Assignment:
Take a walk around your neighborhood, or a different one, or imagine a walk you’ve done routinely. Take a count of every interaction with a sensor you see or experience. Blog your findings:
- Identify the sensors and how they sense (or do not sense) you / someone else?
- Does the sensor make itself known to you? If so, how?
- How do you know if the sensor has sensed?
- Is there more than one stage of interaction or multiple interactions?
Feel free to take pictures or video as appropriate, of the most interesting ones. Some sensors might include: pushbuttons, motion sensors, floor mats, cameras, smart devices
In the morning, I get off my bed, take a walk in the garden, and use the water well pump to water my plants.
Light and motion sensor (figure 1): when there is no light sensed AND when there is movement sensed, it turns on the night light. I know it has sensed when the light is on. The sensor does not make itself known to me.
figure 1
Solar lights (figure 2)
When there is sunlight sensed, the LED light is switched off. Meanwhile solar energy is transformed into electricity to be stored in the battery. When there is no sunlight sensed, the LED light turns on by the battery. I know it has sensed when the light is off. The sensor does not make itself known to me other than from the user manual.
figure 2
Solar pump (video 1)
when it detects sunlight, it switches to run through solar energy. Otherwise, it switches to use the battery. I cannot tell if it has sensed. The sensor does not make itself known to me other than from the user manual.
video 1
Vacuum pump with a pressure sensor (figure 3)
When the pressure in the pipe reaches certain level, it pauses the pump motor. When the pressure drops below certain level, it engages the motor. I know this sensor has sensed by observing the pressure of my water and by hearing the noise of the motor. The sensor does not make itself known to me. It’s hidden in the pump.
figure 3
For all these sensors, there is only one stage of interaction.
Leave a Reply