Author: Yue Yao

In recitation this week, I learned about processing basics. I found inspiration from the motif online and drew some pictures with processing. The picture I found is called Bright Unity by Vasily Kandinsky.

I chose this picture because it’s interesting to see how the squares, ellipses, and triangles of different sizes are combined together. It seems to show a special meaning. Also, the style and color he chose impressed me a lot.  This picture below is my final creation. 

Process

I decided to emulate my motif’s design. Besides the functions we learned in class such as rect(), triangle(), line(), I also learned how to draw the semi-circle and the curve. Initially, I didn’t figure out how to draw the semi-circle with color filled. I found arc() may be useful to draw it, but I only managed to draw a horizontal one with code below:

arc(50, 50, 80, 80, 0, PI+QUARTER_PI, CHORD);

Then I asked some fellows. I realized that “0” means the starting point and “PI+QUARTER_PI” means the ending point. More importantly, the value change from 0 to 2PI goes in clockwise, which is different in Maths. So, later on, I successfully drew the blue semi-circle! 
Additionally, Linda told me that curveVertex() is also useful to draw the arc. So I created some toothlike shapes in white, which I think are really cute ! XD

# Reference of curveVertex() 

noFill();
beginShape();
curveVertex(84,  91);
curveVertex(84,  91);
curveVertex(68,  19);
curveVertex(21,  17);
curveVertex(32, 100);
curveVertex(32, 100);
endShape();

However, I only know how to draw some regular shapes with color filed. Due to the time constraint, I didn’t figure out how to fill in a polygon. I will explore more and make further research on that. 

Here’re my codes:

 

Conclusion

– Similarities and Differences
I want to call my final creation Bright Boat. Compared to the picture I found online, my final creation has a similar layout and structure. The difference is that I made some changes in some small shapes. And I don’t think we can choose the uneven color as the creator did. So I only filled in one single color in each shape. 
– Do you think that drawing in Processing was a good means of realizing your design?
I do think drawing in Processing is a good means of realizing my design. Compared to some design software I used such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Sai, it depends more on the algorithm. The elements are quite simple. But only using points, lines and 2D shapes I can create real art. It’s more like an interaction with the machine. Once you have an idea, Processing will help you realize that.

According to Crawford in “the art of interactive design”, he believes that in interaction there should be one actor listening, considering and responding to the other, also there are different levels of interaction. Based on that, I think there can be two or more actors involved in a single Interaction. Take the Speed Game we made for example, the two participants can be seen as two inputs at the same time, and then the monitor gives the output showing the game results through the circuits we built on Arduino Uno. It’s necessary to get the intuition about what’s going on between two actors, but o make the description more academic and general, I would like to change the words “listen”, “consider” into “receive”, “process”. As Igoe and O’Sullivan put it in “Introduction to physical computing”, we need to think about the stages of input, output, and processing after you iterate your concept in plain language without thinking about the technology. (xxii) Therefore, interaction in my understanding is a process in which an actor receive and process the information from another through certain medium and then give the results accordingly.

One project I found aligning with my definition is called Aweigh. Nowadays, we are always engaged in satellite-basis interaction in daily life. If we are leaving for someplace, we will open the map. Navigation tells us where we are. This project creates an alternative positioning system based on the polarized vision of insects, rather than any company or governmental service. Combining this process with the polarization of sunlight observed in insect eyes, the group developed a technology that calculates longitude and latitude in urban as well as off-grid areas. I consider it as an interactive process because we can take the polarized light as an input, and the exact position as the output. Between them, there must be light sensors and digital components so that the light in the physical world can be converted into bytes or codes embedded in those circuits.

Another project comes from the exhibition I went to last semester, which is called “Quayola: Asymmetric Archaeology – Gazing Machines”. By generating data randomly through a series of complex algorithm, a whole work of art is generated accordingly. Normally, we are familiar with the works of art created by the artists, with their natural painting tools. But as is implied in the name of the exhibition, we got the change to take an insight into the relationship between art and craft, or between the humans and machine. However, it seems to be unrelated to any forms of interaction. All the data is set. Unlike the TeamLab, another exhibition I went a few months ago, the visual images here won’t change according to the physical motion detected from humans. Although we do have computer programming as an effective medium to convert bytes to visual arts, there’s lack of such inputs.

The interactive device we made is called the FitBox. It’s based on the known environment of hologram technology. The hologram is still at its starting point nowadays, where it can project the real object in a three dimensional way. But we imagine that it can be applied to the world of health and wellness, and it can have physical contact with real-life people. The FitBox functions as a workout guide. It’s portable, so it’s convenient for you to bring it to any place you like. There are basically two modes: workout mode and support mode. In the first mode, the FitBox can detect your error on your posture and pop up the hologram doing correction for you. In the second mode, the hologram will encourage you to do some exercise just to relax. In conclusion, the FixBox helps support your workout experience both physically and mentally through hologram technology. It firstly receives the information of body motion with sensors, and process it with some technology to be realized in the future, and projects “a hologram coach” as an output.

We had 4 group meetings in total. During this two-week preparation, we worked collaboratively and efficiently, from deciding on the theme to rehearsing. Our initial idea was inspired by a movie. We decided to make a medical device which can detect your disease as long as you put your hand into it. In 3 seconds, it will give a complete report about your body condition, such as temperature, heartbeat rate, etc. However, since we wanted to amplify our interactive process, instead of simply putting your hand, we turned to our alternative choice—— the FitBox. For the visual parts, I picked up a used package at the dorm and painted it blue. Also, I stuck cardboard on the front with double-sided tape to make it feel like 3D. The symbols on them indicate various functions embedded in the FitBox. Later, Lydia designed the poster with Illustrator. Jackson recorded his voice to create a robotic sound. He also writes the detailed script.

