Hello everyone, in today’s talk, I will be speaking about one of the idea that I have... Hoping to receive a great and critical feedback from all of you
Before I explain the idea, I have a small story to tell. In a land far far away, there lived a donald duck and his girlfriend Daisy.
Both of them were madly in love with each other.
And Daisy’s birthday was coming up, Fortunately donald did not forget the date.
So he kept on thinking what can I “buy”, Note the stress on the word “buy”. There are many options.
It also helps that our hero donald is also super rich.
The problem is daisy does not like money, so any gift bought may not please her much.
However, she does appreciate anything that is personal, something that Donald can make for her.
However, our hero donald is by no means an artist...
So what can he do in such situations? He wished if he had taken art classes in schools more seriously... But what to do now?
And suddenly out of the blue, comes a robot like figure, which says, “don’ t worry donald, SML is here to help... ”
But wait there is one more problem or twist in a tale...
Of late, donald has been eating a lot of junk fast food.. And also not doing any intense exercise....
As a result, donald has gained a little weight.
And he wants to be fit again...now that daisy’s birthday is also around...
Donald tried going to gym... But felt it is boring solution... And left gym...
He does not want daisy to see him fat, but he also does not want to go to gym, so again he is helpless...
The mysterious SML appears again and says the same comforting words, “ don’ t fear, SML is here... ”
Angry Donald looks puzzled, who is this guy and why he wants to help me.. But he dares and responds “ ok ok, but who are you? And why and how will you help me?”
SML responds “ Donald, I am a Sweat-to-print device”
You don’ t believe, but there is a 3D printer inside me, that can print cool physical stuff... Let me show you.. Can you see whats right in the middle...thats the 3D printer
Donald still looks puzzled, “interesting, but I still didn’ t get, how it ’ s gone help me.. ”
SML then goes on elaborating... Donald I am a device that gives physical activity a purpose, and make it engaging...
How, by rewarding you with a physical gift as a testimony for your exertion (physical activity) or what I usually love you say sweat.
I believe, every person can leave his personal mark on things... It does not require that you be creative by birth or any formal education in arts...
All that matters is whether you are ready to spend some energy, spend your sweat...
And get my words, physical activity can be rewarding....
Still puzzled but now little more assured, donald responds, “too good to be true... Can you tell me how it works?”
SML replies, “its very easy donald”. Its simple four step model for rewarding success.. But as a first step... You need to get back to running on a treadmill... Run as much as you can... More the better....
As you run on treadmill, SML records your sweat or energy you spent on running in the form of heart rate...
As you run on treadmill, SML records your sweat or energy you spent on running in the form of heart rate...
This recorded data is fed into the printer.
And by the time you finish your running, you get a physical souvenir as a small gesture for your contribution.. This you can gift to Daisy, she will be impressed.. Mark my words...
SML replies, “Donald, for that you need to zoom on the object...” Did you see the complete object is made out of your heart rate.. How let me show you a demo (SHOW AN OBJECT)
Donald likes the idea and did the same... A nd yes Daisy liked the gift and they lived happily ever after... T h e end... W ait a minute... T his is a research presentation not a movie...
W ait a minute...all this fancy talk and storytelling is great... B ut what is the research, what are you trying to achieve... T his is a research presentation not a movie...
I am particularly motivated by the first law of thermodynamics which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed...however energy can change its form... My focus was on Energy expenditure and Material gain. On one hand you have physical activity (especially done in gym) where you deliberately spend or waste energy and on the other hand you have 3d printer which supports additive manufacturing, where a object is printed layer by layer... S o I kept thinking... H ow to relate them together... W hether there can be any synergies between the two.. Can loss of energy is one form be gained in the other?
First research question is Can physical rewards be more satisfying than virtual rewards.
Second research question is HCI and game theorist argues for an immediate feedback for actions... But I am proposing since health is also a prolonged objective... Which cannot be achieved overnight... Whether people appreciate prolonged feedback in place of immediate one.
Fifth question is more technical one... That is understanding the commalities, synergies and mapping between a physical activity and physical designs
In a longer term, my research focus on the following. In place of a goal driven approach of work and gamification, I advocate an activity driven approach, where I try to turn into play. I call it plabourize which mean turning labour into play.
