Week 1 - Sensor Walk

Walking through around my area, I was able to observe a number of interactions with sensors. While there were the ones I was expecting, push buttons for crosswalks, doorbells, and elevators, I found myself looking to see if there were more unusual things that I was observing that could meet the “classification” of a sensor.

The pushbuttons that I observed were probably the easiest to identify. Whether round or square, they were often a different color from their background, had some type of elevation or depression, and a visible outline that communicated the intended interaction. Many of these buttons were also accompanied by text which provided an additional form of instruction about usage. To convey that they had been sensed, most of these buttons used light and/or sound to provide immediate feedback. The pushbuttons typically were used for just one stage of interaction.

Switches were also a fairly common sensor that I observed, and they took on a wider range of formats. Most obviously were the switches on the coffee machine at the deli which used light and position to convey that they had been sensed. More interesting examples I discovered included a bike bell, the rotator for the light sensor, and an older elevator crank.

I also observed some light sensors which were designed not to be interacted with but rather to respond to stimuli independent of an operator.

As I was walking, it became clear that a storm would soon be dropping. With that, there was a number of different stimuli that (it could be argued) was sensing a change in the weather. Watching the flag and tinsel react to the changing winds became an unintentional sensor, providing visual information about the wind.

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