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Animal Sound Project
This project was another Mecca Design commission to build buttons for the Dallas Zoo kids play area.
They built a large map of the zoo that kids can run around on. At each animal area on the map there is to be a button that when pressed emits the sound of the animal at that location.
We were asked to build some prototypes of recorded sound units.
The requirements were :
· Sounds loud
· Battery operated (each self contained)
· Weather proof
· Kid proof
· Flat
· Easily reprogrammed
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The customer was to make a decal to cover the unit with a picture of the correct animal so the look was unimportant. The sponge pieces were to hold the decal off of the button so as to not press it all the time.
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We re-packaged an existing "off the shelf" recordable sound device.
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Example of the kind of decal that was used to cover the unit. (the new decal fit the unit)
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The customer asked for another round of prototypes.
On this 2nd one they allowed the button to be raised (w/ no decal).
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Notice the rubber glove material (violet stuff) to keep it waterproof.
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The button was made from a doorknob wall protector found at Home Depot.
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The customer allowed the sound to emanate from the rear in unit 3.
The look was important this time as well as durability.
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Unit # 4 was an experiment with a foam button.
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Another goal for unit # 4 was to increase battery life.
So we re-engineered the little watch batteries to be replaced with larger ones.
We made it 20 times longer lasting.
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We were asked to make 20 of the voice button #1 units.
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The sponge was modified on the production units.
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The angle of the back bracket was modified for easier installation.
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Please view the video of the test.
They all say "Testing 123"
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| What have we learned? |
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- We can do unusual projects.
- We can include recordable sounds in projects.
- We can re-work a project as requirements change and evolve.
- We can make many cheaper than the first one.
- They get better as we re-design them.
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