Published on 12, July, 2020
So, this is the Spoonicator V2... it's a thing I use to show my current 'Spoon' (energy/mood) level without needing to actually tell people how I feel.
I made V1 out of individual LEDs set into a laser-cut frame but I found a few problem with it (inconsistent brightness of LEDs, not visible in bright light, needed to be angled as the LEDs were very 'directional'
V2 uses short strips of LED replace the individual LEDs, plus laser-cut coloured plastic strips set into a 3D-printed chassis with the face at a 45 degree angle...
It's a bit bodged-together, but I've found it handy as a way to be 'mindful' of my own state of mind as well as to give others a clue so they are aware that I may be uncommunicative or may need a bit of 'time out'
I would not rule out learning more coding, but the thing is I am not that enamoured with the idea of spending every day looking at online content for a retirement career. So I recently decided to look into improving my very basic electronics knowledge, so that i can interact a bit with real objects. Amongst many other things, I have always had a lot to do with wood, but it isn't that practical in the country where I currently live, so I decided to acquire some new skills, because furthering my career in academe doesn't appeal that much to me. To me, practical skills are therapeutic; especially since I could be labelled as dyspraxic.
So I'm currently buried deep in some rather simple electronics books. And it IS interesting. So much so that I'm beginning to think about stuff like Arduino, Basic Stamp and Raspberry Pi. So I went looking for somewhere to buy it closer to home, and found a place almost on my doorstep, And also online sales, closer to home too. So I'm now wondering whether I could assist in the local marketing of such stuff by adding more English to their website.
The following is actually quite important. I'm finding it hard enough to make constructive contact with the neuro-diverse community in the UK, where I no longer live. And it is also now quite clear to me that I almost certainly must have known many people who now could be thought of as on the spectrum; people that i have definitely had a constructive interaction with in the past. So it seems like I should try to make contact in the country where I now live. But here it is much worse than the UK. I have spent the last three years trying my damnedest to make contact with NDs and specialist NTs in my country of residence. and i have nothing at all to show for it. It's politics! But I won't bore you with the controversial details. The local establishment is once again trying to sweep a few inconvenient truths under the carpet, it seems. But I also can't be too sure as to the exact reasons it is a taboo subject. I have strong suspicions, but of course there is no one capable of confirming those suspicions. People are obviously censoring themselves to avoid getting themselves into trouble with the authorities.
So it occurs to me that perhaps a much better approach is to go looking for activities that are likely to attract people with similar ND tendencies. And that way, it may not actually be necessary to raise any controversial topics; just enjoy less controversial interactions that can be constructive
I'm also not averse to 'meeting' people with similar interests in the UK
OMG! OMG!
I've read a few posts on Spectra Blog and seen one headed 'Aspie-superpower days' and always ignored it on the assumption it was one about 'Rain Man' style 'savantism'...
It's not... IT BLOODY WELL DESCRIBES MY SPOONOMETER!
https://spectra.blog/news-views/aspie-superpower-days-why-autists-may-be-on-an-autistic-spectrum-within-a-spectrum-spectra-blog-breaks-down-the-different-autistic-days/?unapproved=841&moderation-hash=754e80a5356a22456f0bed17423a74f5#comment-841
Albeit in 'internal' terms and whereas mine is really linear so amber is 'medium energy', I think if I added a flashing light 'BOOST' option for 'fast processing' days it cold be bang on.
It's also reassuring to see someone describes my exact feelings about needing NTs to 'keep up dummy' with my ability to process information.
Also, having 'good days' (which gives me 'imposter syndrome') is OK and doesn't mean I'm 'faking it'...
Good spoons!
Maybe I can add that when the spoon level hits one red bar...!
I'm not going to endorse this unless it says "Danger, Will Robinson!"
Yeah, my wife was all "You need to patent this!" but the issue is you have to do it worldwide for it to be effective (I think)...
I'll look into it, but if someone took this idea and started mass-producing them then that would be a good thing for our community, plus I don't think there's a mass-market...
I'll look into patenting the idea a bit more though.
I think you're really on to something here, you should probably look to protect your idea! Remember fidget spinners? That idea well and truly got nicked!
