Author: Rodrigo Jose Reyes gutierrez

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El Suertudo- Rodrigo Reyes- Eric (Midterm Project)

EL SUERTUDO- MIDTERM PROJECT 

 We researched previous to the project some interactive projects that were interactive. We were really interested in the interaction projects which involved a human/ machine (technology) interaction in which there is really a different outcome in each interaction. It is not just one outcome, in other words getting an outcome out of doing something, but rather action and getting a different outcome each time. This for me is the interaction, an income process, and outcome (where the outcome is not the same each time, it is more complex than a singular outcome). And we based our project on those premises, the foundation of our project was getting alternatives outcomes. With that being said, I think that is what makes our project so special. The idea behind the project was merging the concept of the randomness of dice, and guessing an outcome. In short, the user would guess a number and hope to guess it right. If the user got it right (which was more unlikely than likely), he would get a treat, on the other hand, if the user got it wrong the user would get a dare. Considering we were only two people on the project, we were both involved in every aspect of the project. Nevertheless, I was more than anything involved in the design of the project, on the physical construction of the design. We thought the project could be used for entertainment purposes in a social context, for instance, a party. The audience is targeted broady since the game is simple but anyone at any age could use it, understand it and have fun with it. I would argue it is very enjoyable. 

Well firstly, I wanted the user to feel like the game did not feel repetitive, we wanted the game to truly feel entertaining while simple. We knew that just a guessing game might have not been very entertaining, so we added the treats (candies because Halloween is coming) and a Truth and Dare (Trick also because of Halloween). Secondly, we wanted the project to be self-explanatory, or be able to understand with simple short instructions. In order to achieve this, we had to work on the signaling being pertinent in regards to where it had to lead the user. The instructions simply state that the user had to guess how many lights would turn on, he would click on a button (the button with the number of lights he/she thought would turn on), if the user got it wrong he would get  to grab a candy, if not he would have to pick a dare. In order to inform the user whether they guessed right, we had buttons that had numbers on top of them, and we had six lights. Every time the user would click on a number a random number of lights would turn on right after. The would be able to tell that if he clicked on the 3 buttons but only 1 light turned on, that meant that he did not guess right. Nonetheless, to complement this we decided to add a sound through a speaker that would make a noise to indicate guessed right, and another noise to indicate guessed “wrong”. We thought that simple instructions, visual signaling (through the lights), and sound signaling (through specific sounds that signal “right” or “wrong”), and we decided to have this to facilitate interaction between the user and the game. On the electronic side, we obviously used a computer, USB cable,  Arduino, a breadboard, (6) LEDs, 220 k resistors, male to male jumpers, female to male jumpers, piezo buzzer, (6) buttons. Our criteria to choose these electronic materials were based on making sure what we used facilitated user interaction and allowed us to connect the code with the Arduino and the breadboard, buttons etc.

 For the physical visual design we used a box made out of thin wood (we wanted a material that was NOT TRANSPARENT), with a hole in the back so the USB cable could fit, mini holes in the bottom front to allow the buzzer sound to travel, 6 button sized holes on the top front, and 6 LED sized holes buttons. It got decorated with paint and I designed some abstract figures of mythical elements (the joker, the Egyptian eyes, etc..) and human figures with markers to give it a more edgy look. We wanted to keep the game visually mysterious as it was a “guessing” game. The box’s main purpose was to simply hide all the cabling and the Arduino, it was important for us to use the material and make a design that kept the users focused on the interaction and the experience of using our project. We also used paper to write down the instructions, and a Pac-Man shaped  (I just thought the design was fun, that is why it was made that way) 3D printed container with the name of our project in 3D ( El Suertudo) for the treats. Moreover, I elaborated on a series of Truth and Dares for those who got it wrong and bought some candy that went inside the Pacman for those who got it right. For the purpose of the materials used for the visual aspect, we wanted to keep it edgy but approachable, fun and simple, that is why we used those materials. One of the things we wanted to do but had to reject was having a small screen tells a user the dare (the trick). We had to reject this because getting a small screen and configuring it with code was out of our reach at that time. But maybe in the future, we can incorporate this. 

 

I thought the most significant steps were identifying something we would like to solve or improve, getting ideas, starting to materialize our ideas, figure out the code and the design testing it with people (see their reactions; how they interacted and understood the project), going back to an idea and improving by fixing the code and the design, and finally putting it all together and presenting it. Out of all of these, our main issue I think was in part the design because the spacing and the material we used were giving us trouble. First of all, some of the buttons were not responding when clicked and we never really knew what it was. We changed some buttons and it worked. Later the cables were getting disconnected from the breadboard once we put them inside the box. To fix this, we got the suggestion after presenting the project to just stick them to the breadboard with some sort of glue. We did not consider this because we wanted to keep our breadboards intact. On the testing session, they suggested to many things like putting the name of the project somewhere on the design, get containers for the candy and dares, and get a sound every time you get the guess right or wrong. This strongly influenced the project because we actually incorporated all these ideas for the final demonstration of the project. They all added to the project in a positive way (we think), especially implementing sound to the project to better signal to the user whether they guessed right or wrong.

