Author: wx557

My definition of interaction

I define interaction as a cyclic process where two actors alternately receive and respond to the message, which is base on the definition given by Crawford in The Art of Interactive Design. Receiving and responding message can also be described as listening, thinking, and speaking, which in computer terms are called: input, processing, and output, according to Introduction to Physical Computing written by O’Sullivan and Igoe. More specifically, in the process of interaction, both parties receive and process information and give corresponding responses, which stimulates a new round of information transmission and thus forms a cycle.

Two interactive projects 

1. Camera Restricta

https://www.creativeapplications.net/objects/camera-restricta/

The Camera Restricta project fits my definition of interaction well. It is a tool for taking unique photographs—by pressing the button on the camera, users can check whether too many photos have been taken at the location. If so, the camera retracts the shutter and blocks the viewfinder, and users can’t take any more pictures here. The two actors in this project are the user and the camera. First, the user conveys a message that he wants to check the number of pictures taken here by pressing the button, which is also called INPUT. And then the camera receives the task and detects the number of pictures taken nearby with an induction system, which is PROCESSING. Then it shows the number to the user and makes other reactions such as retracting the shutter and blocking the viewfinder, which is OUTPUT. These reactions is another message conveyed to the users—he shouldn’t take photos here, so the user changes another place and repeats this reaction cycle. We can see the two actors here influence each other by constantly exchanging information, thus creating a cyclic and dynamic process.

2.Shanshui-DaDA

https://www.creativeapplications.net/member-submissions/shanshui-dada-ai-assists-human-creator-in-drawing-chinese-ink-wash-landscape-painting/

I think the Shanshui-DaDA project doesn’t align with your definition of interaction. Shanshui-DaDA is AI assisting human creator in drawing Chinese ink wash landscape painting. Once the user draws some lines on the screen, it converts them into landscape paintings. In my opinion, it doesn’t involve a circulation of information transmission. It is a unilateral process, which only involves users’ input and Shanshui-DaDA’s output. Also, the output doesn’t stimulate the user’s next reaction.

Our group project—Reveal Your Voice

Partner:

Karen Zhang, Arthur Gu, Anna, Celine Yu

As the first step, our group of five gathered together and basically unified the concept of interaction. Then we brainstormed how the world would be in 2119. We divided the problems that people may face in 2119 into several categories: Environment, Disability, Obesity and so on. Inspired by Celine, we came up with the sign-language interpretation gloves, which could translate sign-language into audible voices. We wanted to make the project not only have strong interaction and practicability but also more meaningful. The gloves are more than an interactive device—it is a gift for the mute to regain their lost voice. Through our performances, we can see that mute people usually live in a silent and oppressive environment. There always seems to be a barrier between them and others, which is not their fault. If such a device exists in the future, people’s disability could be solved. We can make up for the disabled’s pity with the technology, and provide more possibilities for them. Although this technology hasn’t been implemented and promoted, it is likely that it will be perfected and applied in 2119.

Apart from being meaningful, the device perfectly shows my understanding of interaction. Based on my definition of interaction, the two actors in the device are the user and the gloves. When the person uses sign-language (INPUT), the sensors on the gloves receive the hands’ moving trajectory information and the processor processes the information (PROCESSING), and then expresses it in a voice that can be heard (OUTPUT). Once the device outputs the sound, the mute users can confirm the successful transmission of information based on the feedback of the device (the sound they hear) and then make a new round of stimulation, which constitutes a cyclic process. That is exactly my definition of interaction. Moreover, the meaning of interaction for this device is not limited to the interaction between mute people and itself. It also promotes interpersonal communication and helps mute people gain confidence in daily life. Through the design process of the group project, I think I have a deeper understanding of interaction and have gained the ability to apply it in the following courses.

