Experiments in Communication

Besides the Eye, I am working on 5 more amulets.

The Facebook Locket
Traditional lockets open up to reveal one or two photographs, representing a strong loving bond between two people. Nowadays it seems more important to have a network of people that you can get support from, so the facebook locket will display the photos of all of your facebook friends. The locket is different from traditional lockets in that the images are not concealed inside it, but publicly displayed, in the same way your contact list on facebook is public. This can allow for serendipitous moments where your established social network can lead to new connections in the real world, through the recognition of a mutual friend.

The Halo Headband
It's all about appearances, and you will most probably be remembered by the digital photographs of you. So why not appear a saint? The halo headband has infrared LEDs that are emit light that is outside the visible spectrum, but is detected by digital cameras. If you are a shy saint, turn up the brightness to conceal your identity.

prototype:

The Test-Tube Amulet
The modern version of old fertility amulets, its ambiguous form commemorates current fears of women: unwanted pregnancy and inability to conceive naturally.

prototype:

Wi-Fi Amulet
This amulet plays with the need people seem to have to always be connected to the internet. If it senses a Wi-Fi network, it is comfortably warm. If it doesn't, it becomes disconcertingly cold. I want it to look very raw and non-technological; I am considering casting it in the shape of a stone.

Bluetooth Protective Amulet
An amulet that represents protection but also provides protection by initiating a 911 call from your cell phone when activated. In an emergency, you have to break the switch of the amulet, which triggers it to make your phone call 911. I am probably going to make it in the shape of a cross.

assembly of inspirational items and materials:

clockwise from top left: surface mount infrared LEDs for headband, camera for eye, eyes, bluetooth module, stone for wi-fi amulet, screen for locket, test-tube amulet, solar panel

Posted by kyveli at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I was able to pair my bluetooth module with my phone, and put it in a mode where it connects with my phone as soon as it powers up, and then I made my arduino tell the bluetooth module to tell the phone to dial a specific number (I am dialling "123", which is my voice mail, but eventually I want it to dial 911, or maybe your closest relative?).
Here is what happens once the arduino is plugged in to power:

My idea was to have the microcontroller off, and once you connect it to power through a switch, your phone will dial 911. For the switch I want to use the glass magnetic reed switch, which is meant to be triggered by a magnet, but I am repurposing it to a switch that works when you break it (and physically connect the leads). On second thought, that shouldn't probably be the power supply to the microcontroller, rather some interrupt that will maybe wake the arduino from sleep mode.

Posted by kyveli at 05:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)