As hardware prototyping toolkits and accessible programming environments become more widespread, it is easier than ever to build functional prototypes of interactive devices. Yet moving beyond a prototype towards manufacturable devices still presents significant challenges. This evolution often requires specialised knowledge in circuit design, firmware development, and hardware testing, which can discourage less experienced creators. We present MakeDevice, a browser-based tool that helps users navigate this transition by leveraging the intuitive micro:bit, Jacdac and MakeCode ecosystem coupled with a process we call device flattening. Modular micro:bit-plus-Jacdac hardware assemblies are progressively transformed, or flattened, into increasingly-integrated custom printed circuit board (PCB) designs. We demonstrate MakeDevice through two examples. MakeDevice lowers barriers to the creation and deployment of new tangible, embedded and embodied devices by providing an alternative to the traditional PCB design process.

Physical computing has emerged as an effective approach to introducing computing and coding to students. One of the most popular enabling tools is the BBC micro:bit, well-known for its positive impact on teaching programming and driving engagement in the classroom. We extend these benefits by developing a new approach to coding with micro:bit: MicroCode. Unlike other experiences, MicroCode couples the micro:bit with a low-cost handheld accessory to enable live and portable programming via an on-device visual programming language; no separate host computer is needed. We present the design of MicroCode and the findings of a study in which we interviewed five primary school teachers and 60 children aged 10-11 working with MicroCode. The outcomes of the study show that MicroCode raised children’s engagement and stimulated the development of a strong sense of agency on coding activities, while teachers felt empowered to adopt situated and cross-curricular learning approaches.

Embedded devices are now commonplace, and hardware prototyping toolkits have become a popular approach for hobbyists and professionals to create embedded hardware prototypes. However, moving from prototype into small scale manufacture use introduces complexity and cost, restricting embedded device development ’beyond the prototype’. Challenges include the need to design custom PCB for manufacture, and the design and fabrication of a device enclosure to ensure the robust enough for deployment. In response, we present MakeDevice : a web-based tool that leverages an existing modular hardware prototyping platform, Jacdac, to enable low-complexity route to generate a custom ‘carrier’ PCB upon which modules can be mounted and electrically connected. MakeDevice also automatically generates CAD files for custom enclosures with apertures to suit. We show how such enclosures can be generated using 3D printing and 2D stencils. In this way, MakeDevice lowers the barriers in moving from prototype to viable low-volume deployment of embedded hardware.

While depression is a mood disorder with significant societal impact, the experiences of people living with depression are yet not easy to access. HCI's tenet to understand users, particularly addressed by the empathic design approach, has prioritized verbal communication of such experiences. We introduce ManneqKit, a kinesthetic empathic design tool consisting of 15 cards with bodily postures and vignettes leveraging the nonverbal aspects of depression experiences. We report the co-design of ManneqKit with 10 therapists, its piloting with 4 therapists and 10 non-therapists, and evaluation through design workshops with 9 interaction designers and 3 therapists. Findings describe metaphorical descriptions of depression experiences and their postures, as well as cards' ability to elicit strong empathy. We discuss the value of these findings for interaction design in terms of novel empathic design tools capturing nonverbal qualities of lived experiences, support for richer understanding of vulnerable users experiencing depression, design ideation underpinned by ethical values, and the need to balance empathy with distancing for designers' wellbeing.