Echo Architect - Internet of Everything Project

In our digital world where screen-based gameplay is flourishing, real-world playful connections are prone to being overlooked. Nevertheless, with music and the idea of implementing puzzle game mechanics, the game can play a vital role in human connections via one of the greatest creations of humankind. By modifying musical elements (pitch, rhythm, melody and beat) of an original song, we are enhancing our players’ artistry and memory recall when they attempt to replicate it. By allowing self-made sound puzzles, we are providing a social playground that emphasises social connections and allows room for player’s creativity. And instead of being visually guided through the game as a generic puzzle, our players might have to close their eyes and let the ears lead the way...[excerpt from the group's design pitch & my individual report]

A physical encloser that houses all the electronics was digitally conceptualised in Maya, then eventually made in Rhino, a 3D modelling package.
The box was initially planned to be a cube, a cuboid or even a handheld playstation-like controller. And the controllers were first intended to be made rotary potentiometers.
These are the 3D visualisations before the actual making.

The Sound Box (Rendered in Arnold)

The Handheld Sound Controller (Rendered in Arnold)

The DJ Sound Controller (Rendered in Arnold)

The box is eventually made in an irregular hexagonal prism.

First Stage of Conceptualisation (Shape Changed)

 Build up the model (Controllers changed to slide potentiometers)

 Attempts on engraving some pattern design

Finalising the model

Then, the 3D model would be made into 2D guidelines within Rhino, and then translated into Illustrator for applying different colour coding for cut-through (RED) and engravement (BLUE).

Making 2D in Rhino

Colour Code in Illustrator

Last but not least, time to assemble the pieces together using glue guns and clamps.

However, there was an issue in terms of measuring the dimensions of the top and bottom pieces. Hence, a tiny bit different from the 3D modelling, the arrow shapes that were meant to act as bridges between the front/back pieces and the side pieces would then be omitted.

And the top bit would, then stay on top of the pieces as opposed to the Rhino visualisation.

Before the build-up

 Surroundings & Inside view of the encloser

 Perspective View

Top

A full perspective video

And a 3D Printed musical note is meant to be a replacement of a slider's metal insert piece

A Generic Slider with a yellow metal insert top (Link to the image)

 An Image Reference

 A Geometry Topologised from Image Texture with Black & White information

A Retopologised & Finished 3D Model with a breakable metal insert hole

A Finished 3D Model (metal hole size fixed)

Makerbot Object View

3D Printing Process Overview

A Printed Model

Though modelling a digital product is easy, idealising it into real-world product is another story, unfortunately, the metal insert hole is a tiny bit off comparing to the metal piece on a slider. And with the whole Coronavirus thing going on at the moment, I can't do another printing. Therefore, this, sadly, will be omitted from the whole encloser's plan.


[UPDATES - 20th April]
After nearly 5 hours of sanding and duct taping, here are the final looks of the encloser that houses the electrics and a video clip that records the gameplay by one of my teammates

 Captured From A Random Angle

Captured From The Top View

The Gameplay

(The video recording was done by one of my teammates and the editing was done by myself)

Links to other 3D portfolio pieces:

1. 3D Modelling (Illustration)

2. 3D Animation