Week in Review: Exploring Design Challenges and Haptic Applications
This week, our primary objective was to delve deep into the design challenges associated with developing and implementing haptic technology. We focused on understanding the complexities of user experience, identifying potential obstacles, and finding ways to create practical applications while managing technical limitations. The goal was to design within the innovative space of haptic technology, ensuring that our ideas were not only exciting but feasible within the constraints of the technology.
One of the main challenges we faced was determining what aspects of the project we could complete without heavy programming involvement. Since we’re still in the research and brainstorming phase, we wanted to prioritize tasks that could be visualized or conceptualized without diving too deep into the technical side. This led us to reassess our group dynamics—figuring out how we could balance the creative and technical aspects to keep the team productive and aligned as we moved forward.
Despite these challenges, we made significant progress in several areas. We spent considerable time researching different design scenarios for applying haptic technology. This involved not only exploring use cases but also evaluating design considerations such as how tactile feedback could enhance user engagement and seamlessly integrate with existing systems. Our research aimed to anticipate potential roadblocks and identify friction points that might arise during the design process.
With a solid understanding of the design landscape, we gathered as a team to brainstorm potential haptic use cases. Some ideas focused on enhancing immersive virtual environments, while others explored accessibility benefits, like improving navigation for the visually impaired. The brainstorming session was a great opportunity for thinking outside the box and imagining how haptics could impact various industries, from healthcare to gaming.
On the visual side, we began conceptualizing branding for the project, including designing a logo and posters. This process is more than just aesthetics; it helps define the project’s identity and communicate its mission. We worked on visual representations of our haptic technology concepts, aiming to strike a balance between creativity and clarity to ensure the visuals aligned with the project’s goals.
A major highlight of the week was our visit to Vivian Chen’s lab at Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute. Vivian, who is conducting research with the Future Interfaces Group, allowed us to test out several cutting-edge haptic devices she’s been working on. We explored devices such as mouth haptics, pull gestures, and innovative touch feedback systems. This hands-on experience provided invaluable insights into what’s possible with current haptic technologies and how we might incorporate these innovations into our own designs.
Looking ahead, we plan to continue building on the momentum from our research and design work. Next week, we’ll refine our use cases and focus on creating prototypes that integrate with existing technologies. We also aim to address some of the challenges we faced with programming limitations and group dynamics to ensure we’re on the best path forward.
We’re excited to see how our exploration of haptic design evolves and look forward to continuing our journey of learning and collaboration. Stay tuned for more updates on our progress!