OBJECT - Project 1 Proposal

The purpose of project 1 is to create some sort of interactive toy, with inputs and outputs. We are also to identify our audience and design our toy with purpose in the context of that audience.

For my toy, I have decided to create an interactive recycling bin!

I am a very strong proponent for sustainability, and I believe that one of the easiest ways that people can help reduce their impact on the planet is to just RECYCLE! It's SO EASY!! So why do people still throw their dang bottles and cans in the trash?? Maybe they don't care. Maybe it's too inconvenient. Maybe, it's too boring..

Well, I've got a plan to solve the problem. I'm going to.... MAKE RECYCLING FUN AGAIN.

How will I do this you ask??

I will make a recycling bin that rewards the user with a point system and fun sounds. It's like when you were a kid and you tried to throw 3-pointers using balled up paper. Well this is the same idea, except now dolphins don't have to choke on your gatorade bottles.

GETTING SPECIFIC

I will take your average blue recycling bin (you know exactly what I'm talking about) and pimp it out. I will add an Arduino board hooked up to an ultrasonic motion sensor, and a speaker/buzzer and LCD screen. All of this will be tied together with a nice, laser-engraved wood panel/backboard. When the user throws a bottle/can in the recycling bin, the motion sensor will detect the movement, play a fun/satisfying sound, and the screen will add points (displaying something like "Good Job! 10pts".

Materials I will need to buy:

Materials I already have:

Breadboard
Wires
Power/Power adapter
Button

THE USER

The user of this toy will be a very wide demographic, ranging from the young to the young at heart. Who doesn't like throwing things? I imagine that the main buyer of this product would be slightly nerdy young adults, either in an office/school environment, or the sustainable warrior who wants to encourage increased recycling in their own home. Anyone can have fun with this, and the true winner is our sweaty, tired, struggling planet.

SIMILAR EXAMPLES

A similar example of this project can be found here. Although this is simply a basketball hoop, it is essentially the same idea, mine just uses recyclables rather than a basketball.