Circuit 1: Fade

video link: IMG_2553

In the first step I built a circuit by connecting the anode of the LED to the digital output pin 9 on the bread board through a 220ohm resistor. Then, grounded the cathode to the ground. After running the fading code the light’s brightness would fade in and out as shown in the video

Step 2

video link: IMG_2554

In step 2 I did a similar setup but replaced the LED with a buzzer. I then added the code provided to my by the IMA/B interaction lab web site. This used delays and different pitches to create a melody with the buzzer when the code was run.

Step 3

video link: IMG_2557

In step 3, I created a two-player game where each participant races to click the button faster than the opponent. I had trouble keeping track of all the cables when the button wasn’t initially working, thus making it difficult to find the source of the problem in the circuit. 

Schematic: 

Questions:

1. A potentiometer could be added to each side to make this game more interactive. This would add another step to the game giving the other opponent a chance to catch up if they lose. After hitting the button ten times, you could make it, so you have to get a specific value on the potentiometer, such as 511. This would make the game more interactive since the users will have to use the system more than just hitting a button ten times. 
2. We use a 10kOhm resistor for each button to limit the current going into the component to prevent a short circuit. If no resistor is added with each push button, the circuit will not work. 
3. A project I found interesting was hacking toys. It’s a very clever way to make do with what is already given to you, and toys are a great source of technology that can be reused. This is a picture from the “Getting Started with Arduino” book chapter 2;

I chose this project because I used to do this when I was younger. Not with toys but household equipment such as “bic lighters’. I would use the technology already in the lighters and repurpose it for other projects. 

Picture and book link:

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nyulibrary-ebooks/reader.action?docID=1887986