Light Land
An interactive skateboarding game using Arduino Uno, IMU Sensor and Processing.
THE BRIEF
The Brief given to us during my Master of Interaction Design Lab & Studio was to design a motion-triggered interactive experience for temporary installation in Sydenham Skatepark in Sydney. The experience should be enjoyed by the general public, and could include skateboarders, scooters, bystanders, or otherwise. The design should include sound, visuals and/or lighting, and it must aesthetically display content based on skater movement.
Through extensive user research and keeping in mind site affordances and constraints, we decided to draw upon research findings in play theory to design an interactive game that teaches young girls the fundamental skills of skateboarding in a fun, low-pressure and playful environment.
OUR PROBLEM STATEMENT
“To design an interactive experience
that utilises playful teaching tools which
guides and inspires girls to learn skateboarding.”
SITE CHARACTERISTICS, AFFORDANCES & CONSTRAINTS
INITIAL SKETCHES
CREATING THE SKATEBOARDS
THE FINAL CONCEPT
How it Works
Skater inputs are measured with an IMU sensor mounted underneath the skateboard. The IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) is a 9-axis sensor that measures orientation, velocity, and gravitational forces by combining accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer.
This is processed in the Arduino Uno which maps the skater movement to the corresponding coloured output. This is reflected in the lights of the LED strips mounted underneath skateboard.
Watch the Video
See the game in action from the Skate Fair at Sydenham Skatepark!
RESULT
The result is a custom-made interactive skateboarding game that teaches younger skaters fundamental skills in a fun, playful environment.
Light Land has been featured at several events in and around the Sydney area, including Electro.Sk8, in which you can view the full program here.
TOOLS
The tools used for this project are Processing (P3), Arduino Uno, IMU Sensor, LED strips, Skateboards and Game Button.
I worked on this project as part of a team during my capstone unit for my Master of Interaction Design at University of Sydney.