Brief
Brief
My responsibility
Engineering, Design Competition, Rapid Research, Interaction Design, Prototyping. This project was done by a group of two.
Institution
Taiwan Tech, under the mentorship of Professor Ming Huang Lin.
Recognition
2022 International Design Award- Special | Bronze Award
2022 Yanko post shared
2022 Taiwan Light Design Award (TLDA) - Concentrator | Sliver Award
2022 Taiwan Tech Graduation Show | Exhibitor
OVERVIEW
Whisper is an entertainment device combining lighting and directional audio, which aimed at keeping people relaxed when they are at home for an extended period of time.
In this project, I contributed as a team leader engaging in every step, with a particular focus on interaction design and engineering. I led the process of manufacturing an MVP, drawing the system framework, and so on.
This project received the IDA award in 2022 and was exhibited in a graduation show at Taiwan Tech.
How it STArts
Blurred boundary between work and life causes higher anxiety and less productivity.
People's lifestyles have changed dramatically since the outbreak, with more and more time spent at home. People feel anxious and annoyed because they are unable to go to specific environments such as the office or gym to refresh themselves.
Perceived problem
Staying at home is hard to switch the vibe.
Home life lacks a sense of switching. If you are tired from work in the office, you can walk around to change the space to change your mood, but it is difficult to do it in the home space due to the limited space.
People need relaxants.
When working from home, they use specific ways to change their emotions, such as going out to ride a bicycle in the morning, making coffee, and scheduling calendars, but the sense of switching is short-lived, and can only bring temporary concentration.
Pivot
What if we can simulate different scenarios and, in turn, provide relaxants at home?
The Big idea
Crafting the scenarios with sound and light.
Sound devices aren’t just about relaxation or entertainment anymore—they’re portals to new dimensions. Enter directional speakers: the game-changer that lets us sculpt immersive soundscapes like never before. These aren’t just speakers; they’re storytellers, creating dynamic, personalized sound zones that whisk users away into entirely new auditory worlds.
Sketch Development
Exploring the configuration of lighting and speaker.
During the sketch and rendering process, we came to the realization that the first idea necessitates a giant net-like metal, but it's challenging to fabricate using current metalworking methods. Additionally, the second concept presents concise product semantics that highlight the prominence of lighting and directional speakers in this visual arrangement.
Sketch Development
Calm, urban, and simplistic.
We sought to harmonize cutting-edge interaction and advanced technology with a calm, urban aesthetic. Satin metal and frosted plastic were chosen for their ability to project a serene, yet sophisticated tone; their smooth, slightly reflective surface offers a sense of quiet luxury.
This material pairing not only embodies a minimalist elegance but also subtly guides the user’s experience, ensuring the technology feels approachable and seamlessly integrated into their urban lifestyle.
The final design
Audio : individual usage
Focusing mode.
The focusing mode is designed for personal use in confined interior spaces to prevent sound interruption. The user can only hear the sound in a 30-square-centimeter area, allowing them to enjoy the segregated sound without disturbing others.
Audio : Multiple users
Showering mode
The showering mode uses sound reflection to enhance the audible area, providing a more immersive experience for multiple users. The sound can be heard in the from specific objects such as the wall and celling.
Lighting design
Corresponding lighting to match the audio.
Frosted plastic plays a pivotal role in softening the light beams, creating a diffused glow that enhances the modernity of the design without overwhelming the senses.
Usability Consideration: rEMOTE CONTROL
Seamless control by raising hands.
Whisper uses image recognition technology to detect user movement. Whisper can target the raised hand and rotate with the user while the user raises their hand. This way, users can adjust the speaker remotely.
Engineering
I was responsible for engineering Whisper—bringing Whisper from paper to reality. As a technology practitioner, I chose the Raspberry Pi and Flask to implement the automatically-rotating motor and enable remote control. The the the Raspberry Pi served as an ideal hardware platform for this project, offering the necessary computing power and control features to drive the motor. Flask, on the other hand, provided an easy-to-use web-based interface that allowed for remote control of the motor from any device with internet access.
Engineering : Tracking system
This feature was developed collaboratively by me and an AI engineer. We integrated a small camera with a Raspberry Pi to detect user gestures. The Raspberry Pi uses its camera to identify people within its field of view. When a person raises their hand, the system calculates the precise angle needed to rotate, positioning the user at the center of the screen. As a result, Whisper automatically faces the user directly, ensuring an intuitive and seamless interaction.
Engineering : Manufacture
The last step was to manufacture Whisper. We cooperated with JAAN-SIN Model Enterprise, a professional CNC manufacturer in Taiwan. To visually demonstrate all the design requirements, I utilized Rhino and Keyshot to create an explosion rendering and technical documents. This allowed us to clearly communicate efficiently. The rendering helped us address the issues with the assembly sequence, select appropriate materials, and showcase the painting process.
