Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
stickers on the upper side, representing fantasy characters, objects and settings. The
platform had an electronic circuit with six slots to place the blocks; each block had
an ID on the backside, created by different patterns of conductive aluminium.
Placing a block on a slot closed the electronic circuit on the board according to the
block's ID and displayed the corresponding animation on the computer screen. To
indicate the right placement of the blocks, the slots on the electronic platform and
the blocks were square shaped with the left corner cut off.
This prototype was tested with small groups of two children each, in the pre-
school's painting room. To assess how intuitive the system was for the children, the
researcher briefl y explained the functioning to the fi rst group and remained in the
background, observing how children used it. Children immediately appropriated the
prototype, placing the blocks on the platform and exploring the content, and when
the following group came in the room, the children were excited and eager to show
the functioning to the newcomers.
12.3.4.3
Refl ections on the Functional Prototype
The feedback from the children was very positive, and in general the system was
easy to use, as the observation from children's interaction revealed; however, some
refi nements of the prototype were still needed. The connection between the slots
and the blocks was designed following a puzzle principle, which did not provided a
smooth interaction. Indeed, the placement of the blocks had to be easy, direct and
quick. Also, there were some problems with the recognition of the block's IDs due
to the oxidation of the contacts; therefore, a different technical solution had to be
implemented.
12.3.5
TOK: Touch, Organize, Create
After testing several solutions for the detection and considering different forms for
the blocks, the fi nal prototype uses capacitive sensors for the detection of the blocks.
Each block has a sticker with a picture of what it represents on the upper side and a
conductive pattern on its base, which is detected by capacitive sensors located on
the platform base. The fi nal system is composed of an electronic platform with six
or eight slots, which connects to a computer or a tablet through USB or Bluetooth,
a microphone and 23 physical blocks to manipulate the digital content. In the cur-
rent implementation, the system can read up to 250 different blocks, but that number
can be extended.
The backside of the blocks as well as the electronic platform have magnets on
their surface that correctly snap the blocks to the platform (instead of the puzzle
approach), making it easy for the users to place the blocks while simultaneously
assuring a stable contact between the blocks and the platform. The size of the blocks
4.5 × 4.5 × 1 cm gives children a good grip and easy manipulation (Fig.
12.4
).
