Spooky Treats Box Concept

Get a treat from this skeletal doorman when you come to the ITP Halloween Show!

• (At least) 4 parts: a skull that emits light through its eyes, a box with a door that opens in response to a button press, a storage space that dispenses candy, skeletal hand that extends a treat when the door opens and candy has been dispensed.
  • Modular, so we can add or remove parts as needed, e.g., add a “trick” button that makes a scary sound; or remove the hand mechanism.
  • Probably need a lot of motors! To open and close the door, to dispense the candy, and to extend and retract the skeletal arm.
    • See linear actuator for simple push and pull (or a motor with a string)
  • Maybe we can 3D print the skeletal parts.
  • Maybe can make the box/drawer out of cardboard (tutorial for building with cardboard). I can build a prototype drawer for next Tuesday because I have to make something out of cardboard for another class.

• Feel the topic and the user flow are already pretty clear! I also want to make some installations to interact with users. There are something I think can make this project more complete:
  • Sounds/ Speaking(jaw movement)/ fogs, and a lighting (maybe a mini light show?)

Flow

1. Guest coming to the space → see exhibit
2. Users are attracted by led/sound → come closer
3. See trigger → press trigger
   1. drawer comes out → serve candy
   2. scary sound/effects
4. break between interactions

Prototype 1

• Mashi is going to try making a servo-operated box out of a cardboard box — it responds to a button press to open a container.

  • Considered a lock mechanism. That would require a second servo, maybe that could be an extension we add if we have time.
  • Check the first iteration below:

  The Nothing Box.pdf

• Feedback (10/4)

  • Need a larger box!
  • Be careful running currents through/near cardboard fixtures.
  • Consider using a perma protoboard, you can solder directly to the board. But only use it after you’re sure the circuit works!
  • Make wires long enough that they can run around the side — longer wires are easier to hide.
  • Bring the lever closer to the hinge of the lid, consider placing it outside.
  • Consider what happens if a user doesn’t act according to expectation — what happens if they don’t want to take a candy? What happens if they don’t press a button?
    • What happens if a user forces the box open?
      • Another motor as the “lock”
  • How do we know the “end” of the interaction, especially considering the role of the skull?
  • Consider the tension between something that attracts vs. something that repels: inconsistency might make an experience more exciting.
    • The box can have a randomly occurring “trick” branch that doesn’t open the box.
  • Provide the user a mental model of what they need to do. Some text can go a long way.

• To do:

  • Create a larger paper prototype, consider how things will fit inside.
  • If making a paper prototype is easy, consider a drawer model as well.

1007

The rod’s measurements:

length: 6 inches

diameter: 1 1/8

The gear’s measurements

length: 3 1/16 inches

hight(D): 1 1/8 inches

Together:

Height: 1 7/8