Computation in Design 4
BA Design Communication
Live Project
2021

Temperamental Scanner

A project by
Olivia Angelina
Siak Kuan Ying
Lim Zeherng
2021

Temperamental Scanner is a modified infrared thermometer that enacts a head-shake upon sensing a user's attempt to take their temperature.

This reversal of relationship between temperature screening systems and its subjects gives the machine an element of human personality and fallibility that is by turns stubborn and disobedient. The irony brings to mind the current Covid-19 situation where people keep their distance from others and cautiously interact with objects to keep themselves safe.

Summary

In an environment where the influx of information has made technological advancements possible, efficiency has also taken over most of our daily interactions. Today, the desire for progress has influenced us to constantly be in search of results, but never the enjoyment of the process.

As designers of the present age, our intention was to rebel against our hectic lifestyle, slow down and question the significance of our daily actions. Taking on an absurdist approach towards uncovering implicit conditions that exist in our experience of the everyday, we employed the use of artistic interventions as a means to encourage the reconsideration of our actions and their cause, serving as a possible bridge between design processes and creative practice.

Blurring the line between functional design and elaborate art, we wanted to step away from comfort and efficiency to draw upon a renewed sensibility towards living, with much excitement and freshness.

Anything Probes

We chose intervention as our key term for the Anything Probes exercise. Intervention, as defined by Merriam Webster, is the act of interfering with the outcome or course, especially of a condition or process. We felt that such a term was open-ended enough and left just sufficient room for imagination, keeping us curious to discover.

From thinking about the act of searching for a seat at the hawker centre, the idea of surveillance and privacy, and the association of clapping with positive moments in our life, our intervention approach centred around developing a heightened awareness of our day-to-day behaviour. As we referenced case studies that reject the notion of usability in everyday items, we then sought to highlight the performative object that is embedded within our current daily interaction - the temperature scanner.

To understand the habits and mannerisms surrounding temperature-taking, we stationed ourselves at temperature-screening booths located at the entrance of various malls and noted how people take their temperature differently. Repetitive actions observed include bending to level with the sensor, raising of palm/elbow and a bowing gesture such that the forehead could be detected. Our analysis on the human-object interaction with regards to the digital thermometer likens the temperature-taking ritual to different ways of greeting; it is like saying hello to the mall before you enter. As familiar objects so ubiquitous as to go unnoticed, we progressed on to think of how we might involve elements of play to reenact these actions, re-engage our body and re-evaluate our ways of living.

Projection Description

Temperamental Scanner is a stubborn digital thermometer that refuses to take one's temperature. As a disobedient tool, the shaking head motion is achieved by using an infrared sensor to detect the user and mounting the temperature scanner on a servo motor.

Preserved in the semiotics of its original design, the thermometer which appears useable is in fact hampered by dysfunction. It denies the user the temperature screening opportunity and challenges our habits of perception. The work, therefore, becomes an idle objects that attains an absurd and surreal quality, making one rethink their relationship with everyday items.




"I was interested at how the machine had a life on its own"

Process

Seeking to explore the dysfunction and inutility of a mundane object, we thought of how we could turn the thermometer into a kinetic sculpture that stimulates user behaviour. Initially, we were looking at the facial biometric thermometer and intervening with the user silhouette, making the frame move like a hole-in-the-wall game. However, we wanted to challenge ourselves beyond designing a digital interface and decided to bring our coding offline using Arduino UNO.

In line with the performativity of objects. we moved on to physically altering an existing temperature gun, personifying it to be a little stubborn and having it avoid taking the temperature with one's approach.

The main difficulty that we face is the troubleshooting of codes on Arduino, coping with faulty wires, adjusting the sensitivity of the infrared sensor, and mounting of the thermometer head onto the stand.

Being relatively new to Arduino and circuit boards The main struggle that we had was the troubleshooting of codes and the placement of wires. As such, we had to conduct multiple search on existing line of codes online, and tweaking it to fit our scenario.

Reliability was also an issue. Even after our successful completion of the installation, there were multiple times where it stopped working entirely, and we had to disassemble it a couple of times just to rectify the issue. Things like faulty wires, sensor running on its own, and the cable ties coming loose.

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Artefact

An object of common encounter in our everyday setting, Temperamental Scanner combines a servo motor with an infrared sensor and demolishes its purpose as a thermometer. The device turns 180 degrees upon the detection of a user within its defined range and therefore, avoids taking one's temperature at any point in time. Going near to the sensor is comparable with an act of intruding on the scanner's privacy. Once threatened, it turns away from the user

Temperamental Scanner employs computation in design to reshape interaction interrelations. By programming on Arduino and working with electronic components, we created a circuit that connects the motor drive module with a sensor for positional feedback into a single working. In the mounting and assembling process of the scanner, basic engineering skills and essential tools were used. This include cable ties, hot glue gun, masking tapes, foam boards, screws and washer plates. Although small and insignificant, each of these parts were crucial in making this project possible.

