DESIGN TOPIC FOR STUDENTS

 DT4022

Software Control Console

  • LEVEL

    IV
  • YEARS

    School yrs 10, 11, 12
  • AGES

    15–17 years old
  • Process

    EMPATHISE ➔ DEFINE ➔ IDEATE ➔ PROTOTYPE ➔ TEST ➔ REFLECT
  • SUMMARY

    Design a software control console peripheral for your personal computer. Prototype your software control console and test it.
  • TECH

    High-tech
  • CHALLENGE

    Complicated
  • TIME

    15 sessions (one semester)
  • TEAM SIZE

    2 or 3

Background

A personal computer, or PC, is a computer for individual use. It is typically used for tasks such as word processing, internet browsing, email, playing media, and gaming. Personal computers run operating systems and software that is meant to be used by a normal person, rather than by a computer expert. Personal computers, in the form of desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, have become indispensable to our way of life. A software control console is a computer peripheral with physical controls for controlling software that is running on a computer. Normally, we control software with a keyboard and mouse, or with our fingers on a smartphone or tablet. A console places all the vital controls for that software application in an ideal arrangement in a single place. It also provides intuitive interfaces that are easy to control by hand, such as buttons, dials, and sliders. Popular types of consoles include controllers for video games, and consoles used in music and video editing.
A smart electronic device is a useful instrument, machine, or gadget that is controlled by electronic circuitry microcontroller boards, or sometimes by a single-board computer like a Raspberry Pi, and that perform only a few limited functions. We have many different kinds of devices at home, on our person, or at school to perform useful work for us, or to provide us with information, in order to increase our well-being.
 

The design brief

Design a software control console to control one or more software applications on your PC, using simple electronic circuitry, or a microcontroller board like the Arduino. Your software control console should give you convenient access to commands in a software app or controls on your PC, as you wish. Your software control console should facilitate your work and improve efficiency and accuracy when working on your PC, but you should also design its appearance if it will be visible on your desk. Construct a working prototype of your software control console and test it. Work on this project in a small team with a group of your classmates.
 

​​​​​​​The design thinking process

Follow the six stages of the design thinking process to ensure that you are thorough and do everything necessary to succeed in your design project. First, you endeavour to understand the design topic and EMPATHISE with the needs of the users. With that understanding, you can DEFINE what is essential to the product or system that you are designing. Then you IDEATE, that is, you creatively come up with ideas and develop them. The next step is to PROTOTYPE your chosen design solution in a physical form and improve it through trial-and-error. Then you TEST your design idea to elicit the opinions of users. And finally, at the end of the process, you REFLECT upon your project to benefit from the experience. Use the appropriate methods from the Design Thinking for Schools website as you proceed along the design thinking process.
 

Note for teachers

Undertaking a student design project using electrical parts or microcontrollers such as Arduino requires:

  • teachers who are able to supervise such a project;
  • laboratories or workshops with electrical and electronic parts and tools;
  • ​​​​​​​and students who are trained to work with electricity, tools, and equipment.
​​​​​​​Read the guide for teachers on Safety for the PROTOTYPE Stage for Level IV to safely supervise this design project.