This morning we met to finalize our budget, and to bring together the assignments we'd been working on since our last meeting on Tuesday, which included building a fullsized model of the object shape, writing the budget paper, assembling a table of the desired and required components, calculating solar panel power and charge rate values, and physical system assembly requirements.
The awkward family photo
While we met to finalize the task for this week, we also began with a discussion of our working values. The last time we had met there was a clear divide in the group. Half that didn't feel that the objective of the project required considerations for powering the system with solar energy, that the sustainability of the object would come in a social form. The other half, however, felt that not focusing on solar energy as our power source was negating the whole objective of the course, which, as was infered, to create innovative systems that exemplify the "think green" mantra that has been attached to anything oriented around solar energy.
We recognized that we had fallen into a dangerous place, our group dynamic post-Tuesday meeting was not condusive to accomplishing anything. We discussed where we had had a breakdown. In our discussion there was even disagreement as to what had happened, and we realized that, while we talk a great deal in our meetings, when a disenting (differing) opinion was offered, there was not a strong argument given for the opinion. We all agreed that in the future we would all take an additive criticism approach. Instead of saying "No, I don't like it," we learned it was more productive, and fruitful, to say what we didn't agree with, give solid reasoning for our opinion, and a suggestion for a change or improvement to solve the problem.
I played around with the shape of the "chair" and how we could potentially install the different sensors and smart components.
Basic structure and form of the chair
Articulation of some of the hinges
More articulation of the chair.
We figured it would be easiest to have sun exposure on the solar panels if we placed them on the backside of the seat. I also explored the idea of having an LED display on the main face of the seat, which really only serves an interactive function if someone isn't sitting.
The back of the seat would pivot to orient itself for optimal sun exposure, it would also fold down toward the seat for high noon exposure
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