Avo, An EDM Music Lover

Avo is an avocado 🥑, who loves upbeat music, especially EDM.

When Avo listens to EDM, Avo will feel the rhythm of the music and blink the lights fast. Avo will be so happy 🥳

When soft songs are on, Avo will just blink a couple of lights. Avo will be more chill and invoke emotional feeling 😌

Let's get started

Create a 3D model of Avo using Blender.
Avo was made from plastic, using a 3D Printer in the Fimble lab.
A Circuit Playground Express is attached to a piece of paper, which is used to hold Avo standing.
Avo loves interacting with music:

Without playing any songs: Avo is just standing 🥑
Playing high-beat (EDM) songs: All the Neopixels and the 2 LEDs will blink fast according to the song's rhythm.
Playing low-beat (soft) songs: A couple of Neopixels will blink low according to the rhythm and the 2 LEDs are off.

CPE Testing.mov

Testing lights

According to the level of the sound, when there is an up beat, high-energy part playing, LED lights will start blinking fast. And, each of the Neopixels will be gradually turned on. In other words, the higher the level of the sound, the more Neopixels are on! Otherwise, with a soft and low level of sound, fewer Neopixels will appear and the 2 LED lights blink slowly.

Sketch Code

My Final Version

EDM song.mov

Let's play an EDM Song 😃

With upbeat songs like EDM, Avo will have more Neopixels and LED lights blinking fast following the rhythm and the volume level of the song.

The red and yellow LEDs blink fast, motivating me to stay happy and positive and to keep listening to energetic songs at the end of the day.

My Heart Will Go On.mov

What about a soft song? 😌

With low-beat songs, Avo will have a couple of Neopixels and LED lights blinking slowly following the rhythm.

Without seeing the red and yellow blink, I will tend to change the music to boost up my energy and not get deep into emotional feelings.

Reflection

💡Cognitive Flexibility during pitching and developing the project

Embarking on the project to design and develop a 3D avocado model along with a Circuit Playground Express was quite a challenge to me in the beginning cause it demanded technical and design skills to utilize a new application, Blender. Initially, my vision was to create a dancing Avo that would react to music through movement. However, attaching multiple vibrators to the red price of paper to simulate Avo dancing generated unwanted noise, and Avo could not stand firm above the paper. This unexpected hurdle made me adjust my plan to finalize the project on time.

With a cognitive flexibility concept in my mind, when I was stuck with how to apply the vibrators effectively, I began thinking of another possible option because maybe my original idea could be quite infeasible. Then, I pivoted towards utilizing the LED lights and modified the code so that the LED lights would blink fast and low based on the rhythm of the music. This shift not only resolved the noise issue but also highlighted the importance of being open to change and willing to explore alternative solutions. Embracing cognitive flexibility allowed me to deal with this challenge successfully, transforming an obstacle into an opportunity for creative development. Hence, cognitive flexibility is more than crucial in problem-solving and innovation.

💡Connection to other contexts:

The application of cognitive flexibility is beyond my final project, moving to various facets of my life and learning. In academic settings, this skill has empowered me to approach assignments with an open mind, actively seeking out and searching diverse resources to enhance my understanding. For instance, when I got stuck in a problem/question for more than an hour, I was likely to come to office hours/evening help sessions to ask questions or watch YouTube videos/or google to figure out where my issues were from. Similarly, in managing my time and responsibilities, cognitive flexibility has been instrumental in prioritizing tasks and adapting to unforeseen changes, ensuring efficiency and productivity.

When it comes to interpersonal interactions in academic, professional, and social settings, navigation through varying perspectives and dynamic scenarios is crucial. Cognitive flexibility has come into play and enabled me to understand different viewpoints, fostering constructive and harmonious relationships. Moreover, when exploring opportunities such as courses, internships, or study abroad programs, adapting and connecting disparate experiences has enriched my understanding, like talking with seniors who already have experience or are familiar with the environment to achieve more meaningful insights. Moreover, planning out a professional trajectory in advance guides me toward decisive choices promptly.

All in all, the journey of developing the avocado project illuminated the profound impact of cognitive flexibility not only on immediate problem-solving and innovation but also on broader life skills and adaptability. This experience underscores the value of embracing change, seeking versatility, and persistently exploring new avenues for growth and learning principles which would help me a lot in preparing for my future endeavors.

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