Simple Digital Camera Designed for Cultural Probes

When you need the correct answer to a straightforward question, context is very important. On the other hand, fragmentary responses to vague questions can provide insight into others lives, or perhaps inspiration for your own project that couldn’t be gotten either way. For this purpose, researchers developed “cultural probes,” devices that ask a somewhat vague question, and allow people to respond as they see fit — much of the time involving a photograph.

Disposable cameras were once idea for this type of experiment, but as they have gone out of style a new, inexpensive alternative was needed. As a replacement, researchers sponsored by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have come up with a series of low-cost electronic cameras, dubbed “ProbeTools,” that anyone can build. Because these cheap and purposely noticeable cameras are electronic, they can also pack in such features as computer vision, motion sensing, and time lapse photography.

These gadgets come in several flavors, including models made out of paper. Some have a Raspberry Pi onboard, along with a preview screen for the images taken, but so-called workhorse of the bunch is the Arduino-based TaskCam. This unit consists of a simple three-button interface, with one acting as the shutter/power button, while the other two select questions that are displayed on its small screen. Researchers program questions into the system’s micro SD card, letting the end users select questions that they can respond to by taking photos.