Overexposure to the sun is the leading preventable cause of skin aging, wrinkles and skin cancer. Skin cancer rates have increased over the last three decades, with the fair skinned population in China and the US being the most at-risk for development of skin disease from exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. The most effective preventative measure is the most simple-- apply sunscreen and limit long hours of direct exposure under the sun. However, a recent study shows that the sunscreen usage rate is shockingly low with rates around 21.3% among college-age Chinese students. But how can you be more informed about how much sunlight is too much? This is the question we're set out to answer with SolBox. SolBox is an easy to use yet powerful device that will notify you when you're in danger of skin damage from the sun's rays.
Here's how it works: You first setup your profile using the simple user interface on the SolBox app. This is where you'll tell us important information such as your age, skin color, patterns of exposure to sunlight, etc.
Then, using our algorithm backed by comprehensive scientific research, we'll determine your thresholds for sun exposure risks at various UV intensity level and time intervals. That's it! To use SolBox, simply take it with you when you go to the pool, backyard BBQ, or wherever you'll be in sunlight. Just turn on SolBox and we'll do the rest. SolBox will constantly monitor the sun's UV rays in real-time and notify you via the SolBox app and built-in speaker when it's time to reapply sunscreen or take cover under some shade.
The speaker on SolBox is also capable of Bluetooth connectivity so you can use it play your favorites tunes! Notifications from SolBox, spoken in English and Mandarin, will temporarily pause your music. Your music will automatically resume after the notification.
1. Connect the circuit according to the circuit diagram. The circuit diagram tells you where each component pin should connect to the Arduino.
2. Download the sound files and save them to your SD card. These are the alerts that will play when the user needs to apply sunscreen and when the user needs to get out of the sun or risk skin damage. The current recorded messages are "Time to apply sunscreen" and "Too much sun, time to go inside", recorded in both English and Mandarin. If you would like to record your own sound files you will need to make sure they are the correct format. They should be wav files formatted with 8 bit resolution, 16000 Hz sampling rate, mono audio channel, and PCM unsigned 8-bit. You can use an online audio converter to get the right format https://audio.online-convert.com/convert-to-wav.
3. Connect the Arduino Uno to your host computer.
4. Copy the code into a new sketch.
5. Download additional libraries by going to Tools > Manage Libraries. You will need to search for and install the "DHT sensor library by Adafruit", "Audio by Arduino", and "TMRpcm by TMRh20". Without the libraries you will get compiler errors.
6. Deploy the sketch.
7. Once deployed the LCD screen should start to light up but it may be difficult to read the text. Toggle the 10k potentiometer until you can read the text clearly.
8. The audio from the speaker might be quiet, to adjust the volume turn the potentiometer built into the audio amplifier.
Component AssemblyComponents to fit with the 3D-printed cover:
Core components, placed under the cover components:
Charging and Bluetooth modules:
Bottom speaker:
Please see Attachments for Arduino code and circuit diagrams.
Dathan Wong - B.S. Electrical Engineering, minor Computer Science
Chia-Chun Chen - University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) PhD candidate in Medical and Molecular Pharmacology, research interest in skin cancer
Kevin Vo - Database/Business Intelligence Developer
Grace Han - Program Manager
Sarah Han - Software Engineer, B.F.A. Graphic Design, minor Computer Science, minor Web Technologies and Applications
Comments