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Summer of Code/2014/Hack a stuffed animal (view source)
Revision as of 08:21, 19 March 2014
, 08:21, 19 March 2014Category:2014 GSoC applications
What is your name? '''Jade Garrett'''
What is your name? '''Jade Garrett'''
What is your email address? '''PositiveDeviancy@gmail.com'''
What is your email address? '''PositiveDeviancy@gmail.com'''
What is your Sugar Labs wiki username? '''OpenIDUser9'''
What is your Sugar Labs wiki username? '''OpenIDUser9'''
What is your IRC nickname on irc.freenode.net? '''positivedeviancy'''
What is your IRC nickname on irc.freenode.net? '''positivedeviancy'''
What is your first language? '''English'''
What is your first language? '''English'''
Where are you located, and what hours (UTC) do you tend to work? '''Fairfax Virginia EST. I work at all hours, however, I am usually working from 11AM-4PM and 9PM-1AM.'''
Where are you located, and what hours (UTC) do you tend to work? '''Fairfax Virginia EST. I work at all hours, however, I am usually working from 11AM-4PM and 9PM-1AM.'''
Have you participated in an open-source project before? '''I have participated in BJC (beauty and joy of computing) and Stars Mentors Program, mainly in the capacity of tutoring and teaching programming.
Have you participated in an open-source project before? '''I have participated in BJC (beauty and joy of computing) and Stars Mentors Program, mainly in the capacity of tutoring and teaching programming.
http://ait.gmu.edu/stars/contact.html (Stars Mentor for GMU)
http://ait.gmu.edu/stars/contact.html (Stars Mentor for GMU)
What is the name of your project? '''Hack a Stuffed Animal'''
What is the name of your project? '''Hack a Stuffed Animal'''
Describe your project in 10-20 sentences.
Describe your project in 10-20 sentences.
What are you making? '''A Robotic Stuffed Animal that will execute commands, act as an input device for an Etoys program, and also interact with children while being used.'''
What are you making? '''A Robotic Stuffed Animal that will execute commands, act as an input device for an Etoys program, and also interact with children while being used.'''
What is the timeline for development of your project? The Summer of Code work period is from May 19 - August 22; tell us what you will be working on each week. (As the summer goes on, you and your mentor will adjust your schedule, but it's good to have a plan at the beginning so you have an idea of where you're headed.) Note that you should probably plan to have something "working and 90% done" by the midterm evaluation (27 June); the last steps always take longer than you think, and we will consider cancelling projects which are not mostly working by then. '''I will start the day that I am approved even if it is before May 19th.
Who are you making it for, and why do they need it? ''' Children, but more specifically, children who have challenges with non-verbal communication and would benefit from interacting with a stuffed animal robot. Some children will use it to keep them entertained and engaged while using the program, it could even be a character in the program for example. Some children might use it for its ease of usability or it could help foster a familiar comforting feeling while using the software and technology. Mainly, it will be used to help bridge the gap with children who have challenges with non verbal communication such as children with autism, by helping aid interaction using other forms of communication besides verbal such as - Gestures, Movements, Sign Language, Mimicry, and Signals. By making a familiar object such as a loved stuffed animal turned into an input device, it changes the whole dynamics of using technology and interaction, it allows for the child to project their own method of communication through the stuffed animal where a keyboard would be confusing and frustrating.'''
Now-May 19th: Design and focus on creating a functioning input device. Clarify requirements and main goals for the stuffed animal. Focus on what method is best for input (Joystick, keyboard, strategically placed buttons, motion sensors, etc) Designing a program that would take the input and have it interact in a way that is stimulating and engaging. Possibly a music program that will play certain animal sounds while showing a picture of the animal. Or perhaps a flashcard/slideshow program with certain words that can be recorded by a family member and pictures of things that the child shows interest in. Interview teachers who work with kids with special needs to further improve design and function. Conduct research on pricing the materials and creating a parts list. Starting with a goal of under $50.00 and then trying to beat that price by 20% in the week of July 14th. Gather all the parts and tools necessary to begin creating prototypes.
What technologies (programming languages, etc.) will you be using? ''' It is requested that I use Sugar Lab's Etoys program, however, I will have to use Arduino 1.0.5 for coding the commands for the stuffed animal so that it will act as an input device using either a keyboard with modified keys or a joystick. Then I will use Etoys to create a simple interactive program (non verbal) that the child could have certain pre-programmed interactions and outcomes using the stuffed animal. I would like to try to integrate some type of responsive feedback, for example, a small LED light blinking, or a sound that is produced from the stuffed animal to show that the communication and interaction is two sided. (That might be a good idea for another project for GSOC) '''
What is the timeline for development of your project? The Summer of Code work period is from May 19 - August 22; tell us what you will be working on each week. (As the summer goes on, you and your mentor will adjust your schedule, but it's good to have a plan at the beginning so you have an idea of where you're headed.) Note that you should probably plan to have something "working and 90% done" by the midterm evaluation (27 June); the last steps always take longer than you think, and we will consider cancelling projects which are not mostly working by then. '''I will start the day that I find that I am approved, even if it is before May 19th.
Now-May 19th: Design and focus on creating a functioning input device. Clarify requirements and main goals for the stuffed animal hack. Focus on what method is best for input (Joystick, keyboard, strategically placed buttons, motion sensors, etc). Set firm and clear goals for this project. Designing a program that would take the input and have it interact in a way that is stimulating and engaging. Possibly a music program that will play certain animal sounds while showing a picture of the animal. Or perhaps a flashcard/slideshow program with certain words that can be recorded by a family member and pictures of things that the child shows interest in.
