Representation of weight

RWCHAIR

INTRO

A Measuring object or a scale, represents the weight

or mass of an object. Tough the centuries we developed

a lot of different ways to measure depending on the

subject. Measuring body weight became a way to go

after an ideal. We created formulas and tables to give

more meaning to the numbers of the outcome.

With the plaster scale I visualised the relationship

between body and the scale, how do we treat this

object in relation to trust. The measurement of weight

becomes more trustable when comparing it to others.

That could declare why BMI an WHR are still favourite

formulas for giving a meaning to weight.

Inspired by these formulas to visualise general ideals,

I designed a chair what represents this relation. The BMI

of the object it self stay’s the same, but outside the rules

of the formulas there is space to fill in your own

representation of weight.

Exploring Trust and technology

Karen Borgers 2011

Max. Weight in kg.

Main materials

The scale

Weight scale kg.

1700

1700

1700

1700

1780

1780

1780

1780

1820

1820

1820

1820

1980

1980

1980

1980

2000

2000

2000

2000

2010

2010

2010

2010

200

30

225

20

125

10

125

4

150

2

150

3

WOODIRON

RUBBERIRON

RUBBERIRON

PLASTICFABRIC

PLASTICGLASS

PLASTIC

H

BMI of the scale

Regular use of scale Prize Bathroom Scale in euroRegular use of scale

With what thought do you step on the scale?, percent out of 300 votes

1700 1780 1820 1980 2000 2010

Woman _Men +

0,1 82 0,5 16 12

90%

39%29%

13%10%

6%

04.-60% 176.-

18

HISTORY OF THE SCALE

I’m try

ing to lose

weight,

so I hope fo

r less

To see if

my weig

ht is sta

ble

I never weigh myself because I’m not worried about my weight

There is no scale in the

house because I don’t

want to know

Hopefully o

ne ounce m

ore

because I’m trying to

put on

weight

Presentation of the scale in history

HHISTORY OF

THE SCALE

Measuring and trusthave always been strongly related to each other

How does it works, Increasing trust by technology

WHOW DOES

IT WORKS

Step on the Scale

1 load cell measures the

difference of two elements

Metallic sheet is straits

or squeezes

1 Chip converts digital

information to number

Step of the scale and after

a few seconds it turns off

Springs in the four feet

turn the switch on

0.0

Materials Scale

How much trust are we putting into materials, after knowing how things are working trust can increase. But also the materials are important. They can have different properties but can also have emotional value.

For the scale for example I used plaster. What is known as fragile. What will question the trust aspects of using it again.

MMATERIALS

SCALE

Formula

TRUSTFORMULA

If we want to know if we can trust

something, we compare it to others or

experiences we had before.

Measuring weight doesn’t

say more than a few figures.

So we developed also for weight

comparing formulas. Often

used is BMI (Body Mass Index)

It gives us borders and an

Ideal. But does this affects

or products?

To compare and to analyses these we

created formulas to give us more

certainty, for ex. the golden section.

Invented BMI around Country BMI Country BMI following the formula of BMI

by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet

Lowest, Japan of Dutch habitants has overweight

Highest, Micronesië

1830 3.2%48% 92%

weight / ( Length x Length ) = BMI

1,50

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

1,55 1,60 1,65 1,80 1,85 1,90 1,95 2,00

Normal weight

Serious overweight

Unhealthy overweight

1,75

Over weight

Under weight

BMI

BMIRESEARCH

Research: what is the BMI of existing products

2,4 BMI

4 BMI

18 BMI

2 BMI

23 cm, 0,28 kg

95 cm, 4 kg

16 cm, 8 kg

10 cm, 0,2 kg

BMI5 BMI

21BMI

12 BMI

9 BMI

PRODUCTS95 cm, 4 kg

38 cm, 2,5 kg

29 cm, 1 kg

46 cm, 2 kg

Stock-taking of BMI by existing objects. How is BMI related to form and material

Research: Products who are representing weight

FAT & SKINNYBeautiful examples of objects who are representing weight. I like the one without a link to the human the most. Because I don’t think it is a necessary to tell the story.

Research: Making it into a perfect BMI

25 BMI

19 BMI

21 BMI

21 BMI

23 cm, 0,30 kg

16 cm, 0,5 kg

34 cm, 2,5 kg

16 cm, 0,49 kg

BMIOBJECTS

Repairing the BMI of existing products by putting weight or changing height

Measurement in relation to width

Designing an object for measuring, translated from the use of formulas. I choose for a chair because it is an object that suits the body. With holding to the same BMI only the width can change of an object as we have seen on previous pages.

Aim is a chair who can represent measuring with formulas with a BMI of 20

Designing

DDESIGN

Thinking of a extendable chair in width I went trough a lot of options. But Important was that it was strong and with a one level sit seat.

Also important where the armrest. They where an other starting point of the design. They prevent to sit on it when didn’t represented your width.

The design is mathematical and strong, because of the representation of formulas and measuring weight.

Designing

DDESIGNING

Making

MMAKING

Before starting building the chair, it was searching for the right material. I found some used iron what fitted the design perfectly.

I choose to let the iron unpainted. First of all because it represents something math-ematics and it looks trustful strong. The other reason is because of the sliding it will scratch the paint.

20 BMI

86 cm, 15 kg

BMICHAIR

In the end I don’t believe in starring blind on formulas to measure. If we look objective to we are able to make or own representing.

This chair will represent this, but can also be confronting or surprising if your own vision on weight is incorrect.

Karen BorgersRepresentation of WeightFebruary 2011

Design Academy Eindhoven Master Contextual design.