For a Master of Design project, I designed and built a steampunk inspired 'friendly data monitor' that displays digital data in an analogue, human-focused way. It uses mostly recycled or repurposed materials (but with a micro-controller inside), so it's old-school on the outside and high tech on the inside! You can read the full story of the project in my Masters blog.
The friendly' data monitor has a face-like appearance, and is made from repurposed or sustainable materials. The cabinet, dial pointers and dial covers were laser cut and assembled with simple mechanical tools. Items like cupboard handles form the 'ears' and 'nose'. The dials display data drawn from the Internet or programmed into the inner microbit controller (linked to a motor driving the dial pointers).
Design of dials for the monitor, inspired by retro motor gauges
Close-up of the curved laser cut cabinet, showing how a cut pattern enables the wood to bend.
Sourcing the materials: two old lamp bases from Reverse Garbage QLD were polished to form the dial cases
Two old springs sourced from Reverse Garbage Brisbane were used for the 'aerial', emulating old school TV aerials
Close-up of Microbit controller
Screenshot of the Microbit coding that created random dial movements, via connected motors
To present the project, I created an amateur steampunk-inspired video. This told the story of an early 1900's inventor who used a time machine to travel to the present day, and was inspired to build a monitor to help track funding for their inventions. The video changed from black and white to colour to reflect the time change, and involved finding or creating various props to support the story.
A title screen for the project video, based on retro silent-movie typography and grunge backgrounds
My steampunk costume for the project video. A bit over-the-top, but who cares?!
Interested in this rather strange project? You can read the full story here.