TWINKLE a rheological night light
rheology The study of the behavior of “funny fluids” — “The Four Phenomena”
1
2
3
4
Solid Liquid
Solid Liquid
Rod-Climbing Effect
Open Siphon
The principle
The principle
The principle
The principle
Due to a physical disturbance, a fluid’s viscosity decreases or increases (reversible)
Due to time, a fluid acts more elastic (short times) or more viscous (long times)
When a fluid is spun around a rod, it will move inward, ascending the rod
In a siphon system, a fluid sustains “liquid strings” to self empty
Application
Application
Application
Application
Peanut butter, cornstarch in water
Silly putty, gum
Taking the straw out of a milkshake
Coffee, beverages
*see citations
brainstorm snail trail
damage free
bands mouthguards
gecko
lifestyle
construction
biomimicry adhesive
chemical compounds humans
animals
swim caps
ties safety rubber
self-sticking
elements
chemistry
sports/recreation
biology
stretches exercise mats
putty
liquid solid
bounce sags
RHEOLOGY
properties
magnetic
boxing gear
self-healing conductivity
peanut butter paint
structure support
reusable
honey
fine art building materials
acrylic
storage
mayo
gelatin memory foam
time
cosmetics
beds
packaging
food
color
furniture
bright
children
playing
health
molecular gastronomy
learning
noodles
experimenting
apparel shoes
museums elasticity
space
gum
homes
sole
gravity
forces
architecture
comfort
adaptation
exhibits
hands-on
toys
senses
cooking education
mental training dough
cleaning
insight
Rheology is a concept relevant in everyday lifestyles, from the self-healing property in Silly Putty to the viscosity of peanut butter.
problem statement
How can a night light effectively promote healthier sleeping habits in children? ki ds need at least
over
a n e s t i m at e d
9 HOURS
2 MILLION
30-40%
o f sl eep each night
k id s have sl eep d isor d er s
k i d s d o n o t s le e p e n o u g h
with ag e -sensitive fear s,
K id s h ave n igh t t er r or s
m o s t o fte n , k i d s i m a g i n e
TOUCH
1 HOUR
MONSTERS
is a n impor tant sense
after t h ey fal l asl eep
when scared of the dark
common perception Playing video or computer games in bed is good rest.
*see citations
As long as my kids are in bed, they’re resting well.
Sleeping a couple hours later a night isn’t a big deal.
A lamp will not solve my child’s sleeping problems.
defining the problem ke y i ss u e Children have fears and do not feel safe or secure while trying to fall asleep. DARKNESS ISSUES
- Used to brightness - Up during daylight - Day/night cycles
i m a g i nat i on I S S U E S
- Monsters - Unknown - Avoid pain - Unaware of potential harm
- Loneliness - Being independent - No support - Needs love and care sel f i ss u es
se parat i on I S S U E S
- Away from parents - Always there for them - Love and care - Protect and nurture
- Loss of life - Scared to sleep - Closing eyes - Unable to wake up f ear o f D eath I S S U E S res u lt Child who can’t fall asleep O p p ort u n i t i es Fear of the unknown, loneliness
target audience User profile Girls, Ages 5-8 With knack for personal style
characteristics Likes bright colors Imaginative Enjoys hands-on playtime Feminine style
potential issues • • • • • •
bad sleeping habits phobia of the dark ADD/ADHD bad playing habits restlessness before bed over-attachment to parents
Consumer profile Mother or father of user Middle-upper class Lives in suburban, semi-urban area $70,000+ annual household income Wants to promote healthier sleeping habits in child from an early age
trendboard
parent feedback survey Respondent 1
Respondent 2
MOM, 3 kids — 11, 9, 7 years Suburban home Does not use night lights. Has dimmer switches on lights.
MOM, 2 kids — 3 years, 13 months Suburban home Does not use night lights. Uses lavender oil to aid in sleep.
What’s the most difficult part of getting you children to sleep? “The oldest just wants to stay up. He has bad dreams and is afraid to go to sleep.”
What’s the most difficult part of getting you children to sleep? “My oldest has never had trouble sleeping. But the youngest has had trouble sleeping from day one. He can not seem to just lay down and fall asleep, plus he’s a very light sleeper, so any noise wakes him up. He usually goes to bed before our oldest (they share a room), so if we aren’t quiet enough when going in to put the oldest to sleep, he will wake up and then not be able to fall back asleep.”
