Meeting the BriefIt is clear that this project is all about exploring space and being aware of the senses and perception, whilst also having to appreciate and understand ergonomics and anthropometrics through a design which is meant to act as an extension from the body. The brief clearly states that the project idea should explore ideas of phenomenology (an approach that concentrates on the study of consciousness and the objects of direct experience) in the context of architectural discourse.
Our ideas focused on enhancing one's auditory experience in a space, as we picked sound as our project sense. We broadly explored what a busy space is interpreted as in terms of sound and hearing, and how we respond to it. For example in the Parkside Building, we understand that there is constantly a blurry, non-concentrated sound surrounding students as they move through this space or attempt to work and study in it. Our project, The Sound Hoover, aims to concentrate on one particular sound instead of allowing one to be emerged in the white noise that Parkside has to offer. Therefore this product achieves a sensory experience as a user can focus in on a particular sounds, something that the human ear does not allow you to do easily. Sound Hoover allows a particular sound to be concentrated on and enhanced. |
BrainstormingAt the start of the brainstorm we knew we had to focus on the sensory experience and how we could enhance the users auditory experience in the Parkside Building.
The problem we are trying to resolve is the almost polar opposite responses students have to the busy, intimate space when they pass through it. After identifying that generally students either embrace the noise and actually add to the underlying buzz in the building, or they almost become overpowered by the sound - hiding away from it as they rush through the space which is supposed to be encouraging work and social, we came up with our first idea. Below are some conceptual sketches of the ideas that we thought approach the project brief: Development 1: The Self-Awareness Backpack
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Development 2: The Space-Awareness Headphones
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Development 3: Sound Hoover
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Development of the Prototype Model
Once we agreed on a concept, we started developing the cone for the device. The cone funnels the sound and allows the recorder to catch it; then the concentrated sound plays through the headphones.
Further Development of Final Concept
These are photographs and sketches which demonstrate the development of the final model we created to concentrate sound.
Shock Absorber and Handle Construction
These photographs show the progression of the final model:
Balsa Tree Wood
In the early stages of development, we found that if the user directly holds the recorder, you can hear movement. So to overcome this, we constructed the shock absorber and handle using a soft material called Balsa Tree Wood which is also known as Ochroma Pyramidale. Found in the rainforests of Central and South America, Balsa is perfect for model making due to its light formation; the wood is easy to cut and shape with hand tools. The main reason why we chose to use this material was because of the sound absorbing properties. (6)