A Construction Kit For Sports
The presented TechSportiv construction kit combines digital fabrication and sports. Young people are enabled to create their own devices that capture body movement and transform these data into personally relevant information like feedback about the quality or quantity of their movement.
The TechSportiv-Construction Kit
The TechSportiv-Construction Kit is a composition of learning materials and an appropriate environment in which it is applied. These have been developed and evolved in four workshops that were conducted with young people aged nine to 15.
The learning materials can be subdivided into technological hardware elements (the ones you need to capture your movement and to give feedback on it), a programming environment (which is needed to program the artifact) and some crafting materials (that are needed to attach it to the body or the piece of sports equipment). The environment, in which the materials were developed and approved, can be subdivided into a workshop concept, a place where to run a workshop as well as a target group to work with.
The technological hardware elements
The technological hardware of the TechSportiv-Construction Kit includes a microcontroller, sensors and switches, actuators and connecting materials as well as wireless communication.
Based on the assumption that movements are captured on the body, an Arduino LilyPad builds the “heart” of the construction kit. However, we have found that one third of the built projects are not measured on the athlete’s body but on the piece of sports equipment. Hence, instead of the LilyPad an Arduino UNO can be used.
To capture movements diverse sensors and switches are part of the construction kit, that are: reed switches, tilt switches, textile switches, as well as force sensitive resistors, flex sensors, distance sensors, accelerometers, and shock sensors. To provide feedback, the following actuators are included: (color-changing) LEDs, vibrating motors, and beepers.
Further, connections can be made by using wires or conductive threads. For wireless communication xBee modules are provided. Some resistors are included for using sensors as well as LEDs in an appropriate way. Programming is done using a USB-connection to the computer. Later, power is provided by a battery.
The programming environment
In order to let novices create their own devices, a graphical programming environment is provided. Therefore, the open source environment Amici was further developed. Amici builds upon the Arduino programming language and is translated into Arduino. That way, more sophisticated projects can be developed starting with Amici and continuing with the Arduino programming language.
The craft materials
The components can be attached to shirts, socks, or wristbands, which are included in the kit. Further materials can be added if needed. Attaching the hardware can be done by sewing. To attach hardware on pieces of sports equipment, duct tape is included in the kit.
The TechSportiv environment
TechSportiv was developed in a workshop setting that enables young people to create their own devices. Hence, it includes a workshop concept that accompanies the whole process from bringing up ideas what to construct to present the artifact at the end. This concept has been proved valuable for youngsters between the ages of 11 and 15 and in an environment that offers space to try out varying movements as well as to tinker and program the artifact.
Presented by Nadine Dittert – University of Bremen, dimeb – Digital Media in Education