CHAPTER 1
This chapter explores the foundational experiments in interactive web interfaces and sensor-based controls. It documents the transition from screen-based interaction to physical computing gestures.
EXPERIMENT 1.1
Wishing Garden: The wishing garden was a project that was mainly focused on how to make a website interactive through the interaction of each wish. This experiment focuses on the new feature of Figma called "Figma Make."
UI Description: The UI guides users through a simple three-step journey: selecting a persona, planting a wish, and nurturing the garden.
Identity: Users select a "Clover" avatar that best represents their current emotion to serve as their digital identity.
Explored Figma Make features to create interactive states without code.
EXPERIMENT 1.2
Process: This experiment used an MPU6050 gyroscope connected to a microcontroller to track hand movements in real-time. By reading the X, Y, and Z axis rotation, the device translates physical tilting and turning gestures into digital data.
Interaction: This mimics the feeling of holding a physical object. Instead of using a mouse, the user tilts their wrist to change the perspective. It removes the need for buttons, making navigation feel intuitive and tangible.
Connectivity: The original goal was wireless freedom, but connections introduced too much latency. I switched to a wired Arduino setup to fix reliability issues and control visuals smoothly without signal drops.
EXPERIMENT 1.3
Process: Using an ultrasonic sensor to measure distance via sound waves. It acts like a digital ruler, detecting hand hover height in real-time.
Storytelling: I connected distance data to the blooming of a digital flower. As the hand moves closer, the flower reacts, allowing users to physically nurture the narrative.
Narrative Context: Used the story of Ophelia to test emotional complexity. The goal was to see if distance sensors could communicate nuanced states like melancholy instead of just on/off triggers.