The Date Snake
Date Snake Graphic by Susan Oude Vrielink
Using Arduino programming & electronics skills in hand with traditional mechanical engineering, my team developed a robot meant to accompany a couple on their first date and guide them through a set of different questions and prompts to learn more about each other.
My main function within the group was to program the snake’s behaviour and process inputs such as pet, clap, cover eyes and shake his tail so that the interaction was seamless for the user. However, I worked with the rest of my team throughout the project to use creative techniques such as the magic machine workshop and personas to develop and test our concept.
This was my first deep dive into coding with Arduino, where I learned a lot and now consider myself proficient. However, I walked away from the project with an intent to work less with electronics due to the boundaries they can impose on a novice’s ability to materialise their vision. For example, we would have hoped to use audio files to make the snake speak, but storage didn’t allow for this and we had to settle for a screen.
Skills I personally gained from this project include:
Programming with Arduino
Electronic Circuits and Systems
Toolkit & Process Development
Storytelling & Fabulation
Interaction Design
