Process

Alexander Jin and Zack Taylor
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Slide 1: Over the past two weeks, Alex and I worked on the Easy Com Armband. The Easy Com Armband is a device that allows for easy and silent communication between military personnel in combat or veterans on the homefront. 

Slide 2: This is our context image. Many veterans struggle with PTSD and have a difficult time communicating about their conditions with family or friends outside of the veteran community. People experiencing PTSD often experience flashbacks that can last for minutes or even hours. 

Slide 3: As said on the slide. Problem/Solution.

Slide 4: When first designing this product, we explored the many ways we could use interface to improve the communication between military personnel and veterans. Anyone can use a telephone, however, the Easy Com Armband is a device personal to the military that explored a new realm of vibration-powered communication.

Slide 5: When we began researching, we found that the most common form of communication in the military is via radio. We liked this product but wanted to make something unique.

Slide 6: This image is of two military patches, a sense of pride and communication for many veterans or active military personnel. Often veterans will wear their patches after they have returned from war. We wanted to ensure that we incorporated the aspect of pride and customization in our final project.

Slide 7: This is another one of our precedent images of morse code. Since we wanted to make our device communicate in a manner specific to the military, we decided that morse code could be an interesting approach.

Slide 8: This is our first prototype made of cardboard. Notice the three layers.

Slide 9: Here is the outside of our second prototype. We used hot glue to make the comfortable felt layer and the slick khaki layer.

Slide 10: Prototype in action.

Slide 11: This is an image of our third prototype with the brown khaki layer on the outside, plastic for waterproofing on the inside, and felt for the side next to one's arm.

Slide 12: Prototype in action. Notice the laser cut U.S. Marines Patch.

Slide 13: Here is a diagram of two armbands communicating.

Slide 14: Here is our electrical diagram.

Slides 15-17: Final images.