Concept | Iktishaf¶
5 Ws who, what, when, where, why¶
Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How
Who:
- Children (ages 6+), educators, parents, and hobbyists who are interested in engaging, tactile, and hands-on learning experiences that make technology accessible.
What:
- A modular educational kit crafted from soft, flexible, and safe materials, integrating fundamental electronics and soft robotics elements to encourage experimentation and creativity.
Where:
- Designed for use in classrooms, after-school programs, maker spaces, homes, museums, and exhibitions. It’s suitable for any environment where hands-on, interactive learning is promoted and celebrated.
When:
- Suitable for early to middle education stages, acting as an introductory tool to electronics and robotics for beginners, while also serving as a stepping stone to more advanced kits and STEM education.
Why:
- To demystify the concepts of circuits, sensors, and soft robotics, making them approachable, fun, and inclusive for learners of all backgrounds and abilities. The kit is designed to foster curiosity, creativity, and skill development in STEM fields while emphasizing playful, practical learning.
How:
- By creating user-friendly, silicone-based modules that snap together effortlessly. These modules are paired with clear, visually driven instructions and supported by a suite of educational resources. The design prioritizes open-ended exploration, allowing learners to build and customize projects as they gain confidence. Advanced users can expand their knowledge by integrating more complex ideas or combining modules in creative ways, making the kit versatile and scalable.
Research and Background¶
The foundation of this project lies in the integration of e-textiles and their application in educational tools. The primary goal is to design and develop an innovative educational electronics kit that fosters creativity and hands-on learning. Here are the expanded key research areas:
-
E-Textiles and Wearable Technology
- Investigating existing projects that utilize conductive materials, such as Adafruit’s range of wearable electronic products. These examples highlight the versatility of integrating electronics into textiles for practical and creative uses.
- Delving into cutting-edge designs, including contributions from Kobakant and projects from Fabricademy archives, such as the Sensation Maps project. These sources showcase innovative approaches to combining textiles with technology, offering valuable insights for the project.
-
Educational Kits
- Conducting a comprehensive review of existing educational kits, including products like LittleBits and Snap Circuits. These kits provide insights into how electronics can be simplified and modularized for easy learning.
- Identifying specific gaps in the current market offerings, with a focus on creating a unique kit that emphasizes sustainability, creativity, and user engagement. This research aims to address the need for kits that are not only functional but also inspire imagination and problem-solving skills.
-
Design Process
- Leveraging modular design methodologies explored during Fabricademy, which emphasize adaptability and scalability. Modular design principles are integral to ensuring the kit is customizable for various age groups and skill levels.
- Incorporating user feedback from previous projects, such as the E-Textiles kit, to refine the design and improve usability. This iterative approach ensures that the final product meets the needs of its target audience while maintaining high quality and functionality.
This research serves as a cornerstone for guiding material selection, design considerations, and the educational value embedded in the final product. By aligning these efforts with the goals of Fabricademy and innovative design principles, the project aims to deliver a meaningful and impactful educational tool.
Moodboard¶
Collect images to give insight in your vision: colors, shapes, sounds, images, words..
Tip
remember to resize and optimize all your images. You will run out of space and the more data, the more servers, the more cooling systems and energy wasted :) make a choice at every image :)