Kids Computer
Designing a Tangible
Interface to help Kids's Self-Realization
The Kids Computer is an innovative computer designed for preschoolers and kindergartens. It’s a unique concept for children education which improves children creativity and encourages them to express their creativity and encourages them to express themselves.
Team
Orçum Erdem
Product Designer
Product development
CAD Modeling/Rendering
Presentation
Engin Guzel
Industrial Designer at Struktur Design - Sweden
Product development
Research & Sketchings
Presentation
What`s the Play ?
The Topic of the project is designing a product that is used for preschool education for ages 3-6. The desired goal should support kids education in fields of social skills, creativity, eye-hand coordination, the skill of problem solving and imagination of kid.
Thereby we did a research how to fulfill this goal without boring the kid during this process. In the end we came to conclusion to design a play simulation.
Play is a perfect solution for kids education.
In Principles, play is a simulation which may imitate real-life. The difference between play and real-life is that rules are limited in a game so players can handle the simulation and control themselves. Also having an error margin in a play helps user to relax and supports to “fail & learn” concept.
Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs &
Play Simulation
Another aspect of play simulation is its link to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. As you know, in this principle, the individuals seek the next step of needs if they are content with their current condition. So, according to this principle, people seek Self-actualization if only they are satisfied with self-esteem, love/Belonging, safety, basic survival needs.
Play simulation differs from Maslow´s theory.
Since you can create a play simulation with any rules, it doesn't force you to cover your prime needs to reach the self-actualization stage. You may by-pass other steps and directly generate a simulation that can improve your morals, creativity, problem-solving, etc. In order words, poor or not, every child can get a play simulation, strengthening their self-actualization to be a better person. That's why play simulation is the most crucial part of children's education.
Inspirations
One of the main inspirations for this project was the concepts are made by artist Dave Devries, who started this style of painting after his nieces drawings.
What could be the definition of Children Computer?
A children computer is an education tool, that should provoke childs curiosity, creativity, imagination, communication, aesthetics and morality. All these aspects of education should be taught in a fashion of kids perception.
A regular computer recieves input data in visual, audial or binary formats and so it can be processesed for output purposes.
Our Concept offers a new way of interaction, that uses children drawings for input source and materialised objects for output result.
Hiroshi Ishii’s
GUI/TUI Diagram
Hiroshi Ishi classifies the types of interactions in two fundamental groups such as GUI and TUI. In this project we aimed to design a interface with tangible input and tangible output which goes through digital processing.
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Kid picks up the pieces and tries to figure out the pieces and the puzzle. Also he can use his/her own drawing as a assemble guide.
After he gather the pieces, he/she will have his/her own toy designed by him. This simulation will provoke her/his creativity and encourage him/her to express as a individual via drawing.
On the other side the parents will be proud with their child and his artworks. It’s an important feeling for parents to witness their childs achievements.
The input process of this design uses kids own drawings rather then any other input device such as keyboard, mouse etc.
Kid drops his drawing into bucket and slides it under the product. Then he presses the giant button to start the action !
The device scans kids artwork and generates a toy design based on kids drawing with by using its algorithim .
After the design is completed, the computer transforms the generated design into a 3d toy model with multiple pieces like a puzzle .
When the printing process is done, the hatch opens and drops the toy pieces to the bucket.
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After the design is completed, the computer transforms the generated design into a 3d toy model with multiple pieces like a puzzle .
When the printing process is done, the hatch opens and drops the toy pieces to the bucket.
The seat can be used as a stool or as a bucket, so kids can manage their toy pieces.
The surface of the product surrounded with three mats, which provides a comfy and safe playground for kids.