Allistar D Peters
Amanda OBrien
Blowing Kisses
Send a loved one more than just a text message or a "poke" on facebook, send them a virtual kiss that requires actual physical effort and places that energy into an emotive, virtual contact.
http://blowingakiss.blogspot.com/
Classes
Networked Objects
Networked Objects
Technology does not have to only encompass ones and zeros, it can create an emotive context that engages and connects others. “Blowing Kisses” does exactly that. We are taking a humanistic approach to sending a loved one a virtual kiss. Instead of sending a simple email or a text message, the user will have to actually exert physical energy to send a “kiss” to the receiver. And just like real kisses, the enjoyment of the act will depend on the level of effort set forth. Here is how it works…
Two people have “flowers.” The flowers are pinwheel-like structure, with tri-colored LEDs embedded in a translucent planter. When one person wants to send the other a kiss, they have to blow on the pinwheel (as hard or as light as they wish.) The intensity of the kiss will depend on how fast or slow the pinwheel moves. For instance, if the pinwheel only moves a little, the corresponding color will be a friendly yellow. If the pinwheel moves a little faster, the color will be pink. And if a lot of energy is exerted and the pinwheel moves quickly, the color will be red hot!
The flower that is receiving the kiss will pulse, in a similar fashion to the sleep mode LED on a Macbook. The pulse will be continuous until the receiver decides to reciprocate the kiss.
Just like in relationships, there is no telling how well your kiss was received. These types of misunderstandings happen in real life and are often serious topics of discussion. “Blowing Kisses” may invoke the conversation:
“Why did you only send a yellow kiss?”
“I am sorry, I will try harder next time.”
And we are totally OK with that.
Background
We started off wanting to make people smile and laugh. We were not exactly sure how to do this, and decided to conduct research and ask people what makes them laugh. After receiving mixed results, we discovered the consistent thread throughout our investigation, was physical, playful interaction. "Blowing Kisses" invokes both of these criteria. The users get to send an emotive message, by taking part in the fun, childhood activity of blowing on a pinwheel.
Audience
Anyone that would like technology to take a more humanistic approach, People involved in a long distance relationship
User Scenario
You are involved in a long distance relationship, and would like to send a message to your loved one. However, you would like it to be more meaningful that just a simple text message saying "I miss you." You want to actually "blow them a kiss." Instead of reaching for your cell phone or laptop, you go over to your "Blowing a Kiss" pinwheel, and blow with all of your might. You keep blowing until the indicator LEDs in the flower pot, are the desirable color and level of intensity. Each time you blow a kiss, the flower pot of the person that is receiving the kiss, will constantly change to reflect the "kiss" that has been sent. The receiver's kiss will light up and pulse continuously, until they blow a kiss back to their loved one.
Two people have “flowers.” The flowers are pinwheel-like structure, with tri-colored LEDs embedded in a translucent planter. When one person wants to send the other a kiss, they have to blow on the pinwheel (as hard or as light as they wish.) The intensity of the kiss will depend on how fast or slow the pinwheel moves. For instance, if the pinwheel only moves a little, the corresponding color will be a friendly yellow. If the pinwheel moves a little faster, the color will be pink. And if a lot of energy is exerted and the pinwheel moves quickly, the color will be red hot!
The flower that is receiving the kiss will pulse, in a similar fashion to the sleep mode LED on a Macbook. The pulse will be continuous until the receiver decides to reciprocate the kiss.
Just like in relationships, there is no telling how well your kiss was received. These types of misunderstandings happen in real life and are often serious topics of discussion. “Blowing Kisses” may invoke the conversation:
“Why did you only send a yellow kiss?”
“I am sorry, I will try harder next time.”
And we are totally OK with that.
Background
We started off wanting to make people smile and laugh. We were not exactly sure how to do this, and decided to conduct research and ask people what makes them laugh. After receiving mixed results, we discovered the consistent thread throughout our investigation, was physical, playful interaction. "Blowing Kisses" invokes both of these criteria. The users get to send an emotive message, by taking part in the fun, childhood activity of blowing on a pinwheel.
Audience
Anyone that would like technology to take a more humanistic approach, People involved in a long distance relationship
User Scenario
You are involved in a long distance relationship, and would like to send a message to your loved one. However, you would like it to be more meaningful that just a simple text message saying "I miss you." You want to actually "blow them a kiss." Instead of reaching for your cell phone or laptop, you go over to your "Blowing a Kiss" pinwheel, and blow with all of your might. You keep blowing until the indicator LEDs in the flower pot, are the desirable color and level of intensity. Each time you blow a kiss, the flower pot of the person that is receiving the kiss, will constantly change to reflect the "kiss" that has been sent. The receiver's kiss will light up and pulse continuously, until they blow a kiss back to their loved one.