StarWars Coffee Room Monitor

The Coffee Room Monitor is a working class toy, or a useful big-brother tool.  Pegs on the mugboard are assigned to various employees, and these pegs are then monitored.  The results of this monitoring are patched to seemingly innocuous StarWars figurines, as well as a screen display.  If someone's has their peg off the shelf, they're on coffee break: if you're avoiding them, you can make sure not to go on break when they are; if you're seeking them, you know where you can find them; if you're the boss and they've been breaking for more than 15 minutes, you can give them the heck that they deserve.

Monitoring the system are light sensors hidden beneath each peg.  Too much light, and the mug is off it's perch - it's owner is taking a coffee break.  Correspondingly, one of the figures on the board will be moved via servo motor, letting you observe what's going on at all times, without distracting you from your daily activities.  The employee to figurine map is easily adjustable by on-screen controls, which will also enable turn-over in the workforce.
see the video

The Creator

Chris Willott  created this for his short assignment as part a senior-level human computer interaction class at the University of Calgary.

Created in November, 2002

Next exhibit: Teddy Phidget