Magic Wand
In December 2020, I took on a unique challenge: to create the Magic Wand, blending the realms of magic and technology. By integrating 3D printing, voice recognition, and motion sensors with Arduino scripting, I crafted a wand that brings spells to life on screen, reacting not just to the words spoken but also to the gestures of the user's hand. This project was a deep dive into both the imaginative and the technical, aiming to enchant users with a seamless magical experience that connects gestures, voice, and visual effects.
Spell-Casting
I took inspirations from Harry Potter, and designed interactions for seven spells: Lumos, Nox, Avada Kedavra, Incendio/Fire, Periculum/Firework, Stella Cascadia/Stars, and Expecto Patronum. Among them, Fire, Firework and Stars have hand gesture based animations, while Expecto Patronum will summon a random Patronum based on the player’s motion.
In the IMA show of 2020, I performed the spells with a projector. Here is what people said:
“That must be real magic.”
— Eric Parren
“Impressive animations that follow the wand.”
— Oliver Steele
“The dream-comes-true of a Harry Potter fan.”
— Alison
“Now I should be admitted to Hogwarts.”
— Anonymous Tester