Similar to original Long Distance Reading Lamp, this bedside light is intended in its final form to connect people over distances. For this first iteration, however, my goal is to create a solid 24hr response cycle – a ‘default’ state, so that the lamp can work well as a standalone bedside light.
After experimenting with a few form factors (I really wanted to make a nice cylinder, inspired by Casper’s Glow Light), given the time constraints of this assignment (and the wallet-constraints of being a student), I settled on a cheap ($9), off the shelf diffuser. This allows me to focus more time on the interaction and progression, and less on fabrication and (potentially expensive) materials.
Hacking the light fixture to accommodate my extra circuitry wasn’t too complex, though I took care to make sure that the AC circuit was safe.
