team Logic-Action

Workshop mission:
The main focus of this electronic workshop was to bring in some form of physical interaction, which involved response to or from a computer. This would be carried out using basic electronic switches, acting as sensing points, which in-turn are connected via a circuit board.

Brainstorming phase:
"INTERACTION". This term was our pivot for brainstorming. Several aspects linked with interactions emerged from this. Touch, Feel, Click, Scroll, Feel, Slide, Stretch, Push, Pull, Twist and Rotate made up the majority. As stated by our course instructor, we had just a day's time to design an innovative idea. This brainstorming sessions further led into the ideation phase in our team.

Ideation phase:

Completing the first two assignments, a workable circuit board connected with four switches was made. And we progressed further on this. Originally, We did not think of the final product, but rather try to ideate to any extent possible. We thought about the environments, which could provide us an opportunity to design a new idea. For instance, the environment suited for blind or visually impaired people. People who cannot see depend on physical interactions, to perform various actions. Auditory alerts also play a big role as in to aid a blind-sighted person. Various instruments such as rain water measuring units to game boards for the blind, were thought of. Considering the short time available with us to come up with some new innovative concept, we thought of using it in the sports domain.

Scenario:
With context to material and resources available in campus, we first thought of tennis and badminton players, where they want to monitor the shots and their locations on the racquet. But, we thought that cricket is a more famous game in India than any other game. Hence, we decided to design something new for the cricket bat.

Concept & Functionality:

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We still did not look at our intensions as a solution to some problem nor a complete product. Our concept involved interaction in a manner by which a ball's hit-points can be recorded when coming in contact with the bat. The cricket bat is divided into four sections. As in represented by a set of four colours. The pattern is as from handle to bat base, we have RED, RED, RED and RED. These four regions are actually, plates, that are suspended over the sensitive switches. When the ball hits the bat on one of the four colour coded regions, the sensors placed underneath the plates, would be triggered. This would trigger a signal that would be communicated to a computer with the help of a circuit board. Functionality wise, the buttons act as a kind of pressure sensitive points which get pushed, by the ball's impact.
The information we receive on a computer is encoded through a programming language and is digitally represented in a visual manner, as in showing shades of colours. The cricket bat is modeled onto the computer screen with the same image.
So, when the ball hits the RED section on the bat, simultaneously and instantly, RED is displayed on the screen. So on and so forth for the other three shaded regions.
Useful information can be assimilated, after the ball has been hit several times upon the bat. Once the frequency of contact points increases, we can bring out some new quantitative information. It can be used for gauging an existing player’s performance. Even, evaluating weather shots are being improved with reference to a certain point on the bat. Hits recorded can be compared amongst other players and can be used as benchmarks for improving overall game play. We feel that there also could be an opportunity in designing stroke points across the bat, with this concept.

Audience feedback:

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After developing the concept and implementing the materials available, we finally had a newly designed cricket bat to test. We then had a feedback session to receive compliments and criticisms.
The audience said that the idea was impressive and good, but we should work on the ruggedness and sensitivity. Some provided suggestions that, after several hits onto the bat, the information could be collected and used for mapping a player’s performance.

Our response:

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We kept the original concept intact. We looked upon ruggedness and changed the switches to something that can absorb the impact from the ball, in a more robust manner. So we used small rubber caps with aluminum foil instead. All put together with some strong adhesive to provide more robustness. In real situations, the bat would come in contact with the harder leather cricket ball. Hence, build quality must be more robust.
We were thinking of taking this interactive cricket bat to a new level and install a wireless circuit so that it could remotely provide feedback on tracking shots. Another alternative would be to embed a feedback screen, somewhere near the handle of the bat to provide statistics.
This concept is still in development phases and we feel that there exists wide scope, where this kind of a bat can come into use.
Along with this, your feedback is still appreciated and awaited. We have uploaded a demonstration video footage and a couple of images to show you how we went through the entire process from a basic cricket bat to an interactive one.

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