I want to create a calming, meditation like interface where the usdders physical actions are recorded using arduino sensors and shown as the physical states of a bonsai in the p5 sketch. Essentially, the user will be able to take care of the plant through caring for themselves.
Inspiration
My original thought was only to make something that can feel calming, because I have been staying indoors too much lately and that is emotionally frustrating. When I was thinking of exactly how to do it I thought I am not feeling my best because I am inside and not getting enough sunlight, air, and hydration, which is also what plants need to thrive. Its also spring outside, which gives people a sense of life and flourishing growth, making everything feel hopeful. These just clicked and I thought why not use a plant and a growth of a plant to create the calming, meditating effect? I first thought of using a flower but then the blossom of the flower would be like a “win” ending, which is not exactly what I am aiming for. So I looked for some plants related to meditation and found the bonsai, a sort of specially treated plants coming from Japan. Gardenery and taking care of plants in Japan is considered to be a calming process, generating a meditation effect, so I decided to use that as the final design.
Conceptual Interface sketch
(conceptual image generated by gemini)
My current idea is that the user’s breathing or heartrate can be monitored through certain methods. These can be then used to assess stress levels and reflecfted towards the plants growth. If possible I would want the plant itself to move its leaves or wave in sync with the users breath. Watering of the plant can be done by tilting the tilt sensor (like when actually watering plants) or by the user themselves drinking water. I am still deciding between the two ideas. Light conditions is directly linked to the users light conditions, since staying in a sunlit room is probably more emotionally beneficial to the user than staying in a dark room. Focus might be assessed by fidgiting or other factors, which may include flex or distance sensors, which I havent decided on.
References
https://greengoddess.com/the-zen-of-bonsai-cultivating-tranquility-in-miniature-landscapes/
Google gemini for image genrating.
Tutorials of interest
arduino breathing monitor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDRokF_ZW9A
arduino heart rate monitor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKus0FV4deU
flex sensor:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/flex-sensor-hookup-guide/all
tilt sensor:
https://lastminuteengineers.com/ball-tilt-switch-sensor-arduino-tutorial/