 

My friend asked me what’s the insight of this project when the hologram already exists in real life. I did consider it as an important fact, but just like Skype 2.0, a project from another group, I think technology is developing continuously. We inserted a lot of new interactive elements like physical contacts or emotional support into it. After the presentation, we also received lots of useful feedback. One of them shows the possibility that the principle can be used as a study guide, where you can attend the lecture in-person with your teacher in a hologram! Although our project is particularly focused on fitness, I do believe that idea equally shed light on the future of hologram.

Big thanks to my group members ( Lydia, Jackson, Eric, Emily, and Haiyan ) and our Professor Godoy.

Reference：

https://s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ima-wp/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/05164121/The-Art-of-Interactive-Design-brief.pdf 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uviCK0V71cQpA76PV9PK03Df14vcsd0y/view 

https://www.creativeapplications.net/python/aweigh-open-navigation-system-inspired-by-insect-eyes/

http://www.smartshanghai.com/event/55029

https://vimeo.com/195298933

In this recitation class, my partner and I chose the Photoresistor, Light Dependent Resistor (LDR), or “light sensor” which has a resistive value which changes based on the amount of light shone onto it.

We finished it quite quickly. We tried both the digitalWrite() and AnalogWrite() to make the LED work, although in the latter one It’s not that clear to us to see how the LED changes the brightness according to the value it’s given. We didn’t have time to try other outputs like the buzzer or servo-motor. But in a few time left we do want to explore some other sensors listed. So we began to figure out how the joystick module, which is the most attractive sensor to us, works with a possible output. We observed that there are pins of X,Y,Z positions on the board, so the value of position can be transmitted to LED. When the value falls into certain range the LED can lit up.

Here are our work:

 

Question1:
If our sensor/actuator combination were to be used for pragmatic purposes, I think it can be used in all kinds of lighting equipment and our phone camera and the screen of our laptop, which already parts of our daily life. It’s accessible to everyone of all ages. For example, some lights on the side of the street will be automatically out if it’s getting bright(when it reached a specific critical value). We don’t need the light to be on all day long. For the phone or laptop, it helps make the photos of the best quality and visual effects, or to make our eyes comfortable. 
If I’m going to design a device with this combination, I will put it in my room and change the light accordingly(like from soft light to dynamic light) when it reached certain value or falls into some range. 

Question2:
In terms of the structure of the whole process, I prefer to see code as a medium without which we can never get what we want in an interactive device. We have both the idea and ideal result, and we normally use code to connect them. It’s the same with recipe and tutorials. We get inspiration and instructions from them, that’s how we get nice dishes from raw materials.
Whatever the case, all of them should be seen as a tool with which we can flexibly build our creative ideas on what we’re going to achieve.

Question3:
Firstly, the computer provides lots of convenience for humans. We can use a hard drive to store our files and even build an office on our laptop so that we don’t need to go outside. An office at home is available for most people now. 
However, the computer acts as a double-side swore. It blocks the network of human beings in reality and is gradually harming people’s mentality. Avoidance of direct contact reduces people’s ability to build a healthy network.
For me, I use my computer to work on my schoolwork only. I barely use social media, except that I use them to record some wonderful moments in my life. When it comes to real-life interaction either with objects or human beings, I prefer to keep a distance with the computer so that I could make a more rational choice.

This week, I worked with Cathy to build the three circuits in this recitation using our own Arduino Kit. Based on the knowledge we learned in class, we worked on it smoothly.
See our work:

– Fade

– ToneMelody
Although we just need to copy and paste the codes, it’s amazing to see how all the notes are set and how a nice piece of music is created accordingly. 

– SpeedGame
I observed that this is a symmetrical circuit in this 1v1 competition. I really like the push button. It’s also great fun when we open the monitor, see the instructions and restart over and over again! It’s probably the first time I made a game!
One thing i think we need to improve is that we basically follow the photo to connect the circuit and didn’t pay too much attention to the schematic diagram. And it’s a bit difficult for me to think about how it really works or how it shows the testing result through the monitor. 

 

Question1:
In my daily life, I enjoy listening to music with my Bluetooth speaker, even with my lamp. With the development of the internet and the Internet of Things, It’s possible to put everything into a conversation and create more interaction with each other. In my comm lab class, I designed a comic art and a net art with my partners, where the audience can interact with the website by clicking or dragging. The computer will listen to your instructions, consider them with the computer language and respond to the audience with various effects. it’s also the case when it comes to the circuits we built in recitation class. There are always two actors, one of which is the input and the other the output. In the third circuit, for example, we will never get to know who won the game without the LED light. 

Question2:
The button may be burnt out if it’s directly connected to the power, for the current flowing through it will be quite big. The bigger the resistor value it is, the safer the button should be.

Question3:
If I have 100,000 LEDs of any brightness and color at your disposal, I want to first get every component(like TV, sofa, or stairway) in my home covered with LEDs. Then, I want to get together all the LEDs into a whole circuit and use all the 88 keyboards of my piano as the inputs. All I need to do is to close the light, sit down, and play my favorite piece. When a different note is played, one component in my home will be shining with gorgeous color:)

Big thanks to my partner Cathy, Professor Godoy, and fellows~