Project Description

Alex:

       The Spin-Rise makes darkness in the winter easier. The Spin-Rise fills the user’s room with colors of a sunrise on dark days. According to UC Health, serotonin is the hormone that affects mood balance and sunlight increases levels of serotonin. Winter months have both shorter amounts of hours of sunlight and darker mornings. This causes the number of individuals with depression to increase. The Spin-Rise will bring bright light into dark rooms, simulating sunlight throughout the days.

       A study from Boston University found that about 10 million Americans suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD); a type of depression caused by the changing of seasons. The Spin-Rise will aid those who are affected by SAD when it comes to lightening their days during the winter months. It will bring light into the users’ spaces which will help give them serotonin throughout the day. The Spin-Rise is made by an intentional hue of colored LED lights mimicking a sunrise. The lights are diffused by a 3D printed exterior which blends individual LEDs into a harmonious mix of colors. It is designed to sit on a desk and works by activating a force sensor when the top is pushed down. The array of lights also move to create a relaxing mood while the Spin-Rise is in use.

Caroline:

       The Spin-Rise is a purposeful lamp that provides users with a sunlight alternative during the darker months. According to UC Health, the lack of exposure to sunlight in the winter is a direct cause of seasonal affective disorder. Sunlight increases the production of serotonin which is a hormone that can affect mood balance in humans. In the winter, the days are shorter and the presence of sun much lower, resulting in a sizable decrease in serotonin levels. The Spin-Rise is designed to bring sunlight and warm colors to users during the cold and dark winters.

       Seasonal affective disorder impacts around 10 million Americans. The Spin-Rise helps individuals suffering from SAD wake up happier by radiating a hue of warm and joyful colors. Additionally, the Spin-Rise can be powered on and off using a pressure sensor whenever the user needs, making sunlight available at all points of the day. The Spin-Rise utilizes colored LED lights to create a sunrise-like effect. A 3D printed PLA shell diffuses the lights, combining the various colors into a pleasing spectrum of hues. The colors of the LEDs fluctuate creating a calming movement effect throughout the Spin-Rise cylinder.