RECITATION 3: SENSORS BY ZHIQIU WANG

Recitation 3

Partner: Yijia Chen

Circuit 1: blink with infrared distance sensor

Components:

1 * Arduino Uno

1 * infrared distance sensor

1 * LED

Jumper cables

Processes and problems we encounter:

For this recitation, we weren

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?

I would like to use the blink device circuit to make a wardrobe which will automatically turn on while human is detected to come close and automatically turn off while human leave. This device can save a lot of the energy easily.

Question 2:

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

Because code is the language which is used to help human to communicate with electrical devices. So it is like a tutorial or a recipe which we tell the circuit or the device how to function correctly. In this way, the code is quite similar to 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?

I believe computer facilitate our human’s life tremendously. In ancient time, people need to travel a long distance only to convey a piece of massage while computers help us solve this problem easily. On a larger scale, computer generates the society’s production and consumption. For example, online shopping has largely changed human’s modern life style. In conclusion, I believe the computers’ benefit is more than its disadvantage.

March 7, 2019

Recitation 3: Sensors by Jennifer Cheung

In this recitation, Jonathan Lin and I chose to create a circuit using a moisture sensor. These are the components used:

1 breadboard

1 moisture sensor

1 Arduino

1 LED

1 220 ohm resistor

1 Wet napkin

Jumper cables

We decided to use the moisture sensor to trigger an LED to turn on. From the previous lecture, we knew how to connect the sensor into the breadboard and Arduino by using the cables to connect all three into power. We connected the LED and resistor into the breadboard and plugged the Arduino into Jonathan’s computer. He took code for the moisture sensor and did some adjustments to fit our circuit. At first we didn’t know exactly how to use the moisture sensor, but were shown that the sensor could pick up moisture just by holding it with our hands or applying a damp towel to the metal. The serial monitor showed that by applying moisture with different pressures, the number would fluctuate. The sensor was now connected properly, but the LED wouldn’t turn on. After a bit of fidgeting with the code and wires, we finally found out that the LED polarity was connected wrong. By switching it around, we were able to successfully use the moisture sensor to turn on the LED once the serial number went over 100.

Question 1

We assembled a circuit that would use moisture to turn on an LED. This could be used in real life in growing agriculture. Farmers or at home gardeners could use this circuit to see if their plants have enough water in the soil. They could adjust the code so that the light would turn on at certain serial numbers, for example, the light could turn on if they were over watering the plants, or if the soil didn’t have enough water. This circuit would help them gauge how much water they should be giving their plants to ensure optimal growth.

Question 2

Code is often compared to following a recipe or tutorial because there are specific steps that coders must make in order for their code to be successful. Key elements, like careful syntax and specific functions, must be included or else the code won’t run. In addition, code needs to be written in the right order for it to be read correctly. Like recipes and tutorials with ingredients and steps, there are so many different elements that coders need to be aware of in order to create successful code. Additionally, many recipes and tutorials are shared with the public, like lots of code that are easily accessible when coders upload their new creations online.

Question 3

Computers have an immense effect on our daily behaviors in our current age of technology. We have become incredible reliant on computers to do daily tasks, like researching, shopping, communicating, making art, and so on. Because of this, we are often glued to computer screens, whether we are doing work or relaxing. Our whole worlds lie within computers, so there is much less direct human interaction needed. For this reason, people have become less social and rely on hiding behind screens to communicate. People no longer spend as much time enjoying the outdoors, because they are able to find entertainment inside on their computers. This has caused a separation people’s interaction with others and the world. While there are negatives, many positives have come out of computers as well. People can easily communicate with those far from them and can share experiences through many different platforms. Computers have also given creatives a new platform to extend their art, whether through digital design or computer generated music. People also have much more access to knowledge, which has fostered people’s yearning to learn and experience new things.

March 7, 2019March 26, 2020

Recitation 3: Sensors by Olivia Zhou

The sensor we chose is the moisture sensor. After picking it, we were confused at first about its connection because my partner thought that according to the link, there should be a base shield. But I believed that it can be directly connected to electric wires. She turned to a learning assistant and it proved that I was right, so we tried it without actuator first. We hold the moisture sensor in turn and it worked( the figure on serial monitor kept changing).

Next we added an LED as well as a 220 ohm resistor to the circuit and changed the code a little bit. I have to admit that I’m not good at coding, so it’s my partner that revised it.

Sensor

However, after uploading the code to Arduino, we found that the LED didn’t light up. At first, I found that the humidity of my partner’s hand is lower than 100, so we we asked another one to try, but it still didn’t work. Then my partner checked our code, but didn’t find the mistake until a learning assistant came and pointed out that our code was incomplete without the pinMode function. We all thought that was where the problem lay. Surprising, the light still didn’t light up. At last, I proposed to change the LED for another one. And it should worked! So actually our former LED was broken too. Anyway, we succeeded at last.

Questions

1. We intended to assemble a moisture detector which lights up when the moisture is greater than 100 and lights off when the moisture is less than 100. If my sensor/actuator combination were to be used for pragmatic purposes, I think peasants would be its users. Because for farmers, it’s often the case that the crops die of drought or waterlog, resulting in a severe economic lost . By inserting the moisture sensor in soil, they could detect the soil moisture content easily and take corresponding measures in time.

