Different types of design case study methodologies have guided my user-centered explorations, all of them focusing on one specific question. For my first prototype I aimed to answer how kinetic movement can have presence and if it is rewarding after completing a specific type of exercise. For this I set up a flex sensor to measure how many bicep curls the user had completed within a specific time frame. An abstract set of rectangular shapes would then move in accordance to your performance. By asking people to fill out a questionnaire before and after as well as seeing them interact with the device, I was able to gather that it indeed was very rewarding to see this object move as a response to the users exercise. However, users reported they would have liked to see more real-time feedback, and the flex sensor as a wearable was uncomfortable and redundant.
As testing with my user group has been difficult due to liability issues, the next natural step was to put myself in my users situation to the greatest extent that I possibly could. In my opinion, good design stems from empathy. So I challenged myself to be my own observer in an empathetic design probe, where I emotionally detached myself from my legs for one full day. I aimed to put myself in the situation of someone that has T9-T12 spinal cord injury, which typically means that you have good control of your upper body, but no control or sensation in your legs.8 Although I have witnessed my mother being bedridden for over six years, the insight that I gained during these twelve hours where invaluable to my design approach. I found myself loosing perception of time as I was physically confined to this one space. I also felt helpless, and experienced stiffness in my legs much quicker than expected. This lead me to incorporate range of motion exercises into my design, as I experienced how crucial stretching and simply moving around to stimulate blood circulation is to our wellbeing. But more importantly, how can I break up this monotony? Although I could feel the stiffness in my legs, I didn’t feel inspired to perform the exercises. Rather I wanted to immerse myself in something more escapist. So how can visual and kinetic cues inspire my user to move?
With these aspects in mind, I wanted to nail down the pure functionality and user experience that such a device needs in order to be effective. The findings above lead me to consolidate my design into one contained object, creating a device that allows for real time visual as well as haptic feedback in accordance to how timely you have performed your routine. Incorporating an accelerometer also allows my user to see if they are holding proper form. This way I am able to test the pure functional aspects of such a device without worrying about the emotional aspects getting in the way of results and vice versa. The motion data is captured and displayed on a webpage using Arduino Yun. Below I am also testing how angular momentum might be used in order to fluctuate the weight.