Rapacious Sapphires
UCF GAIM Physical Computing
15 September 2024
Jigsaw Puzzle Switch- Team 14
Unconventional Switch Sports Mode
This unconventional switch lights up the LED when the Croc is
put into sports mode, adding some extra power to your athletic activities! We
used a 9-volt battery, a breadboard with a power module attachment, two jumper
wires with alligator clips, two resistors, an LED, a Croc, and two pieces of
aluminum foil. The pieces of aluminum foil are attached to the strap and heel
of the Croc, and when the strap is lowered (as in sports mode), the aluminum
touches, completes the circuit, and lights up the LED. For this design to be
wearable, the components would have to be much smaller and welded onto the
shoe, however, this works as a proof-of-concept and/or prototype.
- Thomas Dean and Sarah Walenciak
Unconventional Switch: Bar Notification
For our unconventional switch, we decided on a design that was both unique and practical. We wanted to answer the question of how to request service at a noisy and crowded bar. The solution we came up with, fitting the project requirements: a simple circuit that lights up an LED when a drink is placed on it. In practice, this would let the bartender know that your drink is empty or that you would like attention.
For the prototype we built in class, we used two strips of copper tape affixed to a wooden stand to form a break in the circuit, with a metal drink can used to complete it. In a final product, the method for achieving this would likely be different, as condensation from the cup would damage the circuit. For a revision, we would use a rubber pad with a conductive material on the underside to complete the circuit. That way, any drink container could be used regardless of material, and the circuit would be protected from water damage.
Unconventional Switch: Tesoro's Date
Unconventional Switch: Book with Light
We decided to do a combination of things to make up the switch. One being that there are connections on either end of the book and a photo-resistor working in tandem. The general idea is that when the book closes then the wires meet and that allows the circuit to be finished. Then all you need is some light to shine right at the photo-resistor to turn on the green LED. The general idea is that maybe you want your kid to be reading right now so when the light is on that means the book isn’t open and being read so the kid isn’t reading. Maybe the kid needs to use a lamp to read cause it’s night time and can’t read the book without the lamp’s light incorporating the light part. Honestly there are a lot of ways to think about its use but it’s a weird switch for sure.
Unconventional Switch: Clock
Ring Theft Unconventional Switch
Artistically, this can be used as an anti-theft device. The context would be a metal model hand, with an LED indicator displaying the state of the ring. If the ring isn’t stolen, the LED indicator would glow. If the ring is stolen, the LED indicator would turn off.