The uBracelet began as an effort to help students easily learn when their friends had free periods. Our first thought was to build an app that would connect users, but we soon hit on the idea of showing your free period information with LEDs.  We began learning to control LEDs with micro controllers and breadboards. The idea of an app was scrapped because it was comparatively difficult -- we could solve the same problem in less time with LEDs and have less screen time in school for students. The bracelet was the better choice because it could eventually evolve into a fashion accessory and it had a more straightforward developmental process.

Our first idea was to make a bracelet where each LED had a switch that could be used to turn it on and off. We were worried that so many switches might be cumbersome on a small bracelet, so we explored using an Arduino to make a resistive-touch system where the LEDs could be turned on and off with a simple touch.  This is similar to how the well-known Makey Makey device works.  We got the resistive touch working, but when we began to think about how to miniaturize it so that it would fit on your wrist, we found a small Arduino-compatible microcontroller called a FLORA and bright and tiny LED set called a NeoPixel Jewel. This caused us to consider a new approach to work on in parallel.  We decided to use the Jewel and FLORA, and add only two buttons.  The first button was used for LED selection, and the second to toggle that LED (turn it on or off).  With each push of the first button, the selected LED would flash, so that you can tell which LED is selected.  

Meanwhile, another bracelet with one switch per LED was developed. To organize the wiring, little pieces of thin plywood were cut in the laser cutter. Two holes were cut, one for the switch and one for the LED. The resistors were used as decorative separators between the wooden pieces.  

Both projects used fabric to attach the bracelet, and a clamp to close it; the main difference was how they work. One bracelet was entirely coding and the other was entirely wiring. There were two projects created; both do the same thing, but by having two different approaches we can compare them and determine the more successful. A conclusion made was that the code was originally harder to create but it could be easily duplicated unlike the wired bracelet.