Tic@Tide
CIIDConnected Objects- Tangible User Interface
Group: Shin Ooi | Norris Hung
Faculty: Olivia Prior | Omid Ettehadi | Nikolaj Møbius | Vanessa Carpenter
Role: Concept Development | Physical Prototyping
Tic@Tide is an unconventional time device based on the tidal forces and wave patterns of the ocean. It is a reminder to follow the pace of nature and to enjoy life.
CONCEPTThe team wanted to explore unconventional ways of telling time but through a local context. Since we were in Costa Rica, we wondered what if we could tell time looking at cues in nature? We were inspired by the ocean tides that change through the day.
In Costa Rica specifically, the locals refer to themselves as Ticos and Ticas. Their way of life is slower, enjoying and respecting nature. Hence, Tic@Tide was created.
HOW IT WORKSThe clock is tied to a local buoy which collects real-time data about tide height and wave frequency. This clock visualizes tide height through the color and intensity of the light. The stronger and more saturated the blue color, the higher the tide. The movement of the light across a series of bent acrylic plates represent the frequency and velocity of waves at the time.
Some of the themes that were explored through this concept included:
short-term vs long-term engagement (representation of waves vs tides)
representation of different “emotional” states of the ocean (tranquility of low-tide vs violence of high-tide)
natural vs artificial rhythms (tide time vs numerical time)
CONSTRUCTIONThis prototype was built with an Arduino Nano and a NeoPixel matrix over the course of two days during the Connected Objects course. Tidal data was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US) api through on-board Wi-Fi and a PubNub server. The acrylic was scored with different mesh patterns and then bent using a heat gun to mould into a wave-like shape.