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Recitation 4: Drawing Machines- Rodrigo Reyes

Step 1: Build the Circuit 

In step 1 we were supposed to build a circuit that would control the stepper. It was a challenge for me because the diagram that was presented was not to clear to me. I ended it up not connecting the H bridge correctly to the ground. And I struggled to get the 5v into all the ports that needed to get it. With some help and some understanding, I was able to motor making smooth revolutions.

Step 2: Control rotation with a potentiometer

As I added the potentiometer, I added some cables to allow the potentiometer to have an influence on the motor.  As I was coding I struggled a bit trying to map it and change the steps from 100 to 200, but eventually, I got the code. The movement of the knob and the rotation of the motor got matched.

Step 3: Build a Drawing Machine!

By the time I got to the third step, recitation had ended. Nevertheless, one girl that had not finished and I stayed to finish it. We collected the materials and put both of our Arduinos on the plaque. We ran the program and with the help of our potentiometers and our motors, we started drawing on a paper.

 

Question 1:

What kind of machines would you be interested in building? Add a reflection about the use of actuators, the digital manipulation of art, and the creative process to your blog post.   

Well based on today’s drawing machine I thought of the people that had Parkinson or that did not have an arm to write in a physical paper. It could be useful to build a machine that had voice recognition and after would start writing the desired words on paper, this way helping people that are unable to write on paper.  Of course, there are other technologies that facilitate this, for instance, dictating words to a device and later printing it. Nevertheless, I think building the voice recognition writer would be cool. The actuator would be the stepper motor. Creating this machine could allow people to express themselves and create art by writing poems songs etc.

     

Question 2:

Choose an art installation mentioned in the reading ART + Science NOW, Stephen Wilson (Kinetics chapter). Post your thoughts about it and make a comparison with the work you did during this recitation. How do you think that the artist selected those specific actuators for his project?

An installation from the ART + Science NOW, Stephen Wilson (Kinetics chapter)  that I thought was particularly interesting was Daniel Rozin Wooden Mirror. I saw that the installation works with relatively basic materials. I recognized servo motors, control electronics, video cameras, computers, wood frames. I thought it was interesting that the project we made on recitation has some materials in common. For instance,  it has coding, a motor, a computer, wood and puts together natural objects such as wood, with technology. I think the author made a combination of technology and natural material on purpose.  So the actuator would be the servo motor, the magnetic field, and the cameras. 

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Group Research Project Final Blog Post- Rodrigo Reyes

Briefly define “interaction” as you now understand it and post your definition to the blog. Next, return to the two projects that you researched when shaping your definition. Point to what specifically in those projects triggered your understanding of interaction, and then your definition of it. Address why one project’s approach aligns better and the other less well to that definition.

  • To me interaction as I now understand is a conversation, it is a dialogue, a transmission and a tool that requires an input a process and an output. For it to be a more complex interaction, there must be an input a process and an output that can go back and forth. By the nature of it, you would need a relationship.  This, for instance, can be seen in projects using the Arduino program. I remembered using the potentiometer to control the LED ‘s light intensity. I (the input) would apply a twist on the potentiometer and the LED (the output) would react to my twisting by adjusting the light intensity, which is a response and thus a conversation.  I came across this art installation called IRIS. The art installation is described to be by their designers as interactive art. “According to HYBE, the Iris installation “uses the passage of ambient light, not the emission of light itself.” The interactive aspect of this exhibit comes when visitors approach and their mirror image is projected onto this pixelated makeshift canvas.” So obviously there is an input, the visitor that approaches the canvas, and there is a process and output by the canvas as the canvas mimics the contour of the visitor. This created a conversation between the LED and the LED.  To further my explanation on interaction I would like to reference my experience with an art exhibition in NY.  As I have mentioned in a previous post “During the summer I went to a futuristic art expo in NY. I remember being mesmerized by an automatic green screen. The point of it was to stand in the middle of a giant screen and a green screen on the other side. The result would be instant photoshop.  You would stand up in a position that the screen in front of you told you and the screen would tell you where you had to move or whether you were doing it right.   Once you got into the optimal position, the screen that had a camera that could track your movement. would inform you of it. Then, you would see yourself in the screen being photoshopped in crazy scenarios like riding an elephant in Tanzania or being at the top of a giant mountain. I would say that if you actually got into the optimal position that the screen instructed you to, the results looked pretty realistic.  This form of art is of course interactive. because its almost as if you were having a conversation with the screen. The camera would distinguish your position, communicate to you whether you are doing it right or not, and finally give you a final result. This conversation human-machine back and forth. 

