Using IoT to explore possibilities of a text to fax machine to tackle anxiety

#Unplugged

Individual Project

Iterated through concept ideas, and forms. Wrote custom C# Code using IFTTT, and Arduino IO. Assembled both engineering and product design into one cohesive product.

Tools

Arduino Illustrator IFTTT C#

Duration

3 Weeks

39.3% of all American adults experience symptoms of anxiety, with 13% experiencing text anxiety. Being off our phones is difficult because we want to stay in touch and stay connected to those away from us. This raises challenges in how to stay connected even when needing to be offline due to overstimulation or other reasons.

The Challenge

There is a need to stay in touch with loved ones, even when we feel too overwhelmed to be on the phone. This leads to thinking back to manual ways in which we have stayed “in touch,” historically. This led to an opportunity in using IoT to print text messages, inspired by the fax machine.

The Opportunity

Designed for moments when you might feel too anxious to be on your phone, but too lonely to stay off your phone.

This device allows selected text messages to be printed with the push of a button. You can stay unplugged while receiving words of encouragement from a chosen support system.

Introducing, #Unplugged

THE SOLUTION

Skip to the final product

Initial Problem Discovery

I have battled with diagnosed anxiety for many years, and I recently started noting how overstimulated we are as a society due to screens and such easy access to our phones and the internet.

While phones have given us so much power, it has also deteriorated our mental wellbeing. 39.3% of all American adults experience symptoms of anxiety, with 13% experiencing text anxiety. Being off our phones is difficult because we want to stay in touch and stay connected to those away from us. So what do you when you are too stimulated to be on your phone but too lonely to be off? This is where I started ideating.

Concept Ideation

The first idea was thinking of maybe a print being printed every time someone went outside. Thinking about using a weight sensor for the keys and then a random message would be printed when the weight was lifted.

This evolved into thinking about texting and having a message from someone special. An object which prints select messages and lives within a home. From some more research and sketching I landed on a text to fax printer idea.

The form evolved, from just box containing electronics to a digital product which seamlessly can be placed in any home.

Process: Setting up the Circuit

I set up my circuit to connect with my thermal printer and huzzah board. There were a couple tries here to get the right wiring.

It turned out the thermal printer was working on a different voltage compared to the Huzzah board I was using for internet connection.

To combat this I used a level shifter. You can see the final circuit diagram below.

For this project we are using Arduino IO as a server to connect to IFTTT. We loop the connection, to ensure that we are always getting updated signals to know if there are new messages. We also are looping to check user feedback, that is to see if the button has been pushed. If the button is pushed then we print the message.

Let's take a look at the code...

Process: The Form

For the product to feel more contextual, I considered the form to be something that could be “hidden,” in a home. So taking the ideas I drew earlier, I decided on the “hidden book" form. This would allow for easy storage for the electronics and also have a seamless integration to its environment.

Process: Making the Book Cover

Using Illustrator, I mocked up a cover for the cardboard prototype. Inspired by neutral tones and organic shapes, the cover brands #Unplugged similar to a book. The spine is kept simple and neat, while the back cover reveals information about the product.

Prints Select Messages

Only messages which are texted with a specific tag will be processed through IFTTT. This allows for users to choose, who and what gets sent through this machine. Limiting the messages ensures that only the most important message go through this way, and the printer isn’t being spammed. In the example, only messages with #unplugged go through the machine.

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FINAL OUTCOME

Prints On Command

Just as only select text messages get sent through the machine, the product also only operates by choice if the user chooses to print the message. This allows more freedom, if they don’t feel ready or in the mood to open for conversation, they aren’t forced to.

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Lives seamlessly in your home

The form of the book fits into any bookshelf and integrates itself into the home environment. This look helps it stay in the background, being an object that helps but doesn’t need to take center stage. The storage in the product can be used to store memories such as letters, or even the text receipts that are printed.

Make your own!

Additionally, I created both a product video and a set of instructions on instructables for everybody to make their own text-fax printer. The product video shows one of the many use cases for this project. If you are interested in making your own text-fax printer, check out the link here.

With more time and money, I would…

This idea was made through Arduino IO and IFTTT which comes with its own sets of limitations. This prototype only works for text messages, with iMessage or SMS while the problem targets users who might use apps such as WeChat or WhatsApp.

Make Cross-Platform

In this version the prototype doesn’t have a front cover, it has a design but no branding which would complete the product entirely. Considering a more neutral palette or doing more research in finding the brand that this product could develop into would be interesting.

2. Rebrand

3. Research & Test

The product was made with me as the end-user in mind. Due to this, it would be worth testing and talking to those who would be interested in purchasing such a product. Understanding their needs and wants, for the form or the functions (i.e is the light too stimulating?), would better the end product.