Introduction
This PiIot Challenge evolved in a very strange mode for me; as much the project was growing as much a new scenario was emerging imposing as the main track.
So what happened? I had to make a choice: close the challenge just in time or smoothly follow the project evolution. There was not time to do both. Closing the challenge by the deadline would require a series of simplifications in the project. Then the remaining time for the next - and, why not? More ambitious - deadline was too few for refactoring the idea and prototype to the next target.
I have done the choice: the challenge deadline become just the most important part of a wider project focusing to a more complex design. It was clear to me that it was a necessary choice seeing the first media coverage and - most of all - the interest and support from the other partner, the MuZIEum where the project will take place, the same Element14 supporting and encouraging me, the approach of the GearBest.com second sponsor and the first interview that are under publishing next weeks.
Few words about the new timeline
The new timeline necessarily changed the project approach. This perfect reading place, become focused on the Internet of Things technologies supporting visually-impaired users: it will be a really reading, chatting, discussing and interacting area place to be installed in the MuZIEum site. Many new aspects to take care made things more complex but also more interesting. The design idea becomes a use case adding one more complexity level: usage, color choices, networking, usability, and more. The points below focus the main aspects:
- The system is a series of installations connected as IoT nodes
- Visually-impaired staff will be trained on how the components work to be able to illustrate their usage to non-visually impaired visitors
- The components of this IoT network will be accessible and easily understandable by the visitors: together with rest of the MuZIEum context should be part of a very special and intriguing experience for the visitors (trained and supported by visually-impaired personnel)
- The MuZIEum staff and the precious consultancy of the project manager Carlijn Nijhof will supervise the project content and features: the colours of the 3D printed parts, the texts-to-voice preset messages, the interaction choices etc.
- The perfect reading place should work dynamically adapting to the presence of a detected user
- The system is headless: no monitor, no screen, no keyboard
The next three months timeline
- The full working and installable prototype will be completed during the month of September. Every part will be tested on-site as it becomes available. Then a pre-installation full setup will test the IoT nodes
- A final project design will be produced to be supervised by the MuZIEum staff for the ergonomy and colour choices: 3D printed parts, powering system, accessibility
- The text content of the spoken messages will be tested then supervised by the MuZIEum staff to reach the best content
- As well as text and colours also the physical accessibility of the components and the control gestures should be discussed with the MuZIEum staff for the more comfortable user experience
- Between the month of September and October a group of visually-impaired MuZIEum collaborators will be trained to illustrate the IoT self-adapting experience to the visitors
- Starting by the end of October - first week of November the final reviewed installation will be ready on-site. The system will be used for a period by test-users to verify the installation robustness and reliability.
- The official presentation to press and public visitors, together with other projects all focused to give to the visitor a unique perceptual experience will be on the date of 8 December.
During this period a series of video-podcasts with Periscope are planned for streaming on Twitter about project advance news, interviews to the staff members and more.
The project updates will continue as usual by the next 5 September.
I hope that element14Dave, spannerspencer and the resto of Element14 challenge sponsor will appreciate the scenario. And I also hope that the users continue following the project development status.
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