We made many sketches to try to figure out the possible data flow in the system. Then all the sketches where used to create this animation, which has been useful to us to understand the functioning of the system in a schematic way.
During the last week, after the coding, the animation was completed with a little scenario, which allows one data cycle to be followed step-by-step: just click on “slower” to start it.
In this interactive animation can be tested (and stressed) the input/output dynamics of the system. During the design process we made the same tool using ourselves as devices and colored post-its as outputs.
The device has no conventional interface, no buttons and no monitor, and is single-purpose.
The philosopy behind this kind of device is the physical translation of a  software widget.
In this project we wanted the device to be transportable, and we wanted it to be “location aware”: the first things that we thought we could use where Wi-Fi for connection and a GPS chip for localization, but both this technologies where not the best for the task.
Wi-Fi is fast, but needs a wireless network, which is usually protected by a WEP o WPA that should be configured inside the device every time  it is brought to a new place.
Blinkys do not need a lot of bandwidth, and most of the time are in “listening” mode, just like a mobile phone. So we thought that the best and most flexible technology for the connection could be the UMTS / 3G, which is available also outside buildings and is much more energy saving.
In this case the most advanced technology was the best choice.
When a device needs to know its location usually it need to know it with a certain precision, and to achieve this in most of the latest devices of this kind  A-GPS or GPS systems are used. This kind of localization is very precise, and can be updated in real time very fast, but is both power consuming and does not work indoors. Since we can accept a resolution superior to 1-2 Km and a refresh rate much slower GPS can deliver, we decided to use the “old” GSM localization system, based on mobile cell recognition: the same system that is used to localize mobile phones on the network, which is cheaper, but smart enough for our purpose.
In this case the most advanced technology was not the best choice.
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