Author: Jiayi Liang

During this week’s recitation, we are asked to build 3 circuits: Fade, toneMelody and Speed Game. The first two circuits are easy for us to understand and carry out, however, the last Speed Game is much more complicated. 

Circuit 1：Fade

This time we use the analog input to make the led light fade from light to darker instead of from on to off. We can change the frequency of its fading process by editing the number in the code.

Circuit 2: toneMelody

This circuit is quite simple, but I really appreciate the melody. It’s so funny.

Circuit 3: Speed Game

(What I said in the video is “Ah! I lose again! “)

We successfully build the circuit quickly, and we enjoy the fun in playing this game. We try to click the button as fastest as we can, then the one who presses quicker is the winner.

What is complicated in this circuit is not building it with so many components but why we should build it like this to make the speed game work. That is the reason why I find drawing the schematic is much more difficult than building it. Based on my understanding, when we are playing this game, the circuit first judge which button is pressed more, then it will release output to the respective led light, and at the same time, the buzzer will be turned on when declaring the outcome of the match.

Question 1:

As I learn about the digital and analog signals, I can apply it to the daily life flexibly. Fade circuit uses analog signals,  I can use the theory to the decoration light on the performance stage. The toneMelody uses digital signals, I can apply it to doorbells. And the speed game circuit can be perfectly applied in to use in Q＆A tv shows. After reading Physical Computing and observing what happens in my daily life,  I want to define interaction in physical computing as the process that we humans give instructions through codes,  the circuit (or computer) then processes our codes and make relevant outputs. Take the speed game as an example, we build a code, and press the button to give instructions, then through processing, the light is turned on to fulfill our instructions.

Question 2:

The 10k resistor is used to control the current to avoid overloading . As the power is as strong as 5V, the current may be so strong for the button that it may cause damage to the button.

Question 3:

During my trip to Osaka, I really appreciate the Harry Potter Light Show performed in USJ. If I have 100,000 LEDs of any brightness and color at my disposal, I will decorate my house with these lights and conduct a similar light show based on the theme of my favorite comics Spiderman! I can make videos  whose materials come from Spiderman cartoons and add some music to make the show more attractive. At night, the 100,000 led lights will work together as a screen attached on my house to play the videos.

During the first recitation, we are learning how to solder and build circuits. After having a brief understanding of every component and laboratory facility, my partner Fay and I have a try to complete these tasks by ourselves. 

-What Each Component Does

• Breadboard: provide a base for circuit connections
• LM7805 Voltage Regulator: maintain a constant voltage level
• Buzzer: speaker
• Push-Button Switch: decide “on” and “off” by pushing it
• Arcade Button: decide “on” and “off” by pressing it
• 220 ohm Resistor: control the current to avoid overloading
• 10K ohm Resistor: control the current to avoid overloading
• 10K ohm Variable Resistor (Potentiometer): a resistor that we can variably change how strong it resists the flow
• LED: light
• 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor: store electricity when it passes through it and maintain the smoothness of the current
• 12 volt power supply : work as a battery to provide electricity
• Barrel Jack: connect certain components
• Multimeter: measure the amount of voltage, resistance and current
• Jumper Cables (Hook-up Wires): connect most of the components

-Soldering

I learn that the basic theory of soldering is that we melt the metal stannum and attach the two required components together by letting the melted metal solidify again. The metal here plays a role as glue. Since I once experienced soldering during my high school, I successfully carry out the soldering work on the first try. However, it is essential for everyone to be careful when soldering as the soldering equipment with high temperature may damage one’s skin.

-Circuit 1: Door Bell

To make a circuit of door bell, we use a 12V power supply, a buzzer, a capacitor, a voltage regulator, a breadboard and a push button. During the process, we find that it is difficult to figure out how the current works in breadboards, but luckily we have nice instructors to help us find it out. The electricity goes from the power to the buzzer to make it let out sound and it is maintained constant by the help of the capacitor and voltage regulator. The electricity finally goes to the ground for safety issues.

-Circuit 2: Lamp

This time we replace the buzzer with a led light and a resistor to make a Lamp circuit. I guess it’s because the power provides electricity which is too much for a led to stand that we need a resistor to control it.

-Circuit 3: Dimmable Lamp

This time we add one more variable resistor to control the flow. In this way we can decide how dim the light is by using the resistor to change the strength of current here.

-Question 1:

After reading the article The Art of Interactive Design, I choose to define interaction as a process includes input, process and output with two actors. For the sake of the circuits i build during the recitation, I think they include these concerning factors for interaction.

Take Door Bell as an example, I, as an actor, press the button to send instructions to the circuit, which is an input. After receiving the instruction, the current passes through the buzzer, which is a process. Then the buzzer makes sound, which is an output. Hearing the sound, I think is funny and make out laughter, which is another process of input, process and output.

Thus, interaction exists.

-Question 2:

In Zack Lieberman’s video, they introduce a device which can track people’s eye movement to draw pictures. This kind of technology can help those disabled people to create their own art designs. With the help of interactive design and physical computing, we find various ways to interact with our computer or other devices not only simply through mouses or key boards, and then, people use these technologies to create interactive arts.  I think it’s just why Interactive arts is meaningful to us. It provides possibilities for everybody to give out their own wonderful ideas without barriers.