Reframe
Exploring the human concepts of ownership and performance of objects by redesigning the behavior of a salvaged instant camera.
Salvage & Disassembly
Hardware Hacking
Coding & Circuit Design
Duration
1 month
Motivation
Examining Object Oriented Ontology, this project explores how objects exist outside of performing for humans.
Design Proposition
I went to Urban Ore, a salvage yard in Berkeley, California and found an older instant camera- the Handle- that was in poor shape. Through disassembly and reassembly, I created a camera with a personality, that doesn't perform its original "duties" but rather detects colors when a photo is taken, and reacts through haptics and printed message notes.
Disassembly & Interaction
When interacting with the camera by taking a photo, a bright flash goes off. If you are too far from an object or surface, she can’t see. Once you get closer (<6 inches), she will react based on the colors detected through vibration patterns, as well as a printed message that comes out of the polaroid ejection port.
The camera was deconstructed to understand its inner workings, and to reconfigure its electronics.
Electronics
The circuit diagram depicts the interaction of an Arduino Nano with various inputs (button, color sensor) and outputs (LED, haptics, thermal printer).
When a photo is taken, the flash goes off and a color sensor detects color as the input. This then triggers vibration motors to “react” based on the input, with the haptics fine tuned to match the energy or mood of the color. A printed message from the camera is shared using a thermal printer, in place of a polaroid photo. If the camera is too far from an object, and can’t see, she will let you know through a printed message.
