Rendered on Keyshot
Modeled on Fusion360
Electronics Project - SS25
Pomodoro Timer
Individual Project
4 weeks
studying is hard, stressful, draining, and boring
60% of students reported feeling stressed daily. 1 in 5 college students say they feel stressed almost all the time and highschoolers in the US report higher stress levels than adults
So how do we fix that?
5 yellow LEDs indicate 5-minute intervals during the study time and 1-minute intervals during break. This results in 25 minutes of study and 5 minute breaks.
Yellow was chosen due to its calming glow when dimness is manipulated swell as the attention grabbing but non-distracting qualities compared to red or blue LEDs.
The form of the timer fits the curve of the palm perfectly. Flipping the timer over is the only time users truly interact with the timer, so having the form follow the users hand is integral to forming a connection with the product.
The soft curve and smooth shape also push notions of serenity and calmness.
The only port on the back is a USB-C for charging and a small buzzer for faint vibrations when phases change in the timer. The timer behaves like a old school hourglass, with the user having the flip it over when the timer indications the finishing of a stage.
LEDs
Form
Interaction
Design Process
create a study aid that promotes , productivity, relaxation, & focus
the "Pomodoro technique" is a time management method that breaks work into 25-minute intervals of focused study, followed by a 5-minute break
This cycle promotes productivity, focus, and helps manage stress
The initial prototypes had a heavy focus on form. finding something that was commutable and intuitive to flip. A lot of inspiration was found looking at hourglasses.
The electronics
main loop
circuitry
The timer has 3 phases :
study phase, simple countdown of the LEDs, each light signifying 5 min
break phase, all the LEDs softly pulse, mimicking breathing to relax the user
alert phase, transition phase where the lights race back and forth to indicate that its time to flip
One of the bigger challenges I faced was having enough room for the electronic components in the form.
This final prototype had a shift switch that needed to be placed in the timer to complete the circuit when the timer was flipped over. This would be the main piece to get the electronics to be responsive to the users inputs.
The final prototype
say hello to your new favorite study buddy
The Pomodoro
Timer
Reflection
This project was my formal introduction into the world of consumer electronics design. I learned about all the things that had to go into consideration when developing electronics such as room for components, location of ports and factoring things like circuitry and batteries into the final form.
I developed my skills in rapid prototyping, 3D modeling, rendering, understanding human-product interaction, and coding in Arduino
Thank you for your time!