Both prototypes performed successfully and worked as expected. The presentation provided insights into user interaction and perception, providing a path forward for refinement and development.

Prototype 1: The Interactive Box

What Worked: The box functioned well. The integration of the new mmWave sensor proved to be a major success. It was significantly more reliable, holding distance values with consistency and precision. This core functionality met all expectations.

Areas for Improvement:

• Interaction Zones: The Touch Designer file requires further development. There is a clear need to create more space between the trigger zones. Currently, the line between triggering different commands is too short, leading to less defined user interactions.
• User Presence Logic: An important observation was the user interaction pattern of walking away from the box and then returning. This action currently resets the experience. To create a more fluid and less punishing interaction, more time and play is needed to refine this logic. The monologue should pause when a user leaves and resume if they return within a specific time frame. A full reset should only occur when the person has been away for a longer, predetermined period.

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Prototype 2: The Weebles

What Worked: The weebles were extremely approachable and were perceived positively by everyone who interacted with them. The models incorporating light and sound were the first to be engaged with, drawing people in more effectively than their passive counterparts. Users actively attempted to figure out the connection between the weebles' movement and the visualization on the screen, which indicates a strong level of engagement and curiosity.

Areas for Improvement & Feedback:

• Clearer Output: The desire to understand the connection to the on-screen visualization highlights a need for an output that is more clearly and directly affected by the weeble's movement. The feedback loop needs to be more obvious to the user.
• Aesthetics & Materiality:
  • A primary piece of feedback was to ensure the final form does not resemble a child's toy.
  • We should explore other materials to give the objects a more premium feel.
  • Experimenting with various 3D print layer heights could be a way to naturally pattern the objects and elevate the finish. The goal is to avoid the perception of it being a "light up dollar store toy."
    • Perception of Quantity: The number of weebles present in a space significantly impacts how they are perceived. For example: 12 weebles look like bowling pins, 6 resemble a six-pack of beer, and 4 look like light bulbs. This is a critical consideration for deployment and narrative.

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