Redesign I

We've settled on a revision of both physical structure and digital components. Understanding the digital aspects and interactions afforded were necessary to making design decisions about the structure.

Overall Concept
The playground itself is a musical instrument that can be interacted with to simultaneously make auditory and visual melodies. The smaller arch in our double arch module will serve as an input equipped with pressure sensors and some lights. It will be thicker to accommodate the electrical equipment. The underside of the larger arch will contain many lights. When someone activates the pressure sensor (hitting, standing, sitting on it), the led lights become activated along with a particular sound. The sound produced will be mapped to the size of the structure (larger arches or slides might have lower sounds) and also relative to the structures next to it. Structures in close proximity will be on similar scales or chords so that activating them in unison will still produce a pleasant sound.

Figure 1. Digital components of one module

Figure 2. High level view of playground

Figure 2 above illustrates the 4 sections of our redesign. Each black "triangle" represents a section of double-arch modules (Figure 1) placed side by side. There are three distinct pods where interactors can, for example, sit, climb, slide and tunnel. Interactors can also see others playing on the other pods. At the same time, the pods flow into each other, encouraging movement. The center structure functions as a visually aesthetic piece to sit on and perhaps drum. Each pod is wired to produce different kinds of sounds (percussion and melodious) when the pressure sensors are activated.

At night, the lights under the larger arches become activated to glow in a pattern. If interactors set off the sensors in time with the glowing of the light, they will produce a harmonious melody. It is a visual and physical representation of a song that is constantly going on.

During the day, the lights are less visible, but setting off the sensors will still afford making harmonious sounds without the scaffolding of the lights. The structure can be hit on the small-arch side to set off lights under the larger arch, which when arranged closely form a tunnel.