Agustín lives with his parents and his grandmother in the department of Durazno. On his last birthday, he was given the remote control car he wanted, but the remote control has been broken in a few months.
FAVORITE TOY
That was the headline of the interview with our small and charismatic interlocutor of 6 years at 11:30 in the morning . On 4th of April, we worked at UTEC (Technological University of Uruguay) in its Regional Technological Institute of the center-south. The participants in the LAPASSION Uruguay project were divided into 5 teams of about 4 or 5 people, and each of these teams receives a child. For more than half an hour, we talked with the child and his leisure time, his playmates, his favorite colors, his hobbies ... Agustín, like the rest of the children, brought his favorite toy and we have an enormous responsibility to return it with the improvements he requested. In his case, the remote control does not work and the reparation is the priority. However, during the talk other issues reveal their profile and interests. He tells us that he likes to spend time on her mobile with the Free Fire videogame app. The video game is not suitable for his age and is based on a battle where only one of the fighters can survive. He also tells us that he likes weapons. He says that "he does not play with dolls", but that he would like his car to have a driver, different wheels and a car "more rocker". He has no siblings, but on the weekend he sees his two little cousins and during the week he meets his friends in the park.
PROTOTYPING
We began to set objectives according to the timetable. From 12:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., we define the problem that Agustín has proposed and we begin to think about possible solutions and improvement processes. After the break for lunch, we moved to a room perfectly equipped with 3D printers and multitude of boxes with a lot of different materials. From 3:30 p.m., we started prototyping. We have until Saturday at 12:00 in the morning, when we're going to receive the children again.
WHAT DOES AN AUDIOVISUAL TECHNIQUE DO HERE?
Obviously, I tried to cover the process in video and photo. My team had Marina, an industrial product designer, with Vicky, an electrical engineer and with Luca, a landscaper; very different profiles that were safe different situations. First, we focus on fixing the remote control. When dismantling it, we tested that the plate was broken. Arduous and laborious work that Mariana and Vicky solved while Luca and mine tried to get the materials they needed and to plan other improvements for the car.
The task of fixing the remote control took us the two days of work. Some solutions did not work and some processes such as gluing required some delay. At the same time, we created a new concept of the game. Initially, taking advantage of 3D printers, we decided to print several interchangeable covers, which would allow them to have different cars assembled and disassembled. However, some of our proposals had a very high cost in time and resources, so finally we continue looking for the balance between the war game and the most childish game, respecting the wishes of the child:
have a driver
have a more warrior car
an aesthetic change in the wheels
SOLUTION
We were especially concerned about the issue of weapons and violence. So we found the solution in LEGO®. Respecting the ergonomics of the car, we installed a fixed platform and built a seat with a driver. However, this construction was only temporary. The child could destroy, build and rebuild the pieces.
In the same way, we fix 4 structures of LEGO® in the wheels shaped like 3D cones, so that the car losts those cones when hitting on the sides. It was a way to give a harder aesthetic, but also to favor the child's control to avoid unhooking those pieces.
We also printed three skulls in 3D that respected the aesthetics of the industrial stickers of the toy and that fixed to some pieces of LEGO® to assemble and disassemble.
Finally, we take care of other details such as changing the sticker on the remote control and adding two stickers personalized with the child's name. To expand his gaming experience, we prepare a box with LEGO® pieces of different sizes and colors.
DELIVERY
On Saturday the 6th, Ezequiel, the coordinator of this great experiential, told us that Agustín had arrived earlier than expected . His mother confirmed that at 8 o'clock in the morning he was waken up because of the emotion. It was a shared emotion; we were also nervous. Agustín's reaction and smile make us breathe deeply. The challenge seems to have been fulfilled. The car works and we only have to return to the workshop to fix one of the control levers. Agustín is totally absorbed in assembling and disassembling the pieces of LEGO® and he tells us his own story, how he created a prison and how he is going to catch the bad guy; he does not even notice the remote control. And here we are - happy as a child!
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