Recitation 3: Sensors

Sharon Xu

Instruction: Choose one of the sensors listed below and read about what it is and how it performs. Once you have picked a sensor, build a circuit that integrates this sensor with your Arduino. Use the data (input) from your sensor to drive an output (Servo-motor, LEDs, Buzzer, etc.). Document the finished circuit and your interaction with it. In addition, draw a diagram of how all the components are connected and add this to your documentation. If you finish your circuit early, swap out the sensor in your circuit with a different sensor. Please cite any sources you reference to do this exercise.

Partner: Arthur&Olivia

Components:

• Arduino
• USB
• Breadboard
• Jumper cables
• Moisture sensor
• LED

Circuit：Moisture Sensor

We chose moisture sensor to build the circuit. First, according to the instruction, we figure out how to connect the moisture sensor with Arduino. After thinking about the “INPUT”, we built another return circuit with LED to make a “OUTPUT”, so that when the humidity reached a certain level, we could see the signal of the indicator light. And I used a part of code from the instruction to make the “INPUT” work, and then I write the code I’ve learnt in this week’s classes to make the LED work when the humidity up to a certain number. It turned out well.

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 intended to assemble a circuit where LED would give out light when the humidity reached a certain level. It might be used by those busy office workers who have plants. When plants lack water, the lights go on, suggesting that people who are busy with their work should water them to avoid drought-related deaths, especially for those precious plants.

Question 2:

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

Code is like the language that humans use to communicate with computers. People translate their design ideas into code and input them into a computer, which then executes the instructions step by step, just like following a recipe or tutorial.

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?

As what Manovich writes, because of the invention of computers, people have already used numerical representation to make the world modular, automated and variable. People thus see the world more rationally and logically. At the same time, computers use the algorithm to give humans some feedback, such as relevant recommendations and automatic association, to guide human behavior.

Recitation 2: Arduino Basics

Sharon Xu

Instruction: Please answer each of these questions. Add your answers to your blog post, along with the other documentation for the circuits that you built in class (including your own drawing of the schematic for circuit 3). 

Partner: Arthur

Circuit 1: Fade 

At first, we didn’t analyze the schematic carefully. We directly build the circuit according to the picture attached. We made mistakes first because we didn’t truly understand the circuit. And then we read the schematic again and found that there was a pin we plugged wrong. I think it would be better if we analyze the schematic carefully before building circuit every time. Additionally, using wires with different colors to distinguish different functions is a good way to make the breadboard easier to check. 

Circuit 2: toneMelody 

We built it smoothly and it ran successfully.

Circuit 3: Speed Game

According to the picture, we successfully built the circuit. After inputting the code, the circuit worked. Because the circuit is a little bit complex, so using wires of different color is important to help figure out how it works.

(Optional) Circuit 4: Four-player Speed Game

Here we ran out of time, so we didn’t make it work. But later I figured out how to make it work: repeat the code and change some words of it (e.g. adding player03/04, counter3/4) and change the pins for another breadboard. 

Question 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 the collection of techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives. I use technology every day in my life, such as using computer and mobile phone. Even on the way back to our dorm, I was constantly in touch with technology: the shuttle bus operation system, swiping machine at the door, and the elevator. On the circuits I just built, I also used and learnt more about technology. I’ve learned how to make buzzers sound through Arduino, how to adjust the brightness of LEDs, and even how I can make a mini game, all of which demonstrate the power of technology. As the definition given by Chris Crawford, author and game programmer, interaction is “an interactive process of listening, thinking, and speaking between two or more actors.” Listening, thinking, and speaking is expressed in computer terms as input, processing, and output, according to the text Physical Computing. In my opinion, interaction is more like a bridge connecting with two objects, which are often the user and the computer. As you are inputting something, you are talking to the computer, and it takes a little while for it to think your words, and then it replies.

Question 2:

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’ll make hundreds of lamps with adjustable brightness and long-life battery, and it can be folded and easy to transport. I’ll convey them to the children in poor families who can’t pay for the electricity and thus have difficulty doing their homework. I once read a news that a father takes his daughter to the metro station every day to finish her homework because they can’t afford electricity. So I want to bring more chances to them by inventing something meaningful.