Rhonda Bowlin ITGM-705-OL Interactive Design and Media Application Exercise 2: Unconventional Computer Input Concept
The Awake N Fit – A Fitness Alarm Clock Radio SUMMARY: Awake N Fit is an alarm clock with a greater purpose – to help keep you in shape! It is a fitness scale-inspired product that can be operated almost entirely with your feet and toes. In order to stop the alarm from ringing, you must step up onto the board. The alarm will gradually fade to silence as the device registers your weight. Since it is primarily intended for morning use, you should already be barefoot and in the same basic state (not yet having eaten breakfast, etc.) every day for the most consistent in readings. Start off your day right with an easy-to-reinforce habit. PRODUCT COMPARISON: The website Toxel.com features interesting design and tech ideas, including unusual alarm clocks - http://www.toxel.com/tech/2009/06/06/12-unusual-and-creativealarm-clocks/ One clock flees from its sleepy aggressor, one must be shot by an NES light zapper, and another delights (or disgusts) its owner with the wafting smell of real cooking bacon. While not quite as humorous as these, Awake N Fit would appeal to a similar market as the Shape Up Alarm Clock that is also on Toxel.com. The Shape Up Alarm Clock is in the form of a dumbbell and requires that the sleepyhead do several reps in order to turn off the alarm. Awake N Fit benefits from requiring that you are upright long enough to be out of bed and therefore even more ready to take on the day. Another comparable product from the site is the Carpet Alarm Clock. Awake N Fit takes the concept literally one step further. Rather than simply being a mat to step on, Awake N Fit uses the fact that you are stepping on it in order to weigh you during the process of waking you for your day. It can also be programmed to assist you with simple exercise and balance routines. In this manner, it is reminiscent of a device like Nintendo’s Wii Balance Board (the input device that was bundled with Wii Fit) minus any need for TV output - http://www.nintendo.com/wii/console/accessories/balanceboard. Regular fitness boards are also good for feature comparison. The three examples I have selected to extract standard features from are the Weight Watchers Glass Memory Precision Scale- http://www.consumersearch.com/bathroom-scales/weight-watchersglass-memory-precision-scale-ww43d?ap=0&clear=search, the Tanita Solar Digital Scale- http://www.consumersearch.com/bathroom-scales/tanita-solar-digital-scale-hs302, and the EatSmart Precision Premium Digital Bathroom Scalehttp://www.amazon.com/EatSmart-Precision-Premium-Bathroom-
Technology/dp/B002MK6QKO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=bedbath&qid=1278639003&sr =1-2. PRICE POINT: The Awake N Fit would be priced in the $70-80 range. The fitness scales mentioned were in the $35-$60 range, and the Wii Fit Bundle has a wide range of around $80-$100, depending on the seller. The functionality of the Awake N Fit is approximately between these products, and so, therefore, is the price. KEY FEATURES: • • • • • • •
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Uses an already formed daily habit (setting and turning off the alarm) to help create a new healthy routine. Sensors that can register each foot individually. Buttons are conveniently located for the left and right feet to push in coordination (Confirm/Program and Back buttons for the left foot and Menu Navigation buttons for the right foot). Step onto Awake N Fit to turn the alarm off. Press the Confirm/Program button to snooze. Accuracy to 0.2 lbs/3 oz with a 400 lb/180 kg weight capacity. The large (5”W x 2.75”H) backlit LCD screen includes the clock and the program display. The program display is the area that shows your weight along with the program menus. Optional programs include various exercise routines in which the user can enable the desired number of squats or stair-stepping reps. Balance can also be registered using the sensors. These fitness programs are accessible at any time and so do not rely on the alarm being on. Large buttons designed for ease of pushing by your toes so you do not have to bend down to set the clock, change the exercise program, etc. Uses an electrical cord so you can be confident that the clock/alarm is on. (Product is intended for use in the bedroom rather than the bathroom.) Takes 4 AAA batteries (included) for backup power. Includes a radio, MP3 player, and a CD player. The alarm can be from any of these sources or can be set to one of the included tones. The CD player is safely tucked into the back of the Awake N Fit so as not to be damaged during use. USB port for easy uploading of MP3s to the product and exporting of fitness information for your computer. Fitness data is stored in a comma-delimited format and can be output to Flash on the Awake N Fit website: www.awakenfit.com. Website has free access to community forum of fellow Awake N Fit users for support and fitness tips.
Electrical cord Back button Confirm/Program button Program and weight display
CD Player
07:45 AM 150.0 lbs
* shows that alarm is on Menu navigation buttons
Right and left sensors
Legs
Battery insertion
07:45 A.0M lbs 0 5 1
USB port Speaker (also on opposite side) Volume slider Open/Close CD player CD player
Legs
Electrical cord
Tapping the main Confirm/Program Button brings up an Options menu in the Program and Weight Display area. Use the Menu Navigation Buttons to find the desired option, and then hit the Confirm/Program Button again to make the selection once it is highlighted. Hit the Back Button to back out of a menu. Main menu (pt. 1)
07:45 AM
SET CLOCK/ ALARM WEIGHT TRACKING FITNESS PROGRAMS
Example Use: Set Alarm
Main menu (pt. 2)
SET CLOCK/ ALARM WEIGHT TRACKING FITNESS PROGRAMS
Scroll down to access the rest of the Main menu.
07:45 AM
MUSIC SETTINGS
CLOCK ALARM Starts @ 12:; tap Menu Navigation buttons to adjust hour.
Starts @ :00; tap Menu Navigation buttons to adjust minutes.
AM PM
ON OFF
At this point, you will be brought back out to the Clock/Alarm sub-menu. Tap the Back button to return to the Main Menu.