What specific reasons do your children give for their fear? “My youngest and oldest like to have a dim light on in their rooms. Neither one likes it too dark because they say it gives them bad dreams. My youngest gets up in the middle of the night and then climbs into bed with us because her room it too dark.” Critiques of night lights on the market — “The fluorescent bulbs from the track lighting get hot if left on all night. Sometimes it is too bright, even on dim.” As a parent, what would you like to see in a night light? “One with a light sensor that dims and then turns off after a period of time and also responds to movement if child wakes up and then goes back off after a period of time. I also don’t want to spend more than $20.”
INSIGHTS
Many parents don’t consider a night light essential item for their children. This may be because they don’t want their children to develop a dependency. This may be because a night light doesn’t seem to serve a purpose or personal needs of the child.
Why don’t you use a night light? “If you got used to having one and required one to sleep at night, then you’d really have trouble sleeping in a place that didn’t have one. You’d either have to bring one with you everywhere you traveled, or you’d not get sleep.” As a parent, what would you like to see in a night light? “Honestly, I have no idea. Since we don’t use one, I would have no idea what I would want in one.”
A night light should be personal, and it should provide comfort for the child. A night light should turn itself off to save energy.
USER/TASK analysis 10-15 minutes
5 minutes
1 minute - 1 hour
2 minutes
1-3 hours
Gets ready for bed
Gets in bed
Worries about dark
Parents reassure
Sleeps
put away t oys , s t op p l ay in g , b r u s h t eet h , b at h c h a n ge c l ot h e s
pa r e n t s tu ck i n, k is s g o o d n ig h t, li ghts ou t
lone ly wi thou t pare nts, fe ar of the u nknown, stay s awake , cannot sle e p
stay s with her, reads story, re-tucks her into bed
tired from distress, help from parents/ night light
15 minutes
5 minutes
1 minute
10 minutes
Too scared to leave
Needs to use toilet
Wakes up
Has nightmares
kid d oes n ot wa n t t o g o wa l k i n t o h a l lway d u e t o fear of t h e u n k n ow n , d a r k
w id e awa k e , paranoi d
scare d, flu ste re d, cannot fall back asle e p, calls/ cri e s for pare nt
Half-conscious, scared, confused cries for parent
5 minutes
5 minutes
5 minutes
Wakes up parents
Uses bathroom
Goes back to room
chil d b ot h er s mom a n d d a d w h i l e t h ey a r e s le e p in g
f e e l s s a f e , c o nfi de nt from pa r e n t ’ s com pany
re ady to go back to sle e p
high stress
low stress
Child’s mood assessment
Gets ready for bed
Gets in bed
Worries about dark
Parents comfort
Sleep
Has nightmares
Wakes up
Uses bathroom
brainstorm child
repetition
resilience
relearning
healing
infant
adolescent
practice diseases/injuries male muscular disorder
disinfectant
cosmetics
age-specific
elderly
female
clean number-based
therapy
3-Dimensional
gender-specific
antibacterial
puzzles
unisex
health
consumer gender roles
hospitals logical stimulation
teaching methods
KID PRODUCTS
schools
language education
olfactory bulb
dental health
smell
Color recognition nerves disabilities
coping/learning
strengthening
sight
illusions
muscle
touch
color
hands-on
sports
swimming
counting
music
understanding
spread germs
engaging texture
water toys floaties creative stimulation
Motor skills
songs sounds amusing challenge fun
museum exhibitions
fins
exhibit specific movable parts
reaction
tupperware instruments
music therapy
cognitive recognition
colored blocks
non-toxic food storage
sound
balls
gear
shapes
taste
interactivity
Molds
memory
Old
senses
perception
special needs
new
candy
education
Informational
fun tootbrush handles
learning
fine arts
installation
insight
Kid products are plentiful in the marketplace, but the best ones provide a sensory, tactile, and hands-on experience.
sensory research The tactile system from
Sensory Integration and the Child: Understanding Hidden Sensory Challenges
a. jean ayres, jeff robbins
“The tactile system is the largest sensory system, and it plays a vital role in human behavior, both physical and mental.”
“Sensory stimulation and motor activity during childhood will ‘mold’ interconnections to form motor processes.”
“There must be light for the visual system to develop the interconnections needed for visual perception.”
