Project goal 

Design a product under material and technological constraints of metal.

 

Problem 

Often, survey respondents (myself included) leave the house and within a few minutes find themselves asking whether or not they have locked the door. 

 

Design response 

A smart key with an indicator (red line) of the most recent action completed. The key is sold as a blank for duplication, with a built in internal mechanism that responds to the direction the key is turned.

When turned to lock, the indicating red line is not visible, and after opening the lock, the red line appears.

The indicating red line is both visible and palpable for easy checking, even inside a pocket.

 

Method of construction – machined microchip in aluminum, 

copper and brass

 

Advisors – Shulie Strauss, Era Rozevsky, 2014