E-MASK
Interactive Product & Critical Design
A new and interesting form of communication that expands communication between people by using Emoji of the mask and ultimately builds positive social connections.
OVERVIEW
4 weeks (2018.11)
Adviser: Feng Xian
RESULT
Collected by Future Leading Lab,
Tsinghua University
MY ROLE
Concept designer, Programmer, UI designer, WorkFrame designer
BACKGROUND
WHAT'S E—MASK
Can we build on what we already have to enhance expression and facilitate communication?
Under the smoggy days and epidemic age wearing masks became a daily behavior. To resist the virus, at the same time, to a certain extent, blocked the communication between people.
An Arduino-based interactive mask expands new and interesting forms of communication by using the electronic screen of the mask; an interactive mask is designed to recognize words, breath, and expressions to judge emotions, so as to expand communication between people by using Emoji of the mask. Through the emotional polarization of the mask readers, sometimes the mask does not know whether to express real emotional state or literal meaning of language, so as to question the intelligent mask.
Extend + Express + Explore + Experiment
Also through the mask's reading of human emotions polarization, sometimes the mask does not know whether to show the real emotional state or the literal meaning of the language, to challenge the intelligent mask.
USAGE SENARIO
1,
Ex-Mask makes it fun and not embarrassing to express your love to someone you love, something that is hidden in your heart but difficult to express.
2,
When comforting someone, light and funny emoji expressions make the other person's mood positive and double the comforting effect.
3,
Sometimes your speech can go unnoticed, and dynamic speech bubbles can make your delivery stand out and be more compelling.
VIDEO
HARDWARE INTERACTION
SOFTWARE INTERACTION
Developed a processing-based image, video and camera color modeling software, and perfectly adapted to Arduino Adafruit_NeoPixel for integrated control of the light band array. At the same time, we also developed the frame-by-frame animation drawing of the dot matrix, which can be used for global color grading and LED dot matrix drawing.
PROCESS
1,
With Arduino connected to the hardware,
light strip display.
2,
Select flexible strips for splicing and welding to form a matrix.
3,
Combination of hardware and software for voice testing. Enter relevant words with your voice and display the corresponding emoji on the mask.
MATERIALS PROCESS
The single LED light is welded to
the inside of the mask for high breathability, freedom, and the
ability to create complex patterns.
The use of light strips sewn
into the inside of the mask,
breathable and generally stable,
the appearance of gaps in the
mask leads to unclear patterns
and easy running.
Use complete matrix light panels,
better stability, high density of lights
to lights, clear and complete patterns.
PROTOTYPE
Textile fabric
Gesture capturing and facial recognition, automatic feedback from the system.
Camera sensor
Tiny sound sensors buried in the mask, collecting sound keywords, and breathing rate.
Sound sensor
The mask is able to present a rich visual element while remaining soft, and the combination of cold LEDs and sensors with soft textiles gives the interface more possibilities to display, and the interface is no longer trapped by hard objects, exploring the future state of flexible screens.
Matrix Light Strip
REFLECTION & IN THE FUTURE
We find that masks often don't fully recognize your emotions, but literally translate your expressions.
Many times the AI learning is flawed, and in the future we must continue to explore the smarter AI, while not ignoring the most direct and accurate expressions of emotion between people.
IN THE FUTURE
1, We will continue to explore the use of flexible screens so that they can better adhere under the mask.
2, continue to explore lighter and more breathable textile materials
that are also anti-viral, thus ensuring the basic functionality of the mask.
3, further expand the vocabulary so that it can learn and collect on its own, allowing the mask's semantic judgment to be more accurate.