Finally, describe the idea your group focused on in its design of an interactive device that fulfills the assigned criteria. Explain precisely how what you proposed to do derives from, responds to, or relates in some significant manner to your definition of the established form of interaction you identified in your research of the two projects above

  • In last week’s group project,  we thought of this idea of the Doglar. The Doglar itself is a collar that is in constant monitoring of the dog. For instance, if the dog catches a disease, the collar would detect it. If the collar was going through anxiety, the collar would detect it. The physical and mental state of the dog would constantly be tracked by the collar and it would transmit all this information to the smartphone of the owner of the dog. The dog owner, after being notified and being informed of pertinent ways of helping the dog, would take action to take care of the dog. This way it would be easier to understand the dog and keep him safe and sound. Additionally, we would provide a smart food dispenser so whenever the collar would detect that the dog was hungry, the food dispenser would automatically be informed of this and dispense the appropriate amount of food or water that the dog might need. Furthermore, the collar is also able to train the dog. The training would mostly consist of positive reinforcement. When the dog pies in the right place, the collar would notify the food dispenser and the dispenser would dispense a treat. On the other hand, when the dog urinated in the wrong place, the collar would vibrate causing the dog to be uncomfortable and communicate that the dog will not get a treat. The Doglar links the dog, the dispenser and the smartphone (which might create a chain reaction where the smartphone inform the owner of the dog’s situation and thus the owner reacts by taking action and taking care of the dog accordingly, in short, the doglar indirectly connect with the owner). As the doglar connects these actors, there is communication and there are many inputs and outputs and processes that make this link a conversation. A punctual example of interaction is when the Collar becomes the listener, as it tracks the dog’s status, but it also becomes a speaker when it vibrates and teaches the dog where to urinate. 

References:

https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iris-by-hybe

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Recitation 3: Sensors by Rodrigo Reyes

Materials

From Arduino Kit:

1 * Arduino Uno
1 * USB A to B cable
1 * breadboard
5* LEDs
5 * 220 ohm resistors
A handful of jumper cables

 

On the recitation, on Sunday I worked with my classmate Ashley. We built the infrared distance sensor and included a light. We used this light to indicate certain proximity to the s}ensor. The light would light up when the object was 30 centimeters close to the sensor. It would turn off when our object was further away than 30 cm. We followed the instructions on the Arduino website, and we copy-pasted the established code. We didn’t know what syntax precisely we should use so we asked the LA for help, and we ended it up figuring it out. 

Question 1:

What did you intend to assemble in the recitation exercise? If your sensor/actuator combination were to be used for pragmatic purposes, who would use it, why would they use it, and how could it be used? 

We wanted to build an Infrared Distance Sensor. Well, I am thinking of using the infrared sensor for things like a car distance radar.  When you are parking your car there would be a sensor that helps you determine how close you are to an object like a wall or another car. It could signal pro by increasing its beeping as you get closer

Question 2:

Code is often compared to following a recipe or tutorial.  Why do you think that is?

Well from what I have seen in coding so far there is normally a base code you can copy-paste. When you are building your code you are telling your computer what to do. You are communicating with your computer. But to be able to communicate there is always base rules you would have to follow to be understood. Those rules are preestablished so in a way when you are trying to make the code you have to base yourself in these pre-established rules.  

Question 3:

In Language of New Media, Manovich describes the influence of computers on new media. In what ways do you believe the computer influences our human behaviors? 

The way our language nowadays is transforming is heavily influenced by technologies. There is, for instance, autocorrect that fixes your grammar. There are memes, stickers, emojis and other ways of communicating that have been a part of language and technology intertwining. 

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Recitation 2 by Rodrigo Reyes

1)Reflect how you use technology in your daily life and on the circuits you just built. Use the text Physical Computing and your own observations to define interaction.

Technology is a term that could be used broadly and can encompass many human innovations. I guess technology can be the lamp in my room,  my air purifier, my alarm, my computer and even simple things like my multicolored pen. In a way, much around me is technology, whether it uses electronics or not, and whether I can interact with it or not.   With that being said, my life is surrounded and fully impacted by technology. I had never actually stopped to think about how all electronics operate, but after building the circuit and connecting the little speaker, I can not stop thinking about how the electronic things around me operate.  According to the text Physical Computing, there are three basic elements in interaction: Input, Output, and Processing. These three are needed in order to form an interaction. From what I saw with the little speaker, I interacted with it. I clicked on the button and there was a response to my action embodied through sound. Although simple and barely processed it counts as an interaction. A more complex interaction would probably be Siri on my phone because in a more complex way it processes the input and gives a sufficiently smart response as an output.

Question 2:

Why did we use the 10K resistor with the push button?

We used a resistor to resist the energy that was flowing to control the flow, and this way ensure the circuit was safe for the beep alarm to not be destroyed. 

Question 3:

If you have 100,000 LEDs of any brightness and color at your disposal, what would you make and where would you put it?

I would not use it unless the energy came from a source that uses renewable energy. Assuming I was using sustainable energy I would install the number of LEDS available in public hospitals in countries in Central America. 

Here I attach some pictures of the circuit bell.