One last change

Once I had all my glass and electronics in place it was time to calibrate the sensor. Unfortunately as the weight of water has to pass through a layer of glass and a layer of plastic, by the time it reaches the sensor it was only causing a slight change in the reading.

To get past this final problem I raised the screen slightly so it would just touch the glass plate when in place. The glass plate was raised slightly using foam pads on the corners. This meant that the change in weight would be caused by the whole plate being pushed against the screen and in turn that being pushed against the sensor which was positioned underneath the centre of the screen. I finally managed to get a big enough change in weight that a difference in screen brightness became more noticeable.

There were still some slight annoyances which would need more in depth development. The material holding the glass plate in place would need to be more elastic as the foam I'm using flattens over time and stops supporting the plate. Also a different sensor could be tried. . .one that is more sensitive. When the water is poured in it isn't level so the change in brightness is never consistant and instead it flickers on. However there is no more that can be done at this time.

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more glass

just at the last moment my glass plate arrived with all the recesses in the right place. I sandblasted it and then it was ready to go.

. . .and finally there was success with the glass tray. The tray that was the least damaged in the fire was put back into the kiln and refired. When it came out of the kiln it had formed the exact shape i'd asked for. The only problem with this one was that the bottom of it was cracked from the fire. Katie is still trying to make one that I can use. . .so I have to thank her a lot for her patience and determination.

New Footage

For the degree show I wanted to get the best possible footage. I'd heard the best train journey in Britain is the West highland rail to Mallaig. Its an 11 hour round trip with an added 2hours from my home in Largs. Up at 5 and with the help of my mum, we set off on our epic train trip. the views were breathtaking. Although its a long journey you just can't seem to take ur eyes off the vast landscapes that unfold before you.

The weather wasn't the best. . .as it always rains in the west. . .but i managed to capture an amazing sunset on the way back.

More Talk

Next I took my product back to the people who had inspired it during the FIND stage.

Talk

For this stage i really wanted to show my product to someone knew more about rail travel. I contacted the Museum of Transport and asked if anyone would be willing to meet with me. Last friday I managed to take my product down to Glasgow and talk to John Messner, railway curator.

During our chat he understood exactly what I was hoping to achieve through platform. He gave me some great advice on how it would fit into a museum as an interactive piece and what changes would need to be made.

After our meeting he emailed me:

Eva,

It was nice to meet you today and discuss your project.

Train travel is such a basic thing one one level. Point A to point B, hopefully without a delay at Point C. But what train travel also does is take away the stress, the complexity of travel and offers the passenger a chance to sit back relax, watch the world go by, or ponder the meaning of what one sees. The project shows people that train travel can be peaceful, easy, and above all simple. Simple journey, simple pleasure, simple idea.

platform