Interview teachers who work with kids with special needs to further improve design and function. Conduct research on pricing the materials and creating a parts list. Starting with a goal of under $50.00 and then trying to beat that price by 20% in the week of July 14th. Gather all the parts and tools necessary to begin creating prototypes.
Week of May 19th - Begin assembling the parts and testing if the input received is working properly.
Week of May 19th - Begin assembling the parts and testing if the input received is working properly.
Week of May 26th - Testing how the inputs work with the program.
Week of May 26th - Testing how the inputs work with the program.
Week of July 28th - Continue work on the previous week. Send updates and request feedback.
Week of July 28th - Continue work on the previous week. Send updates and request feedback.
2-3 weeks of gathering data, refining the stuffed animal and its programs. Also one week to factor in delays etc.
2-3 weeks of gathering data, refining the stuffed animal and its programs. Also one week to factor in delays etc.
Work on the final evaluations until the Final Date for Project. '''
Work on the final evaluations until the Final Date for Project.'''
Convince us, in 5-15 sentences, that you will be able to successfully complete your project in the timeline you have described. This is usually where people describe their past experiences, credentials, prior projects, schoolwork, and that sort of thing, but be creative. Link to prior work or other resources as relevant.
Convince us, in 5-15 sentences, that you will be able to successfully complete your project in the timeline you have described. This is usually where people describe their past experiences, credentials, prior projects, schoolwork, and that sort of thing, but be creative. Link to prior work or other resources as relevant.
You and the community
You and the community
If your project is successfully completed, what will its impact be on the Sugar Labs community? '''
If your project is successfully completed, what will its impact be on the Sugar Labs community? ''' Jade's Response: I think that it will not only help children with challenges in non-verbal communication, it will help especially young children, children who are just beginning to use computers, and children with attention issues stay engaged in learning new technology. It will also provide a valuable resource to families who are not able to afford buying pre-made robots that have the functionality that we have added with the focus of non-verbal interaction. Also, instead of just being impacted by it, the Sugar Labs community could use it to help the world by creating programs using Etoys that would lead to more awareness and possibly even more treatment and therapy for kids with challenges with non-verbal communication. Innovation is contagious and other members would have the resources to create and modify their own versions of the stuffed animal and programs, which in turn lead to totally new uses, inventions, and ideas. It is a snowball effect of awesomeness.'''
Jade's Response: I think that it will not only help children with challenges in non-verbal communication, it will help especially young children, children who are just beginning to use computers, and children with attention issues stay engaged in learning new technology. It will also provide a valuable resource to families who are not able to afford buying pre-made robots that have the functionality that we have added with the focus of non-verbal interaction. Also, instead of just being impacted by it, the Sugar Labs community could use it to help the world by creating programs using Etoys that would lead to more awareness and possibly even more treatment and therapy for kids with challenges with non-verbal communication. Innovation is contagious and other members would have the resources to create and modify their own versions of the stuffed animal and programs, which in turn lead to totally new uses, inventions, and ideas. It is a snowball effect of awesomeness.'''
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Describe a great learning experience you had as a child
Describe a great learning experience you had as a child
'''I remember my first AHA! moment when I was creating my first website. For the longest time I could not find out why my website was not loading the way that I wanted to. I had looked over the HTML at least a hundred times and I still couldn't find the error. Just when I was about to throw my computer out my window and give up, I checked how I saved the file and instead of saving it as index.html, I saved it as index.htl. I can't even begin to explain the intense happiness that I felt then. I was literally on the brink of crying like a baby with all the mixed emotions of frustration, weariness, and pure joy. That feeling of being smarter than my computer made me fall in love with programming right then and there.
''' I remember my first AHA! moment when I was creating my first website. For the longest time I could not find out why my website was not loading the way that I wanted to. I had looked over the HTML at least a hundred times and I still couldn't find the error. Just when I was about to throw my computer out my window and give up, I checked how I saved the file and instead of saving it as index.html, I saved it as index.htl. I can't even begin to explain the intense happiness that I felt then. I was literally on the brink of crying like a baby with all the mixed emotions of frustration, weariness, and pure joy. That feeling of being smarter than my computer made me fall in love with programming right then and there. '''
'''
Is there anything else we should have asked you or anything else that we should know that might make us like you or your project more?'''
Is there anything else we should have asked you or anything else that we should know that might make us like you or your project more? ''' This is a project that is very different from most of the other suggestions I viewed on your site. I think that this will be somewhat uncharted territory for everyone on what would be the best approach, design, features, and goals. I want everyone to know that I am always open to trying new ideas and respond well to constructive criticism. I prefer being upfront and open about expectations and I hope that my mentor is just as candid about them as I will be. I am definitely psyched and ready to start this awesome project where I can give back to the community.'''
This is a project that is very different from most of the other suggestions I viewed on your site. I think that this will be somewhat uncharted territory for everyone on what would be the best approach, design, features, and goals. I want everyone to know that I am always open to trying new ideas and respond well to constructive criticism. I prefer being upfront and open about expectations and I hope that my mentor is just as candid about them as I will be. I am definitely psyched and ready to start this awesome project where I can give back to the community.'''
Please include the category tag at the bottom of your page:
Please include the category tag at the bottom of your page:
[[Category:2014 GSoC applications]]
[[Category:2014 GSoC applications]]