This week our team decided on which sensors we believe will be the best fit for our project. We have not yet purchased them as we are hoping to receive feedback on our design during the design presentation this week. Additionally, we found a pre-existing frisbee physics model that we are hoping to test out and decide if it will make sense to use with the project.
During this week we decided to try and use open pose to decide where the frisbee is thrown in relation to the person. This will have no negative impacts on our project yet as we are not too far into it.
A was written by Frances, B was written by Michael and C was written by Alex.
A. The Whee! Frisbee game directly contributes to public health by promoting both physical and psychological well-being. By requiring players to simulate throwing a real Frisbee, the game encourages physical activity that supports health and overall fitness. While many students face academic pressure and lack opportunities to exercise in large outdoor spaces, this game provides an excellent opportunity for them to exercise indoors. Additionally, the game’s interactive design and engaging in-game maps foster enjoyment and stress relief, which are important for maintaining mental health. By combining exercise with entertainment, the solution offers a comprehensive contribution to public health, improving both physiological and psychological well-being.
B. Oftentimes, many people use a competitive setting to bond and relate to each other. Many sports teams or sports fans are socially connected, and this is due to a mutual love and appreciation around a single team’s wellbeing, or love of the game. In the case of inclement weather, or reduced access to spaces, or even a lack of numbers, our project, Whee! Frisbee, can be used to bond and unite those with a love of disc sports. Not only that, but Whee! Frisbee can also allow users with limited athletic capabilities to still participate in the competitive nature of a sports game. Because the actual throw is simulated, the user does not need to be physically fit and able to throw a frisbee, however they are still getting the immersive experience of playing disc sports through the physical mechanics of simulating a throw. Our hope is that through Whee! Frisbee, those with an interest in disc sports will have more ways to connect with each other, and those who are interested but have limited resources may still maintain their social connection to the community
C. Within our Whee! Frisbee game, economic factors played only a minor role in our project. We had to decide how to allocate our $600 budget effectively, but beyond that, economic considerations were limited. However, if this product were to be mass-produced, it would likely be expensive for consumers since the controller alone costs over $50 to manufacture, and the computer/Raspberry Pi adds additional costs. A more practical approach might be for a frisbee coach to purchase one device for team use, allowing multiple players to practice on it at different times, or for it to be offered as an attraction at a frisbee simulator venue.
