Project Proposal
We will be building a chair with certain symbols located on different parts of the chair that, when pressed correspond with sounds. For instance, an apple symbolizing hunger, or an alarm symbolizing an emergency would each correspond with a unique song or sound. Each symbol will be created with conductive paint, and attached to a makey makey so that when pressed by the user, a program in the computer that corresponds with each symbol produces different sounds or songs, to help communicate the needs of the user. This chair is intended to be used by the mute/deaf community to aid in communication with others. For instance, if a mute/deaf child was located in another room, and wished to communicate with their parent that they were hungry, rather than physically going to that person, they could press the corresponding symbol on the musical chair, to send the message. This is an especially beneficial idea for locations with poor cell phone service, or for those who do not own mobile devices, specifically younger children.
We intend to create the chair using common materials, such as wood, with the conductive paint on top in easy to recognize symbols. The symbols will be located mainly on the arms of the chair, much like the way a remote control looks, however symbols will not be restricted to only the arms of the chair. Symbols will include, an apple representing hunger, a cup representing thirst, a bell representing an emergency, a ball representing the desire to play, a tear to represent pain and the need for assistance because crying is not always loud enough to be heard, a star and moon representing tiredness, a toilet representing the need to use the bathroom (especially useful for children around the age of potty-training. a thermometer representing feeling sick, a heart representing gratitude, a smiley face representing happiness and joy, and a frown representing sadness or being troubled. We know that this list is not completely comprehensive of all the things a mute person would need to communicate but it serves as a prototype for potential future endeavors in this area of communication.
The first unit we are focusing on is symbols and sign systems. We discussed in class about how symbols were only useful when they were used to represent something, in our case, different needs. If an apple represents the desire for food, it becomes a symbol to both the person wanting food and the person who will bring them food. The specific songs are also symbols because each song will represent a different need. Once those songs are associated with various needs and committed to memory, the caretaker will hear it and know exactly what the mute child needs. It becomes second nature as many symbols in our society do. For example, the chemical symbols on the periodic table become second nature to those who study chemistry because it is engrained in their minds as something of significance. We also wanted to tie in that this project attempts to cover the unit of connecting all things. By using technology, symbols, and human interaction, this chair will connect not only the user to the caretaker, but also the user to a machine to improve communication.
Forms of Documentation:
- http://173-254-32-136.unifiedlayer.com/woodplans/download-child-adirondack-chair-plan-pdf-coffee-table-humidor-plans/ (Link to a template of what we modeled our chair after)
- Sarah's drawing draft of our chair
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