Final Project Concept

One of my favorite places in my house is the wall between my kitchen and dining room. It’s where we’ve tracked the growth of our boys over the years. I like it because it’s so simple and subtle, and when I stand near it, it helps me reflect on the moments when we made the markings.

 

I’d like to design and build a tool that helps making these markings more accurate and interactive. I’ll combine it with a mobile app, to capture the data along with a picture of the event so that trips down “memory lane” aren’t dependent upon the strength of one’s memory, but instead can be digitally recalled and shared with others.

A word about accuracy… I want to be clear that the primary goal of this project is to preserve the memories of growing children. Accuracy is actually not very important. That said, however, I want to build something that can consistently measure a person’s height within a reasonable accuracy – perhaps 1/8 inch.

I think this is important, because I’ve observed my family debate just what technique was acceptable to take the measurement…

The pencil along the head-technique…

 

The floppy ruler-technique…

 

The ruler as a beam-technique…

 

Or, my favorite, the grab your favorite book-technique…

 

It is arguably the best technique, because it helps you maintain a 90-degree angle from the wall. This level of accuracy is of course critical when trying to determine important milestones such as when a child finally surpassed their parent!

I’m thinking the design will be hand held and collapsible so it can be easily hung on a wall, or stored in a nearby drawer. The design will ratchet open and lock into place at 90 degrees. This critical position will not only ensure consistent measurements, but it will also turn on the device.

 

Measurements will be taken via a sensor on the device. My preliminary thoughts are around ultrasonic and infrared sensors, but I expect to consider others as the project matures. The device will be Bluetooth enabled so it can transmit the measurement to a mobile app.

I’d like to design and build a tool that helps making these markings more accurate and interactive. I’ll combine it with a mobile app, to capture the data along with a picture of the event so that trips down “memory lane” aren’t dependent upon the strength of one’s memory, but instead can be digitally recalled and shared with others.

The app will store information for multiple profiles and make measurement-taking quite simple. The user will first tap the child’s profile.

 

This will show a list of all previously taken measurements along with a growth chart that plots their progress. Then they’ll tap the plus button to start the measurement process.

 

A screen showing the current date will appear along with a ruler button. Tapping this will fetch the height data from the device and display it to the user. The user will finally tap the “OK” button to confirm the record.

This action will immediately launch the mobile device’s camera app so they can capture a picture of the child. The picture will be added to a visual timeline for the child, so family members can swipe through it to watch the child grow.

 

I’m really excited about this project! It should be quite fun to design the mechanical systems, and it will provide me with ample opportunity to learn and grow in the electronics and software development spaces. In the end, I should have a great product that adds value to families with growing children – one that brings laughter and tears of joy in years to come as they gather together to look at the pictures and reminisce about the past!