Lento

Wooden musical instruments such as violins are sensitive to temperature and humidity. Inappropriate storage conditions may damage the instrument. Through market research, we discovered that there were few thermometers or hygrometers designed for the instrument players.

Therefore, we proposed a novel design combining thermometer and hygrometer specifically for wooden musical instrument owners and players who desire optimum protection and refer quality products. The design adopted a unique method of measuring temperature and humidity by detecting the internal stress of a wood sample in a confined space. This is a group project where I contributed to the entire process.

Instead of using existing electrical sensors for measurement, we took a critical step back. Do our users need specific numbers or their instrument in a proper storage condition, eventually? What if there is a more intuitive approach?

Thus we proposed a novel, intuitive measurement approach with unique aesthetic quality. A sample of the same type of wood as the instrument is put inside a confined frame. As temperature and humidity change, the wood sample will try to expand or contract, resulting in internal stress changes. By measuring the pressure between the sample and the frame using a pressure sensor, we can determine how far the sample might have deformed. Thus we can understand if the surrounding environment is appropriate for the instrument.

We made several appearance mock-ups to explore and determine aesthetically and functionally desirable shapes.

We also built an electronic mock-up rig to demonstrate our unique measurement principle.