Ilia Lamp
Brief: Develop an interactive light product or installation using the Arduino Uno.
Stress and anxiety are common for students throughout their academic careers. Students often put excessive pressure on themselves, leading to unhealthy work patterns, such as working for hours without breaks. Ilia is a desk lamp designed to address this by encouraging users to take breaks and relax through breathing exercises. The lamp is programmed so that when users touch its base, the light turns blue and pulses in a rhythmic pattern that guides relaxation. Ilia offers two modes: one for users to perform the exercise at their own pace and another that reminds users to take a break every 2 hours, providing gentle encouragement.
.png)
As this project was initiated toward the end of the COVID pandemic, and given personal experiences as students experiencing high levels of stress during that time, it made sense to further explore the topic of stress and anxiety among students.
Through primary and secondary research, we confirmed that students continued to experience significant stress post-COVID. A survey we conducted revealed that 88% of participants felt unhappy due to stress, and 76% reported that their work environments contributed to their anxiety.
To address this issue with a product-based solution, additional research was needed on stress relief techniques. The research indicated that breathing exercises are among the most common and effective ways to reduce stress, with 85% of survey respondents reporting that this is their preferred method of relaxation during moments of high stress.
With the research findings in mind, we decided to design a breathing lamp that students could place on their desks to encourage breathing breaks, helping them manage anxiety. Our goal was to create a lamp whose functionality and appearance would create a calming effect. To achieve this, we designed a translucent glass form to serve as a light diffuser. We chose an organic, flowing shape that resembles a cloud, as it has a relaxing quality and complements the blue colour used for the pulsing breathing light, a hue widely considered soothing by psychologists.
Regarding the base, we chose wood for its subtle nature, which doesn't detract from the glass, the primary feature of the design. Wood also offers a warm, soft surface that encourages users to place their hands on it to activate the breathing pattern. For this reason, the base's form was carefully selected, opting for a dome shape that provides an ergonomic and comfortable surface for hand placement. In the end, two different bases were developed. Through testing, it was determined that two slightly different domes are the ideal choice for accommodating users with hands of various sizes, ranging from very small to very large.
For Ilia's development, we utilized an Arduino Uno connected to two LDRs (Light Dependent Resistors), a potentiometer, and a neopixel ring. The LDRs detect hand presence; when a user places their hand over them, the detected light level decreases, triggering the light pulsing code programmed using a sine function in the Arduino IDE. The potentiometer is used to switch between mode 1 and mode 2, while the neopixel serves as the light source.
The code allows the user to switch between two modes. In the first mode, the light remains yellow, providing freedom. When the user places their hands on the base, indicating a desire for a breathing break, the light changes to blue and pulses for 2 minutes. Conversely, the second mode is designed for users who need reminders to take breaks. In this mode, the light automatically changes to blue every two hours, reminding users to pause and breathe.
Ilia's construction involves layering MDF to create a block of wood, which was turned on a lathe to achieve a dome form for the base. To accommodate the placement of electronics within the base, the interior of the form was chiseled out to create a cavity. All components were soldered together and placed inside, while channels were drilled to allow the power cable to exit, along with the LDRs and potentiometer.
For the glass component, we collaborated with glass technicians. They assisted us in creating our forms through glassblowing a circular shape and then pressing it with various materials, resulting in each piece of glass having its own unique form. Finally, the glass was sandblasted to achieve a translucent finish that diffuses the light.
