Semester #2 Week #3 – Testing, Printing, and Getting Closer to the Real Thing 🖨️

After last week's momentum, this week we went deeper on two fronts: refining our vibration experiment and getting hands-on with 3D printing.

📳 Vibration Study – Round 4: Finding a Winner

This week we ran the fourth round of our vibration experiment, this time focused on a direct comparison between vibration patterns.

The results pointed in a clear direction: 5 out of 9 participants preferred Pattern 1 – a single strong pulse every 4 seconds.

In the "ease of following" metric, Pattern 1 scored higher on average (4.33/5) compared to Pattern 2 (3.89/5), showing that the simpler approach was more accessible to most users.

Why did users prefer Pattern 1?

• Relaxing and calm – participants felt it was less intrusive and easier to follow

• No confusion – Pattern 2 was perceived as "too confusing" or felt like it was "pulling them out of focus"

• Less pressure – the soft pulses in Pattern 2 created a sensation of "counting backwards," which some found stressful

Why did some prefer Pattern 2?

• Synchronization – those users felt it helped them better track each breath phase

• Focus – the complexity actually helped them concentrate longer on their breathing

👉 Next steps: test Pattern 1 with at least two more participants, add a stronger closing pulse, and investigate a technical issue – why does the motor not always start immediately after connecting.

🖨️ Entering the World of 3D Printing

This week we also took our first real steps with 3D printing – a skill that's going to be central to how we build and iterate on physical prototypes.

We learned how to operate the printers and started thinking about how our physical form explorations can move from sketches and foam models into actual printed objects.

One insight that emerged from showing participants our existing models: most felt clearly comfortable holding the croissant shape, and naturally started interacting with it using their hands. Rounder, more organic forms seem to invite touch in a way that more geometric shapes don't.

We also noticed something important about scale: people with larger hands preferred shapes like the peach, where the added volume made it more natural to grip and breathe into. Meanwhile, those with smaller hands gravitated toward the croissant – smaller, more compact, easier to

hold while still feeling intentional.

📚 Grounding the Work in Research

Alongside the experiments, we've been building the academic foundation of the project. This week we summarized key literature around student stress and existing solutions – understanding what works, what doesn't, and where our product can genuinely fill a gap.

The research confirms that accessible, context-appropriate tools are effective precisely when they're available at the right moment – which is exactly what we're designing for.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Simpler vibration patterns win on accessibility, but complexity has a role for some users

• Physical form isn't just aesthetic – size and shape directly affect how people breathe with the object

• 3D printing opens a new chapter in how quickly we can test and iterate

• Real data keeps surprising us, and that's exactly the point

  
  

🔜 What's Next?

We're heading into another round of vibration testing, continuing to iterate on physical forms using the 3D printer, and pushing toward a more complete integrated prototype where interaction, design, and technology finally feel like one thing.