Membrain

 

The final design created within this project was Membrain. An interactive, living system which collects and communicates data from the office environment. Membrain visualizes current data gathered from other projects in the office and can replay data from the past. The colors are used to visualize the ratio between, for example, office workers doing focused work versus office workers available for questions. Membrane also moves, this breathing motions visualizes the activity in the office. Membrain cycles through three data sets, workmode, the athmosphere in the community forest and the CO2 level in the office. These data sets are generated by other student projects for the AMS building. The button panel enables office workers to switch data sets or to replay data from the past. 

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In this project we really started building the interactive environment in which all groups had to connect their projects, to be able to create an interactive office environment.

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Within this group project I learned a lot about communicating and planning. As a group all students were from different departments which made communication sometimes a bit more difficult. However we could learn a lot from each other and it taught me to be very clear within what I mean and envision. Within this project I have learned a lot from experimental prototyping. I created lots of prototypes to be able to more easily communicate my ideas to the group and discover strengths and weaknesses of ideas I had in mind. Within creating these prototypes I used the laser cutter a lot. I learned how to create laser cut files, and how to use the program to laser cut and the laser cutter myself. Due to this I was very free in creating these prototypes.

 

For the final design I have mainly been responsible for creating all of the paper 'down units' in the Membrain. I designed and experimented with folding the structure. With a lasercutter the pattern was created to make folding easier. 

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In this project the iterative process was very well executed. Throughout the process we realized our idea was to design with lots of plastic. We wanted to design more environmentally conscious and therefore replaced our materials with paper and cardboard. From this project I also learned a lot about technology and realization due to the must that our prototype was connected with other prototypes.