Your Digital Atmosphere
Concept:
For my final project, I wanted to create something that feels personal and connected to memory, space, and atmosphere instead of just making another “radio” that plays music, I focus more on the feeling of a place rather than sound alone. Users here can find or choose their own tunes based on different moods and environment. The way theyll be able to do this is through the dial so they can switch between different atmospheres like a rainy afternoon, a cafe by the beach, a sunny day, a library, or even a busy NYC.
I want this project to feel like a small digital escape that anyone can use, experiment, and enjoy because I personally focus a lot on sound, lighting, and the overall atmosphere a lot specifically when I study or when I want to feel calm. Through intro to IM and understanding IM I started focusing more about experience and emotions through interactions because they leave a bigger impact on a person.
Design and description:
Honestly it is really sad to know that I will be using tinkercad, I wish I was able to use the physical Arduino kit but 1. it wont arrive in time and 2. I got so used to using tinkercad which I know are the same but I guess well never know until I get my hands on a kit soon? Anyways the whole project will be built in Tinkercad Circuits using Arduino components. This way I will be able to create a physical object that lets the users interact with different mood, environments, and memory through sound and light.. maybe text?
What I will be using:
The main input will be the potentiometer, which works like a tuning dial so as the user turns it up, the Arduino reads the value and changes the “station” depending on the specific range and each different range will be a different atmosphere.
LCD screen, so I haven’t actually used it for any of my mini projects but I did experiment a little with it! I will be using this for the name of each current place/mood/atmosphere.
RGB LED to change the color based on the mood so of course I will use the color symbolism to do this. Piezo to create the sound patterns or rhythms that represent each place
Step by Step improvements:
I already started testing some things like the potentiometer and how it connects to the outputs and I also started testing how the LCD screen works because I knew that would probably be the hardest part for me. Like always I wanted to get comfortable with the objects and the project because it always seems harder in my head (because I overthink) but I actually started the project to make it seem easier in my head.
Right now I also want to do some research on the color symbolism and while I finalized my project, I am still looking at a few videos I’ve wanted to watch so maybe I can make my project better?
Most Challenging Part:
The most challenging part for me will probably be using the LCD screen together with the RGB LED at the same time. I have used LEDs, buttons, and potentiometers before, but the LCD screen feels more specific because the code needs to be clean and organized because the screen will start displaying the wrong thing and thats not what I want! So I will try to write a clean code so that I don’t run into any issues.
Small demo/idea on how I want to work in tinkercad?
Potentiometer = to switch between the stations (ill try to first focus on something small then I can add more places/atmospheres): Rain, Café, and Library. When I turn the dial, the LCD changes the station name depending on the value which will help me get the green light that I’m doing things right then I’ll add the RGB LED and the buzzer.