MomentCube

2022/ UC Berkeley/ Instructor: Chris Myers
Team: John Brechbill, Jeremy Chen, Tomas Garcia, Wonjoon Oh
Contribution: Designed and constructed the simulated micro-apartment,
          Advised on the physical fabrication

“An Analogue Controller for Digital Space”

With MomentCube, we attempted to invent a solution to replace existing control devices for smart home systems, which are often overly complicated and aesthetically unpleasing. The initial concept for the MomentCube was rooted in the following three primary objectives:

1) The invention of a piece of technology that did not immediately reveal itself through traditional digital signifiers.

2) The design of a thoughtful analog mechanism that could control digital functionality.

3) The creation of a product that would forefront and celebrate tactility and touch. The tray detects which side the cube is lying on using hall sensors and magnets. Users can change the room’s mood to their preset ‘Moment’ by turning the cube to the respective side, and adjust the intensity of the mood by rotating the knob.


Full Paper

By creating a model micro-apartment, wired with multicolored LEDs, servo-controlled furniture and curtains, and ambient music, we were able to convey the connection between the hardware controller and the surrounding environment without the need for fullscale replication.