BETA ELECTRONICS | 2023

DIY Electronics

WHAT

A DIY electronics kits centered around the theme of time, including appreciating, remembering, and anticipating it. It allows users to create electronics in any form they desire, within the set's given objective with easily sourcable materials.

WHY

This kit simplifies electronics, empowering people to co-create and customise their design. Additionally, it enables users to create technology that caters to their needs rather than being limited to what they are told to use.

THE SPARK

I want to create electronics that are useful and challenge our expectations of what consumer electronics should look like.

Users should be able to experiment with materials and shapes to create sculptural objects that redefine our understanding of electronics in everyday life.

How can we appreciate how electronics are made, rather than just what they can do?

Salvaging based on most common electronics

I was able to salvage over 17 electronic devices.

However, it appears that most of the components I salvaged were not usable in their original form. They are made up of many tiny pins and would require specialist knowledge to reuse.

view full research analysis here

USABLE COMPONENTS

However, there were a few simpler components that can be repurposed.

What will electronics look like if they are made to be good for humans and the planet, in order to “reclaim our time”...

The theme of time was chosen to address the issue of time lost on Earth due to unethical mining and e-waste, as well as the personal loss of time caused by excessive screen use.

The aim is to increase both types of time through the creation of objects that repurpose old components and provide a space that embraces technology while remaining connected to humanity.

ELECTRONICS EXPLORATION

View full electronic joints exploration here

CHOOSEN METHOD: WEAVING

USER TESTING

Session 1
User: Students
Age: 22

Insights
The participants' motivation to learn and collaborate was heightened by the opportunity to create a shared playable object, while their interest in customization was demonstrated through their appreciation for the use of diverse colors and speakers in the construction of the MP3 player.

Session 2
User: Non-Engineering occupations
Age: 52-54

Insights
Participants experienced a sense of community and ease while working together, enjoying the process of copying and learning from each other, but struggled with unfamiliar terminology and difficulty in identifying small wires, indicating a need for a glossary and larger wiring components to enhance the experience.

Session 3
User: Mechanical Engineer
Age: 26

Insights
The user successfully completed the kit alone with ease, but desired more comprehensive knowledge on the interconnectivity of the parts and potential for further hacking.