Modular Wind Responsive Nightlight
Interactive exploration

This project explored the uses of remote sensing in a domestic setting. Sensing within living environments is predominantly alarming in function, for example alerting us to the presence of a noxious substance or an intruder. I was interested in how a sense of distant activity could be used to calm as opposed to alert. I focussed on the role that distraction plays in assisting the process of falling asleep. For example the rustling of trees or the rumbling of distant traffic are factors that are described as being of the correct volume and level of repetition to be calming. I then looked at how this element of distraction could be incorporated into an established sleep assisting design product in order to enhance it's effect.

The final outcome was a nightlight that provides a remote and sense of wind movements outside your room by creating a calming flicker. I also researched the possibility of using internet traffic volumes to control the light intensity to give the user a sense of activity elsewhere in the world. However, the natural aspect of the wind input complemented the personal nature of the nightlight. I followed this natural element through in the technical design of the nightlight by making the input mechanism as simple as possible.

The wires of the nightlight run outside the room, one wire forms a tight loop and the other sits within this loop completing the connection. However, when the wires are blown, they flick away from each other momentarily removing the connection and causing a slight flicker in the nightlight.

I based the shape of the nightlight on research into wind visualisations. A modular version of the nightlight was also created using a simple watch battery and LED system within the light diffusers. This modular nightlight system further complemented the unfixed nature of wind, encouraged play and allowed the user to further modify the lighting conditions to be optimal for their personal sleep requirements.