of the unit, including what evidence you will bring to the assessment. That way you can work towards your assessment effectively during the unit, working on deliverables and taking on the roles within the design team that fit to your personal learning goals. Each of you in a design team can have different learning goals, and thus complement each other in making your project a success.

Each sub-competency passed on the next level gets you 2EC (credits). If you pass 10 EC per unit each time, you are on par and will graduate without study delay in 3 years. If you prove 2 levels higher on a sub-competency, you will earn 2x 2EC for that. Also, it is possible to prove a 6th or 7th sub-competency within your assessment if you desire and have done the work to show for it.

Your sub-competencies will be graded with a ‘fail’, ‘pass’ or ‘good’. Pass and good will both result in the 2 credits being awarded. Fail means you will have to resit. You have one resit opportunity to get a higher grade on a sub-competency, in week 18 of the same semester. You can only resit sub-competencies you have tried to prove during one of the unit assessments. Adding new

sub-competencies in week 18 is not allowed:

Note: it is possible to resit ‘passed’ SCs in order to improve the grade to ‘good’ as well in week 18.

Also note: Once proven a sub-competency on a certain level, proving it again in another semester will not earn you credits.

Resources

The following resources and materials you will need during this semester: Tools:

• Laptop (or similar) • Arduino ARDX Starter kit

This is the preferred tool kit for this semester, since it includes materials used by (design) professionals it is also an investment for beyond the course. You may bring your own (arduino based) board/kit, but support for this during the course is at your own responsibility.

For example via Kiwi electronics in Rijswijk (±4km from school) https://www.kiwi-electronics.nl/arduino-platform/arduino-kits/ardx-the-arduino-starter-kit

Literature

Non-mandatory, reference material. Books will be available (limited) in the university library:

• Electronics for inventors (Paul Scherz, 2016), ISBN: 9781259587542 • Processing (Casey Reas, 2014), ISBN: 9780262028288

• The Nature of Code (Shiffman, 2012): ISBN: 9780985930806 (follow up)

• Learn to program with Scratch (Majed Marji), ISBN: 9781593275433 Software:

• Arduino IDE: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software • Processing: https://processing.org/download/

Tutorials:

• Processing (video tutorials): https://processing.org/tutorials/ • Getting started with Arduino:

https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage

• Arduino ARDX manual: http://www.oomlout.com/a/products/ardx/

Inspirational sources:

• Instructables – DIY maker projects in step-by-step descriptions Unit 1: choose 5 SCs to prove

Unit 2: choose another 5 SCs to prove Unit 3: choose yet another 5 SCs to prove

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• Arduino Playground– many Arduino resources and examples • Make: magazine – divers ‘maker’ projects

Blackboard

• 2019 Smart Objects course pages

All official communication and documentation happens on blackboard.

Contact

Semester coordinators / tutors

Matthijs Dröes [email protected]

Joost van Hoevelaak [email protected]

Shahab Zehtabchi [email protected]

For questions please first reach out to the teacher of the respective workshop(s) or your tutor. In case of doubt, do not hesitate to talk or mail to any of us.