Prototype 1:

The first physical cardboard prototype of the raspberry pi portable mesh networking device. This one sits on the arm for easy and immediate accessibility. The Raspberry pi is housed within this case. A TP-Link WR702N sits on top of the lid. A batter is placed on the back. Finally, the whole compartment is strapped to my arm.

The lid can be lifted up to reveal the raspberry pi. A touch screen eliminates the need for a keyboard. At the moment, opening the lid requires quite a bit of effort – though it is quite secure. When opened, the raspberry pi is loosely seated and is prone to falling out of the case. No ledge, screws, or adhesives hold it in place. A battery pack is also located on the hind portion of the case. This prevents the lid from opening all the way which can be annoying when trying to use the touch screen. Additionally, the extra weight of the battery made the entire configuration top heavy, which frequently caused it to roll around my arm. Accessing the HDMI port and mini-usb charging port was also difficult because they were blocked by another wall of cardboard.

 

Ultimately, this initial prototype construction had many flaws. Perhaps the most severe flaw was its tendency to roll around on the arm. This made it practically unusable unless you constantly held it in place.

In order to fix this, I propose straps be used to tighten the container to the arm. Additionally, the battery will need to be either removed or placed below the forarm, as if hanging, in order to serve as a counter balance to the weight of the pi.