interactive backpacks

1
interactive backpacks
Using different forms of communication, a pair of
stuffed animal backpacks for girls ages 5-7 will
reinforce the feeling of friendship between them.
The forms of communication are chosen to make
communication possible before, during, and after
seeing your friend. Wireless communication
between backpacks will allow one to see if the
other is nearby. When the friends are together
they can connect the backpacks so that they hold
hands which will cause their hearts to light up.
When parting, one can whisper in the ear of their
friends backpack, leaving secret messages for
their friend to listen to at a later time. This
project is a DESIGN for young girls ages 5-7
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interactive backpacks
TEAM ROLES IRA - research / documentation /
making circuits LIZ - research / documentation /
illustrations SHANNON - illustrations / making
circuits / construction Week 1 Research /
survey girls / finalize idea / character
design Week 2 final character design / gather
materials / make wireless circuit Week 3
patterns for backpacks / recording circuit Week
4 1st backpack made / heart light circuit Week
5 2nd backpack made / install all
electronics Week 6 fix any issues / finish
documentation Week 7 combine all documentation
/ publish to website and blog
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RESEARCH
Shannon interviewed 5 girls ages 6-8 to gain
information to help finalize the project idea.
Caitlyn and Lisa (age 6, best friends), Angela
(7), and Michelle (8) Made age range slightly
younger (5-7) Decided on Pandas for the animal
(mainly from positive response to midterm
project) Lisa had littlest pet shop panda
toys Wireless feature was exciting to them
because they saw it as a compared it to cell
phones. Their favorite after seeing the panda
purses was that they could hold hands and hearts
light up.
4
Lisa is getting teased by Mike and John She
presses the ear of her Bestie to get Caitlyns
attention from across the playground.
5
Caitlyn comes over and pulls Lisa away so they
can go eat lunch. Their Besties sit next to them
and hold hands.
6
Before Caitlyn leaves for gym class, Lisa
whispers a secret into Caitlyns Bestie.
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In gym class, Caitlyn plays back the secret. Lisa
has a crush on Mike!
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OTHER RESEARCH
LIZs link to animal backpacks http//www.giftsplus
h.com/foncolplusan.html IRAs research 4-Ever
Best Friend dolls one strap
backpacks wireless spookies
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OTHER RESEARCH
SHANNONs research Surveying the girls Further
reading on spookies Character design research
Good pandas Bad Pandas
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WHAT NEXT?

• making the wireless circuit
• - what will the range be?
• buying purple and pink fur fabric
• will the radio shack recording module work
  through fabric, will this be adequate for a
  prototype?