During the fourth recitation, our objective was to complete a drawing machine that could fully function according to the circuit and diagrams provided. Following the steps, I began with connecting the circuit to allow for the stepper motor to rotate accordingly. This can be seen in the video below:
Following this, I created added a potentiometer to control the direction seen in the video below.
Lastly, with a partner, we assembled our pieces together to create a drawing machine where we could control the rate of revolutions per second and the revolution direction. This will be again seen in the video. Reflecting upon this experience of creating a writing machine, I think that I’ve become more adept with handling circuits as well as more confident in my ability to follow the instructions to create the intended outcome.
Now reflecting on the two questions presented in the recitation. Firstly to answer question 1, I’m interested in creating machines that could help “disabled” people of society. For example, I’m very much interested in creating technology that could allow for deaf people, blind people, handicapped people, and etc. to live better life. This can be seen in my midterm project where I plan to complete a doorbell and notification necklace for deaf people as their need for being notified is much different as compared to blind people. Due to their inability to hear, they must be notified through physical means or through visual means. I thought that the notification necklace would be more effective if it was physical through vibrations.
For such projects, of course there are components that must be added. Actuators are one example that allow for components to move. I think that such a component would be useful in possible machines to move alongside blind people when they walk. It could assist them to know their surroundings. As for digital manipulation of art, I think that it’s a valuable need for the product design industry when creating machines. For example, photoshop editing and renderings can convey certain concepts to the population that may appear new and fascinating. Furthermore, photoshop allows for ideas to be sketched out easily which is important for the creative process. When I refer to the creative process, I personally think that it’s a series of brainstorming, prototyping, and reflecting that goes on forever until one is satisfied with their work. For prototyping there must be sketches or visualization of ones idea which can be done through digital manipulation of art. Many times, the creative process requires a product to be created. This product would need components such as the actuators to make it function like the final product.
Now referring to the second question, I looked at Daniel Jiménez’s Wave which uses motors to create oscillations in a set speed to simulate a wave in person. This creates a physical simulation of a wave that creates visual and auditory sensations of this concept. This is similar to the drawing machine in the sense that movement or kinetics is involved in creating the product which revolves around oscillation rates, but differentiates in the sense that the product’s visuals and auditory features where the drawing machine doesn’t create any illusion or sound like a certain noise for a purpose. I think that the artist chose his actuators based on his intended purpose that he wanted to convey. There’s a famous saying by Frank Wright “form follows function”. In this case, his function is also based on his form, therefore his actuator usage with oscillations was to create noise like the form.
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