2. Code is the intermediary of human languages and computer languages, it enables the instructions given by human beings to be implemented by computers. So it’s like a recipe or tutorial for computers.

3. I think the computer encourages communications. With more and more social platforms popping up, we can easily have a chat with strangers who may come from the opposite side of the earth. And we can also bring our wisdom together when facing academic problems or political problems.

March 7, 2019

Recitation 3: Sensors by Malika

Materials

Arduino Uno: the codes are processed here.

USB A to B cable: connects the Arduino Uno to the computer.

Breadboard: a station to hold the circuit.

A handful of jumper cables: breadboard friendly, easy to use.

Fan: gives wind when the motor starts. Serves as the output.

Motor: gives power when applied current. Motivates the fan.

Moisture sensor: detects the moisture in the substance and gives data back for processing.

Some water: just something to play with the moisture sensor.

Circuit

circuit

Processes

Roger and I decided to play with the moisture sensor and wanted to build circulation. The idea was, a piece of wet tissue covers the sensor and the Arduino sends the signal to let the motor motivates the fan, and the fan will dry out the tissue and stop itself from working.

We encountered some problems. First, we weren’t sure the output range of the moisture sensor. So, we tested it and learnt that when dipped into water, the highest data could reach over 500. Then, we had trouble writing the code. Mainly, we didn’t know if we should use the ‘Servo’ combo or just treat it as a regular output and use the ‘analogWrite’ code. One of the assistants directed us into using the regular ‘analogWrite’ code. Finally, we wanted to map the data collected from the sensor into the range that at some point motivates the motor. But the motor never worked. Again, one of the assistants told us that the mapped data may not be enough to power the motor. And we changed the code into an if condition.

Reflection on the questions

Question 1

Roger and I played with the moisture sensor. It could be used to detect the moisture of the soil, and the fan can be replaced by heating machines and watering machines. If the data collected falls below a certain number, the watering machines work and make the soil wetter. If the date rises above a certain number, the heating machines work and make the soil dryer. Farmers can use it to monitor their field.

Question 2

I think of this as standing on the shoulder of a giant. With all the recipe and tutorials created beforehand, we may build more complicated stuff upon those. That’s why we post our work online for everybody to see. Maybe one day, one of my old projects will become someone else’s inspiration. And somehow, I feel like I contributed as well.

Question 3

I noticed one major difference between a generation that was not exposed to computers until mid-life and my generation who was exposed to computers pretty much the entire life. When my parents want to contact me, they call me. But I will wechat them. Somehow, our way of communicating is much more distant. However, in terms of connecting the whole world, computers bring people so much closer. We can wechat our friend in another city, another country. I believe it won’t be long until we can wechat someone on another planet.

March 7, 2019

IxLab(Young) – Robert – Recitation 3 – Sensors

Information:

Time: 13:45-15:00, 1 March 2019

Location: 825, 8th Floor, NYUSH

Partner: Sheldon Chen

Preparation:

Materials (as I can remember):

Arduino Uno
USB A to B cable
Breadboard
Wires
LED
Buzzer
Moisture Sensor
Infrared Distance Sensor
Vibration Sensor
Ultrasonic Ranger
Joystick module

Process:

Circuit 1: Moisture Sensor

Starting from the Moisture Sensor, we found the code on the website given. It told us we need to use A0 as the analog input so our challenge was how to connect the wires. We recalled what we learned from the last class and connect VGG with 5V, GND with Ground, SIG with A0 on the Arduino. After verifying and uploading the code, we opened the serial monitor and tested the Moisture Sensor with the sweat in our hand (sounds weird). However, my partner won the sweat competition (next time we might update it with LEDs and more wires to make it like a real “competition” ).

Circuit 2: Infrared Distance Sensor

Following the diagram, we quickly built the circuit.

Circuit 3: Vibration Sensor

We used a LED as the output (By the way, my hands hurt).

Circuit 4: Ultrasonic Ranger

We did not use the Ping code so we connected Trig and Echo into two different Digital pins.

Circuit 5: Joystick module

This is my favorite sensor because it reminds me of the game handle.

Question 1:

I intended to assemble Infrared Distance Sensor with the buzzer though failed. For pragmatic purposes, I think it can be used as a doorbell. If someone is getting close enough to the door, the buzzer will ring to remind the host to open the door. It will be much more convenient because the guest does not have to press a button to ring the doorbell.

Question 2:

Because when you don’t understand how to use or connect a component, whether it is a sensor or an output like a buzzer, you can get information from the code. Like in the code of Moisture Sensor, if you don’t know what SIG stands for, after connecting the simple VGG and GND, you find one interface should be connected to A0 according to the code and then you know it must be the SIG.

Question 3:

I think the computer influences our human behaviors through what we always mention, the interaction. Here it not only means we interact with this machine but also we also have interaction with the whole behind, which can be the world connected by the Internet or other machines that based on the computer. Now the computer is one of the necessary components of our daily lives. They both are changing, or we can say improving by interacting with each other.