Berkeley MDes 2024 Fall
Technology Design Foundations
Dynamic Car Display
CarKar
This project focuses on the intersection of in-car interaction design, automotive technology, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance the passenger experience during road trips. A key feature is integrating karaoke functionality, offering dynamic lyric displays, and enabling interactive controls such as hand gesture detection for switching songs or adjusting volume. The system can also utilize two paired devices, one for the driver and one for rear-seat passengers, ensuring an inclusive and engaging experience for everyone in the car. The domain explores human-computer interaction (HCI) principles within the automotive environment. Additionally, it incorporates microcontroller technology for innovative, real-time displays projected onto the windshield or personal screens.
Scenario
During a road trip, passengers often enjoy singing along to music or engaging in fun activities to make the journey more entertaining. Inside the car, the ambient lighting automatically adjusts to match the song's mood, creating a more immersive and enjoyable atmosphere.
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Passengers in the back seat have independent controls, allowing them to change songs, skip to the next or previous track. This ensures that the driver remains focused on the road, minimizing distractions while everyone enjoys the music together.
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This thoughtful entertainment makes the system not only engaging but also highly practical for road trips, providing an inclusive, enjoyable, and secure experience for all passengers.
Key Features
"This song reminds me of my grandma,
let me tell you a story...."
"I hate this song!!"
"I am so tired I wanna sleep..."
Hold for 5 seconds
Hold for 5 seconds
Pause
Song Switch
Volume Adjustment
Prototype Demonstration
This picture illustrates how CarKar functions in a vehicle. It is designed to be positioned in front of the front passenger seat, allowing the passenger to adjust the music using hand gestures.
This picture illustrates how a second CarKar operates in the back seat. It is designed to be positioned in the center of the front passenger seat, enabling the rear-seat passenger to adjust the music using hand gestures and view the dynamic LED display.
System Architecture Diagram
Process or Sequence Diagram
Experiments
I designed and implemented a dynamic LED display by integrating the Particle Photon, Neopixel LEDs, and microphone amplifiers to visualize music. Verified proper power and wiring connections by successfully synchronizing LED light patterns with music frequencies.
I conducted two experiments to control a music app using the Photon 2 microcontroller. In the first experiment, I developed an iOS app to establish a Bluetooth connection between an iPhone and the Photon 2. My goal was to use the app to control music applications on the phone.
I utilized Autodesk Fusion 360 to design a customized enclosure for housing all sensors and the Particle Photon 2 board. To ensure everything fit seamlessly, I carefully measured each sensor, the board, and wiring components before finalizing the container design.
Speculations
Human Experiences
Engineering
The Role of AI
Applying systems thinking could significantly shift cultural expectations of the Anthropogenic Environment by encouraging a more holistic and interconnected approach to problem-solving.

By viewing challenges as part of a larger system, people can better predict potential outcomes and identify underlying issues, enabling them to make more informed and efficient decisions. This perspective moves away from isolated, short-term solutions and toward long-term strategies that consider the  relationships between different components of the environment.
Emergent technologies are reshaping cultural expectations of engineering by introducing innovative ways to enhance user experience and interaction, particularly in the context of automobiles.

For example, in our project, features like music adjustment could be designed to empower back-seat passengers, shifting the control away from drivers who need to focus on the road. Passengers are no longer passive participants but active contributors to the in-vehicle experience, fostering a more collaborative dynamic.
AI is poised to play a transformative role in shaping emergent technologies, particularly in enhancing the in-car experience.

For instance, AI could monitor passenger behavior and predict potential safety concerns, such as detecting when all occupants are falling asleep. In such cases, the system could automatically adjust the volume, change the lighting, or even initiate an alert to ensure safety and maintain an engaging environment.