Eco-Flow
Nominated for the GWU Pelton award, Eco-Flow: Smart HVAC desk is a capstone project designed to provide a micro-climate with the use of embedded systems and sensors.
Roles
- R&D In current HVAC Systems architecture.
- Back-end python development for server processes.
- HCI Research and Development for HVAC-Desk Integration
- Arduino Development for mechanical control of HVAC parts.
Deliverables
- R&D: Competitive Analysis, User Surveys, one-on-one interviews.
- Development: Hardware development and programming to support calls to change hardware sensors and temperature output.
Problem
HVAC systems have stagnated in technological development over the years, and are in desperate need of advancement to reduce energy consumption, and therefore cost. How would you implement the future of HVACs in smart technology?
Goal
To design and create a hardware prototype of an at-desk microclimate capable of supporting an employee user.
Process
- Contacted University HVAC team with technical expertise in Mechanical Engineering to learn more about current HVAC technology.
- Interviewed HVAC team on what they would like to see in new HVAC tech - identified need in individual workplace cooling.
- Created key insights from interviews, converted to action items for build.
- Identified/ordered parts in budget, laid out architecture of server-HVAC relationship.
- Separated workloads and structured tasks using agile methodologies.

Prototype Demo
Reflection
This was the first of many HCI products to come. What was most interesting to me in this experience was learning just how much humans can bring to the table on any experience they want, especially in a hardware product.

For more information regarding this project, check out the github site.