Why a tactile, rheological night light? By stimulating the tactile sense with our night light, the child will be able to sense that the stimulus is not dangerous, but comforting. Simultaneously playing, touching, and holding onto Twinkle will help the child develop their motor skills and build more interconnections that will then help develop sensory and motor processes. Not only will Twinkle help with the child’s development, it has been proven that touch reduces stress and decreases anxiety levels. *see citations
market research
Onaroo Night-Light
Woodland Nightlight
Kinderglo Quarter Moon
Munchkin Nightlight
$31.19 Soft lamp that automatically turns off/on in power outages
$7.67 Hedgehog LED battery-operated lamp, duals as an accent
$32.62 Night light that interchanges light colors, soft light, cuddle-able
$17.30 Battery-operated owl night light with ergonomic handle
• Soft LED lights • No light heat
• • • •
• Portable • Automatic shut-off • Lightweight
• • • • •
• No light dimming • Light breaks easily • Cheap internal material
+
• • • •
Three colors available Alarm clock Portable Charging base, rechargeable batteries
Soft three color LED lights No light heat Control over light Portable
—
• • • • •
One button control Light doesn’t change color Can’t set time for alarm Unable to actually tell time Base always glows
*see citations
On/off button Battery dies quickly No automatic light dimming Four-hour battery life Not portable
• Cheap material
market research
LED Lotus Flower
Boon Glo Nightlight
Indigo the Hedgehog
USB Pearl Shell Nightlight
$1.54 One-handed, soft light, lotus-shaped night light
$78.00 Three illuminated colored balls with included base
$59.95 Cordless night light that changes colors, duals as a play toy
$6.99 Pearl shell night lights powered by USB port, movable shells
Plastic Small Portable Different colors available
• • • •
Color-changing Lights up for 30 minutes Electronic-free Portable
• Color-changing, soft glow • Portable • Soft finish
• Cheap • Rechargeable
Not big enough Does not last long enough Keeps changing color No personal control
• • • •
Expensive Manually-controlled base Breaks often after 3 months Cheap plastic
• • • •
• • • •
+
• • • • —
• • • •
*see citations
Uncomfortable to hold No control of changing colors Expensive Short battery life
Cheap plastic Not portable Heats up Breaks easily
PAIN FACTORS Source using a night light intensity
Onaroo Night-Light
Boon Glo Nightlight
PRICE
PRICE
scale
safety
scale
safety
DURABILITY
DURABILITY
Kinderglo Quarter Moon
Munchkin Nightlight
PRICE
PRICE
scale
safety
scale
awareness
safety
timing
children
adults
intensity Personal connections, so they know the problems more intimately
intensity Little personal connection
awareness Lets parent know if displeased with night light
awareness Knows if child is displeased with night light
timing Use when sleeping
timing Use when purchasing/maintaining
Insight DURABILITY
DURABILITY
Most night lights are either extremely cheap, ineffective, or not durable, or not “kid-friendly” enough (cater only to parents).
benchmarking: audience vs. productivity promotes sleep
OPPORTUNITY
for parents
for kids
promotes activity
benchmarking: ergonomics vs. weight light
OPPORTUNITY
not ergonomic
ergonomic
heavy
benchmarking: tactility vs. complexity multiple units
OPPORTUNITY
Intangible
tactile
single unit
design considerations
price/quality
Security/safety
Parents are willing to invest in a quality night light that ensures a comfortable night of sleep for their child.
Ideally, the light should be easily portable for kids to use in any room in their home. The design objective is to instill security and confidence for children in the dark.
Safe materials and an efficient use of energy are the first priorities.
TWINKLE
twinkle The device promotes healthy sleeping behavior in kids, and it is the perfect compromise between price, quality, security and safety. Parents are seen as a consumer, so many times, they aren’t designed with kids in mind (even though they are the user). Therefore most night lights that are on the market are more focused on decor than the needs of the kids.
consumer consciousness The overall look and feel of the product should cater to the likes of children, but also the standards (regarding safety and quality) of their parents. Colors, form, and ergonomics are taken in complete consideration.
