Feel the Power

Thijs Schipper

Main findings so far

No intuitive understanding of electricity. Coach figure:
Motivation, information Undesirable role ineffective, frustration

Solution should not decrease quality of life.

No functional consequences or penalties!

Problem: Electricity is invisible and unlimited.

Goal
Make electricity tangible by making it a limited resource. Make product give feedback to user about total consumption and consumption rate.
Immediate! Support coach role with facts Give followers way to check on themselves without coach

Concept function
Object representing rooms energy: battery
Monitors and displays power use in that room
Rate of consumption AND energy left!

Can run out and must be recharged by user One per room

Make users aware of their consumption

Social dynamics: what happens when there are multiple users? Energy in discrete, countable chunks, not an endless stream of invisible stuff.

Concept: Reactor
Embody the physical effects of electricity in an object that the user can interact with.

Concept: Reactor
Embody the physical effects of electricity in an object that the user can interact with.
Heat Light Sound Force

Weight/mass + Nixie tubes/Plasma

Temporary form

Charge?

Movement or rotation results in reaction. If charged: Energetic Gyroscope counteracts forces Light-saber buzz When passive: light pulse shows consumption rate. If empty: Malfunctioning, weak Sparking (flashes + crackling sound) Feeble humming Power cuts (lights flickering)

Charge?

If Overloading (charge is gone, but users still consume energy): 50hz hum (transformer noise) Constant sparking, flickering Short-circuit noises ..being a pain in the ass, in general.

...like this guy, if you neglect to feed him.

Examples
Humming (A bit too harsh!) Charged, reacting to movement Empty, sparking. Almost empty, reacting to movement

Empty, malfunctioning.

Empty, power low (mostly last part)

Effects?
Could you go recharge it? Your TV is using a lot more power than my reading light. (To child) See, if you leave the lights on and go away, this will go empty, and then... This TV sure does use a lot of power! Its already empty again! ...do I really need that light on all the time?

(Alternative concept: Feed)

(Alternative concept: Feed)

Same concept as Reactor, but targeted at children. Teach sustainable thinking from young age. Changes:
Styling, metaphor that children understand. Connect consequence: cut power when empty?
Reward?

Only parents can refill: involve parent in education.

Very little research done towards children not possible for me in this project?

Further testing
Build simple prototype
Confirm social interactions How much charge? 0.5kWh, 50kWh?
When can you ignore it, and when does it become a nuisance?

Build interactive prototype

Test visualization of electric properties.
Light/sound effects Gyroscope.

Physical shape!
Hourglass is still based on old solution...