For our first assignment in Toy Design we were tasked with making a toy/device that would capture or make an image. My group and I began brainstorming and our initial ideas centered around a toy/device that would require a high level of physicality. As we continued our process further, it seemed that most of our ideas were centering around making "true" 3D experiences. This is certainly not a new idea. Some children grow up playing with blocks and eventually building with Legos and the like. I feel comfortable that most children mature building with physical objects they find in the world around them, whether officially a toy (Lego) or not (sticks), kids find a way to create real world 3D experiences through the creative use of physical objects.
Our initial idea involved creating a device/interface that a user could throw a ball at in an effort to interact with a screen, software, or just draw a picture. Our initial design and planned prototype involved constructing a large grid of nails that a user would throw a ball at in an effort to punch holes in a piece of paper that was behind the interface. This low-tech solution was planned in an effort to further understand the interaction requirements and considerations for this type of "physical" system for user input.
As we progressed, we found that our built prototype would not be able to handle the input forces of the proposed system. We were somewhat constrained in our fabrication process due to some of the processes involved (ie laser cutting 5,500 plastic holes). We reacted by brainstorming new ways to physically interact with our functional 3D interface that would limit the force input by the user onto the interface. We proposed and executed a system that consisted of a high powered magnet and a second plastic physical barrier. We were happy with our process and results.
This process allowed our group to catch a glimpse of the possibilities and implementations that physical 3D representation of data, objects, and surfaces might have for next generation computational devices and systems.