This is fantastic! I want one! You could start a business making these! I wonder if I made one for myself and kept it on one red row of lights only all of the time, maybe my husband and children would leave me alone and stop constantly asking me to do things? Probably not, sadly for me! Seriously though, it is a really good idea/invention, good if it helps you to know when your energy is low and you need to rest, even better if other people actually take notice of it and allow you rest time when your energy is running low.
Ok .What was it I said to you !!! ???
The Lego kits these days are pretty cool and have electronic in them, you could probably already build this out of Lego and link to their 'Mindstorms' software?
My original idea was to have it as a badge, so it was a visible indicator that travelled with you.
Yes an app to control it would be do-able via Bluetooth connection. I actually work in IT (my team built the app for a large Gov dept which is available on iOS and Android) so I know people with the required skills.
You could have more than one device and link them to the app so that they either all showed the same 'level' or could be tailored so 'home' showed a different level.
You could also add one of those scrolling LED text message boards underneath... the lights...
- set to flashing red, 1 bar
- message: "Bad day at work need an hour in the shed x"
I've ordered some bits off Amazon to make a simple 'push connection' version that I can upload the instructions and parts list for when I work out if I can replicate it.
Initially it'll be the 'workings' without the cover, but I can see a secondary market for 'custom covers' be it like a teddy bear or Ironman or a Dalek or whatever you're into, so you could have something on a desk or shelf that didn't look out of place but was a useful tool...
Oooh yes, an app based one. Could have oneon office doors as a warning, one at home and even leave one on the bosses desk!!!
I love this. I need one! I also think you should go into production. It also looks a bit like lego which is awesome!
I sent a picture of this to my other half by the way! She thinks it's a fantastic idea too. A quick search of the internet reveals nothing similar (you should go on Dragon's Den!).
Remote control would be brilliant!! You could update this throughout the day at work so it reflected your current state before you walked through the front door. The family would already be aware, removing that element of surprise. It would also mean that changing the lights wouldn't be such an obvious thing. Could you even build an App for it.....? Where do I place my order?
Bodgy interior... common positive & negative 'rails' connected to the battery with spurs of each to the LED strips & their relevant switch (wired in parallel)...
Thanks! You're not the first to suggest mass production...
You could do all sorts - V3 (or maybe 4...!) will likely use an Arduino processor with an IoT (Internet of Things) kit to allow remote control, patterns etc.
It could also be wired into the mains (would probably need to be) rather than running off a 9v battery.
If I went down that route it would be quite easy to either publish the plan with a list of parts required for DIY assembly, or as a complete kit, or pre-assembled...
Using a 'bread board' to connect the LEDs, switches and other electronics to, plus amending the shell design to allow the board to slot into the chassis would make this viable as a kit...
I'll muse on this as a possible option along with publishing the design for 3d printing (which you can get done by a 3rd party and sent to you)...
This is brilliant! So when are you mass-producing? I want one!
Can you make the lights blink? For example, when needing some alone time to recharge the last red light blinks as if you're actually recharging
On a serious note I think I could really benefit from something like this (and my family). I struggle to gauge things, I'm stuck with the typical on/off 1/0 way of thinking. This would get me to think about my current state of mind and present in a physical form.
Great post
My team at work loved V1, to the extent that one guy 3D printed the shell from a very rough initial draft I'd done of the design and another guy practically bit my arm off at the chance to use up some offcuts of coloured plastic to make the 'windows' on his laser cutter!
Also, in terms of practical use they were all "That's a GREAT idea! I could use one of those myself...!"
They were sad to see V1 go - but it was a bit ropey, they'll be thrilled to see V2.
The guy that did the 3D printing has a nephew who has ASD and he thought it would be useful for him as a way to be more self-aware as well as being able to communicate how he was dong when he was non-verbal...
Well, you can go from all off to all on and each row is switched individually, so you can use it however makes sense to you e.g.
Equally, all lit could be the same as 2 green... so yeah, 1 green could be half 2 green... depends how your 'spoon scale' works.
V1 was vertical with red at the bottom like a battery power charge indicator
That's clever. What are the responses like when you show it people?
This is awesome :) how does it work? Is one green half as good as 2 green?