ideation sketches
wisp theme
forms
lampost theme
umbrella theme
concept sketches — star
Charging base forms
star form
context
HUMan factors research
anthropometrics
ideal form
kids’ hands, female *from the national institute of standards and technology
WIDTH
length
grip
age
55
mm
118
mm
58
mm
5
years
57
mm
124
mm
62
mm
6
years
60
mm
130
mm
64
mm
7
years
62
mm
136
mm
67
mm
8
years
*see citations
Iconic five-point star associated with sleep imagery Ergonomic shape fits snuggly in kids’ palms Simple yet distinct and memorable
storyboard 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
final product twinkle A tactile, sensory, engaging night light that comes in bright white, starry gold, and deep pink. 158 mm x 152 mm x 58 mm (star)
functionality power on/off The pushbutton switch • Two-position devices that are activated with a press-release switch • Internal spring mechanism returns the button to uncompressed position
how to operate • Press down the middle of the star, light turns on • Press down middle again, light turns off • Star automatically turns off after 30 minutes • Light shuts off gradually
electronic configuration Base, back wall Coils charge upon contact
NIGHT LIGHT, ITEM NEEDING ELECTRIC CHARGE
Secondary coil (charge source) Primary coil (charge source)
led lights • Efficient, long-lasting, durable • Directional light sources • Produce little heat in comparison to incandescent bulbs *see citations
charging base • Inductive charging — wireless transfer of energy through magnetic field from base to the individual night lights • Base needs power from external plug, coils need contact
exploded view — Body outer casing Transparent shell encasing star body
Inductive charging coil Wiring enables charging, operates with counterpart base coil
Electric board Incorporates LED electronics
pushbutton switch inner body Houses LED technology and incorporates pushbutton switch
Enables user to easily turn on/off device with one hand
color / material / finish star body color
material soft sweet
$0.06 / ~2.5 cm 3 Thermoplastic rubber, silicone elastomer compound with very low durometer (hardness) *to be used for the product body
cheer happy
injection molding
PANTONE® 101C pure mild
this material does not require a finish
super-elastic plastic (Silicone rubber)
nurture security
PANTONE® 2385C warmth sun
*
Process of shaping plastic by melting it and injecting it into a predesigned mold • Mold created, material injected with screw • Dwelling phase, mold filled with pressurization
clean youth
PANTONE® 11-4202
charging base color trust reliable
material
finish
bpa (bisphenol a) & pvc (polyvinyl chloride) free polypropylene
polypropylene resin
loyalty cool
PANTONE® 12-4302
AVOID deep GREEN "Green may serve as a cue that evokes the motivation to strive for improvement and task mastery, which in turn may facilitate growth.”
avoid deep blue "When the researchers exposed people to blue light at night, this system immediately increased their alertness and performance on tests."
*see citations
$0.15 / ~2.5 cm 3 No hormone disrupters, lead, phthalates, and cancer-causing dioxins
injection molding
soft, tough, cheap (medium quality properties), chemical resistant (commodity resin)
context
it’s flexible. Rheological silicone rubber body provides the user with sensory engagement, making Twinkle a night light like no other.
context
the story She lay in her bed, smiling as daddy finished the story. He started to get up, and she asked him for one more story, hoping to keep the lights on just a little bit longer. Her father smiled and turned to her, reassuring her that nothing bad would happen. He went to her nightstand and picked up a star and handed it to her. She squeezed the star. It illuminated and emitted a soft, comfortable glow. Her father turned on the other stars and then said, “Good night, princess.” His daughter replied, “Good night, daddy.” He turned off the light, gently closed the door, and carefully walked away. She held the star in her hands and smiled at the chubby shape that gave off a comforting light. She held onto the night light and her eyes closed as she fell asleep. Later that night, she awoke. “Potty,” she thought. She looked at the door, hesitant to leave her room, She looked at the star beside her and said, “I can do it!” She held onto the star and marched confidently to the bathroom. “The hallway isn’t that scary anymore,” she thought as she made her way back. She stood in her doorway, gazing into her room. The warm lights of the stars welcomed her back and she felt comforted and safe. She climbed up into her bed and pulled her blanket close to her, happy that she had conquered the shadows in the hallway. She drifted off once again into a deep slumber, with the star in her embrace.
context
final product
acknowledgments Citations, by page RHeology
Functionality
mechanical.illinois.edu
allaboutcircuits.com ednmag.com energystar.gov electronics.howstuffworks.com
Problem Statement deltasleeplabs.com extension.purdue.edu
Sensory Research Sensory Integration and the Child: Understanding Hidden Sensory Challenges (By A. Jean Ayres, Jeff Robbins) parenting.uwex.edu
Market Research amazon.com landofnod.com shop.nordstrom.com hardtofind.com ebay.com
Color/Material/Finish Coloring consumer`s psychology using different shades the role of perception of colors by consumers in consumer decision making process: a micro study of select departmental stores in Mumbai City, India (By Daivata Patil) news.harvard.edu huffingtonpost.com inventables.com wisegeek.org Designing for Moldability, Proto Labs, Inc. oeconline.org
Human Factors Research nist.gov
Š 2013 / eunie kim / chaelin kwon / Jocelyn lam
thank you