CONCEPT:
For my switch, I wanted it to reflect something meaningful from my culture, drawing inspiration from the way men greet each other with a traditional nose-to-nose gesture. This greeting, known as “Al Khushm,” symbolizes respect and warmth, and it felt like the perfect starting point for a unique switch design. I wanted the setup to embody this gesture functionally, so I used two pieces of aluminum foil, each attached to a wire to act as a touch-sensitive switch.
I positioned the foils so that, with a light press—just like the gentle touch in a nose-to-nose greeting—they connect and complete the circuit, turning on the light. I chose aluminum foil for this setup because it’s simple and a good conductor, making it easy to work with for a touch-sensitive design. This material and setup felt like the best way to capture the essence of a traditional greeting functionally. This design doesn’t just represent the gesture; it brings it to life in a modern form which is why i want to create this.
HIGHLIGHT:
The part I’m most proud of is the touch mechanism that simulates the cultural greeting. By setting up the switch with two pieces of aluminum foil and wiring them so that contact turns on the LED, I’ve managed to capture the concept of a traditional greeting in a unique, interactive way.
// Read the current state of the switchPin
// LOW means the metal plates are in contact (touch detected)
int switchState = digitalRead(switchPin);
// Output the switch state to the Serial Monitor for troubleshooting
// Prints '0' when plates touch and '1' when they are apart
Serial.println(switchState);
// Check if the switch state is LOW (indicating touch/contact)
if (switchState == LOW) {
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // Turn on the LED when plates touch
} else {
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // Turn off the LED when plates are apart
}
}
REFLECTION:
One challenge I faced with this setup was keeping the aluminum foil pieces stable. They kept slipping out of place, which made the switch less reliable and the circuit would often disconnect unintentionally. For future improvements, I’d like to find a better way to secure the foil pieces and wires, perhaps by using a more solid base or even switching to conductive tape that can stay in place more effectively. Additionally, adding a way to adjust the pressure sensitivity would make the interaction feel more realistic and closer to the gentle touch of a greeting. These adjustments would help make the switch more durable and improve its functionality, keeping the cultural gesture intact in a smoother way.
UNUSUAL SWITCH:
(i couldn’t find men to do this)