Jen Lewin jl@blueink.com
www.blueink.com
"Physical Computing" covers both a technical introduction to basic electronics, analog circuit design, and the BX-24 (micro control) as well as design concepts and philosophies for building interactive objects. Students from all backgrounds learn to build interactive physical systems by using software and hardware that can sense and respond to the analog world .STUDENT GALLERY
See Tom's Physical Computing Depot for supplies. |
| Week 1:
Week 2:
- Intro to Electronics: Definition of components, reading a meter, reading a schematic, Ohm's Law
- Tool Safety in the Shop
- Assignment:
1) Lab: Electronics (steps 1 - 4)
2) Journal Entry: "Rough schematic of lab step 4 "
PLEASE COME TO CLASS WITH THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIES:
(see toms part list for info on purchasing)
BX-24
Breadboard
Power Supply
5V DC Voltage Regulator (Radio Shack: get several)
3 volt DC motor (Radio Shack)
Project Box (from Radio Shack: 1 big enough to easily fit the breadboard you buy)
10-100K Photocells (Radio Shack has a nice assortment pack)
10 K 1/2 watt pots (Radio Shack, get one or two.. any range between 10 - 100k)
Some simple on off switches (Radio Shack) |
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
Week 6:
- Transistors and Relays: switching higher-current devices
- BOOK JOURNAL ENTRY DUE: (One page journal entry on your thoughts/responses/unanswered questions regarding the book)
- Lab Assignment: Turning on a motor
Week 7:
Week 8:
- View Midterm Projects
- Midterm journal entry due
Week 9:
Week 10:
Week 11:
Week 12:
Week 13: April 25
- Final Project Workshop/Presentation
Week 14:
- Final Project Presentation
|
| Lab Assignments:
There is a lab activity for nearly every class in the semester. Some of them are very short, some are more detailed. Most are just the basic steps you need to go through to understand the principle discussed in class. From there, come up with an application of the lab's principles. I expect that each student will at least complete the steps outlined in the lab activity each week. Each class, a random number of people will be picked to show what they have been working on in the lab. We will not look at everyone's project every week, but everyone will show work from the lab at least a few times during the semester.
|
| Midterm and Final:
Every student will complete a midterm project and a final project, an original application of some of the principles covered in class. Students may work alone or in groups. If you work in a group, every member of the group will be expected to know how the whole project works, and to explain the work that both you and your partner or partners have done on the project. |
|
You will be expected to keep an online journal of your work in this class. Think of it as a letter to the next group to take this class: the tricks you found that work, the pitfalls you hit, ways around them, sources for materials, reference material, etc. It can be no-frills HTML, no pictures necessary, just notes. Here's a template you can use. Ideally, it will give you a head start on documenting your projects for future portfolio reference, and those who come after you a place to look for advice.
You should document your projects as thoroughly as time permits. Plan in advance, and perhaps as a group, to have what you need to document at least your midterms and finals. Photos, video, drawings, schematics, and notes are all valuable forms of documentation.
Journal Examples:
www.blueink.com
David Schwarz Chimes and Cello journal (http://www.bluecomposition.com/chimes.shtml
Midterm Journal Entry
Your midterm journal entry should be a longer entry, a review of your thoughts on physical interaction at that stage, and a discussion of issues related to it that most interest you. Bring in material from any of the readings for this entry as well, or your own readings, as appropriate.
Sensor Research
Each week two to three students will present a deferent or new technology that can be used to sense the physical word. For example a new proximity sensor, or touch sensor. This should be a quick 5 - 10 minute presentation. Think of these presentations as a way to educate classmates on various types of sensors that they may be able to use in future projects. |
| Parts
A list of parts needed for the first few weeks follows. You will end up spending money on materials in this class. It can be done reasonably inexpensively, by scavenging parts, reusing parts, and so forth, but more ambitious projects inevitably make demands on your budget.
The web sites I use predominately to order materials are:
www.alliedelec.com
Great for everything electronic.
(Their catalog however is much better then their web site for browsing.)
www.digikey.com
Also a great source for electronics.
Digikey assumes you have a fairly good technical understanding of what you are looking for (i.e.. no pretty pictures). This is not a good place to go to 'look around'.
www.jameco.com
And 'OK' source for electronics. Jameco does however have lots of pictures.
http://www.mcmaster.com/
Great for physical supplies; wood, piping, tubing, hardware, gears, pulleys.
Mcmaster will actually courier supplies to you in New York in just a few hours if you are ever in a last minute panic.
Check out Tom Igoe's resource link for r a great list of robot parts, electronics suppliers, etc.
|
Books
We will not be following a published book for this course. Each week I will bring in articles with examples schematics, design prototypes, and/or design discussions. Most of the class reading however, will come from individual reasearch.
Your best resource is the web.
For those looking for supplemental reading material I can recommend:
"Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software" by Charles Petzolds
An excellent and easy/entertaining read for those interested in learning how computersare built-
"The User Illusion : Cutting Consciousness Down to Size"
by Tor Nrretranders and Jonathan Sydenham
"The "user illusion" in computing is the desktop graphical user interface (GUI): the friendly, comprehensible illusion presented to the user to conceal all the bouncing bits and bytes that do the actual work. "
"Practical Electronics for Inventors" By Paul Scherz
A great beginner, easy to read electronics book.
"The Art of Electronics" By Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill
An absolute must for anyone who is serious about spending a few years in the physical computing space.
"Envisioning Information" by Edward R. Tufte.
Book of examples dealing with interface and information design.
"The Age of Spiritual Machines" by Ray Kurzweil
A look at the blurring between man and machine
"MIDI For The Professional", Paul Lehrman and Tim Tully, ©1993 Amsco Publications, ISBN 0.8256.1374.2
An indispensable introduction to and reference for MIDI programming. |
