The group discussions on February 27th and March 2nd were an unexpectedly exciting yet highly rewarding exploration journey. It not only enabled us to confront the shortcomings in the technical selection, but also solidified the direction for the core experience of the project. Moreover, it allowed us to have a more concrete thinking about the core issue of “equal breathing”.
At the beginning of the experiment, we were highly enthusiastic about focusing on the sound capture module, hoping to build an immersive experience with multi-sensory interaction by real-time collection of breathing sounds and environmental sounds. However, during the actual testing, the strong interference of environmental noise, the limitations of the device recognition algorithm, and the instability of wireless transmission completely failed the testing of this module. The breathing sounds were drowned out by background noises, triggered frequently, and other problems not only disrupted the continuity of the experience but also made us realize that not all technical concepts can be adapted to actual scenarios. Over-reliance on complex real-time collection technologies might even deviate from the core goal of “allowing users to feel the breathing itself”. This failure was not completely without value; it taught us to stop prematurely, abandon unrealistic technical routes, and instead focus on the verified effective modules.
Furthermore, during the experiment, we also paid attention to the importance of details. Considering the hygiene needs of multiple users, we changed the single breathing mask to multiple disposable masks. This adjustment not only solved the hygiene issues in actual use but also made us realize that the implementation of technology should not only focus on functional realization, but also take into account the basic experience and safety of users. This is the foundation for the project to gain recognition.
Looking back on the entire experiment, from the initial conception to its implementation, to the unexpected setbacks in the middle stage, and then to the direction calibration in the later stage, each step has given us a clearer understanding of the project. Technology is never the goal; it is a tool to serve the narrative and experience.