"Covid-19 has seriously changed our lives, whereby the new normal is to check our temperature at everywhere we go. Making something that has become annoying to us as something to smile at, making it light-hearted again was nice."
- Niyati -

For users encounter to a change within the function that interrupts the normal pattern of temperature-taking, it was necessary for us to conceal the mechanisms involved to avoid suspicion at first glance. Motor parts and wires were kept hidden as much as possible, and thus, the end product did not differ too much from its predecessor.

Video ▶

Testing

The user testing took place in our design studio, and the scanner was placed near the entrance to replicate the notion of a safe entry. To ensure a genuine first impression, we simply asked the users to interact with the scanner as to how they would take their temperature normally.

The questions posed aims to find out firstly, what the users initial impression of the installation were. Secondly, their subsequent reaction upon its activation. Lastly, their takeaways out of the experience.

From our user testing, it was evident that our Temperamental Scanner subverts expectations and alters behaviours. The deliberate flaw of our design forces users to perform in a certain manner, causing reflection within use.

A once functional thermometer turned ‘unruly’, its failure to take temperature places the user in constant anticipation, encouraging introspection on the way we navigate our temperature-taking routines.

It was relatively interesting to see people getting a tiny shock upon their first interaction with the scanner, and it was definitely not something that we were expecting, probably also due to the fact that we have been exposed to the machine for an extended duration. It was also heartwarming to hear from the testers how this project have sort of inspired them to reflect and rethink on their daily interactions with mundane everyday objects.

As the outcome was generally repetitive, perhaps one way we could improve on this project would be to include visuals to our project, making good use of the built-in screen on the scanner. We could also program it in such a way where it only accepts people when certain criterias have been fulfilled?

Testing going on.

Gallery

Testing out the IR Sensor by attaching the LED for activation
Concealing and organizing the wire within the object.
Securing the mount by hot gluing around the screw.
Sandra curiously observing our instalation.
Interviewing Toby for feedback regarding the experience.
Wan Ying attemps to take her temperature using her forehead.
Thermometer shys away when the user approaches.
Enacting a shaking head motion to refuse the temperature-taking opportunity.

References

  • Roy, Niklas. My Little Piece of Privacy, 2010, www.niklasroy.com/project/88/my-little-piece-of-privacy.
  • Kimyonghun, Shinseungback. “Nonfacial Mirror.” Shinseungback Kimyonghun, 2013, ssbkyh.com/works/nonfacial_mirror/.
  • Chang, Ben. “(In)Security Camera.” Ben Chang, 21 Apr. 2017, bcchang.com/insecurity-camera/.
  • Smith, Martin. “Variable Speed Applause Machine: Martin Smith.” Axisweb, 29 June 2019, www.axisweb.org/p/martinsmith/workset/243995-variable-speed-applause-machine/.
  • Vanlaere, Cedric. “FLW-M3 Surveillance Camera.” Instructables, Instructables, 7 Nov. 2018, www.instructables.com/FLW-M3-Surveillance-Camera/.
  • Chang, Ben. “(In)Security Camera.” Ben Chang, 21 Apr. 2017, bcchang.com/insecurity-camera/.

Reflection & Conclusion

From our user testing, it was evident that our Temperamental Scanner subverts expectations and alters behaviours. The deliberate flaw of our design forces users to perform in a certain manner, causing reflection within use.

A once functional thermometer turned ‘unruly’, its failure to take temperature places the user in constant anticipation, encouraging introspection on the way we navigate our temperature-taking routines.

I think because our idea stems from a real situation, and a sudden situation, which changes the way people go on with their lives, we have a room to explore and be creative with our outcome. I think personally my role in the group wasn’t that big, and I mostly work on making the thing work / move the way we wanted it to be through coding.

From this I learn a new thing which is physical computing, in which through this project I get to explore more on that side and what possible outcome can be produced. The only thing that I would probably do differently is the initial planning, because I think we focus on streamlining the process, hence we didn’t explore what other option can we use to enhance the whole experience with the object, like the LED.

The outcomes are pretty much expected, the reaction of shock is what we anticipated. But the thing that shocks me a bit is that some people view this particular item as more than just a fun thing to look at but also as a reflection of the human behavior, and how we as society behave towards objects that are built around social norms. Another point of view that I found particularly interesting, is the idea of the object that we picked, in this case the temperature gun as being something that has become serious, and is related into something so dire, now can be something that puts a smile on people’s faces. I fell that these perspectives helps me as the creator to also broaden the context of the particular work.