Partner: Sarah Waxman

Circuit 1: Fade

The first circuit was really easy to assemble. We already had the code that fades the LED light on the Arduino app on our computer. The components for this circuit where minimum, just two cables, 1 resistor, and the LED ( and obviously a computer and the Arduino). We encounter no problems building this circuit .

Circuit 2: Tone Melody

Circuit 2 was similar to circuit one, only that this time instead of making the LED fade we had to make a sound from the buzzer. Once again the required material for this circuit where minimum. We used a buzzer a resistor and two cables (Arduino and Computer). The code was simple and it was already saved on the Arduino app on our computers, all we had to was run it. The sound this buzzer emitted had a delay like every second which later became really annoying after a couple of minutes. 

Circuit 3; Game

Oh, this circuit was nothing compared like the two previous ones. In order to assemble circuit 3 we needed to mix our knowledge of circuit one and two.  We had to construct a game were one player had to click the button more times than the other player (in order to win). Every time a player clicked  a button the buzzer emitted a sound, and at the end of the game one of the LED lights( on opposite sides)  lighted up indicating the winner. The instructions to build this circuit were very clear and concise, therefore we where able to assemble it quickly. But that was our first mistake, we made it so quick that we forgot how some of the components are polarized ( so you have ti put them in a certain location and position). The second problem was that we   had a short circuit, meaning that the usb in the computer didn’t allow the connection due to the overflow of electricity that came from the Arduino. After fixing the short circuit we finally where able to play the game. The code for the game we got it from an online source (https://www.tinkercad.com/things/6MzvN5rlZlr-race-the-led-spring19. ) that we copy and paste on our Arduino app on our computers. 

Question 1

Is almost impossible to live in todays world without having to interact with technology. Every day people and computers are coming closer to each other, meaning that computers are responding to almost every human sense they detect( known as physical computing). This type of technology is among almost every technological device we use. For example the circuits we build during this recitation (as simple as they might look)  where able to respond to our touch,  For example: circuit 3 was depending on our touch in order to run the game.  Not only this is a perfect example of physical computing, but also of how humans always pursue a closer interaction with technology. Is a codependent relation, meaning that we need technology to advance and technology needs us in order to improve (and work) .  Technology is a source that humans can alter and manipulate to their own purposes. Its a source thats is always available to help and entretain humans. 

Question 2

If I had a 100,000 led lights I would put them all under a pool made of glass. So, when the led lights detects motion they light up and follow the swimmer. This will help safeguards detect people easier and it could also be a beautiful show.

First Circuit

• Breadboard to Arduino
  • First, we attached the resistor to D9 output on the Arduino. Then the LED to the resistor and from the LED connected that to the ground of the Arduino.
• Code
  • On the Arduino software, we followed the directions of Arduino>File>Examples>03.Analog>Fading and successfully got the light to fade!

IMG_8278.TRIM

Second Circut

• Beadboard to Arduino
  • We simply attached the speaker to D8 output on the Arduino and attached it to the ground of the Arduino.
• Code
  • We followed the Code: Arduino>File>Examples>02.Digital>toneMelody; however, we were having an error message and it turned out we did not have the code set up with the right port of the Arduino. 

IMG_8279

Third Circuit

• Breadboard to Arduino
  • On www.tinkercad.com we found the circuit. After connecting the ground and power of the breadboard to the ground and power to the Arduino, and also connecting the power and ground of both sides of the breadboard. My partner and I started from the outside in (each having our own side)of the circuit. First, we connected the button and connected that to power on the breadboard. Then we connected the button to the 10 resistor and connecting that resistor to ground on the breadboard. Then starting with the positive side of the  LED into #2 output on the Arduino and the negative to the 220 resistor, but it was wrong so we switched it connecting the negative side to the #2 output and the positive to the 220 resistor.  Then connecting the 220 resistor to ground on the breadboard we finally came to the end connecting the speaker in the middle while also connecting the positive side to #8 output on the Arduino and the negative side to ground on the breadboard.
• Code
  • The code we simply copied from www.tinkercad.com and it ran after a check on all the wires connections.

IMG_8281

Fourth Circut 

Here we ran out of time, but we experimented attaching a second breadboard to another and have them share one Arduino. All we finished was the attaching since time was spent in trying to find long enough wires leaving us never finding out if our master pice worked.

Question One:

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.

Answer One:

My daily life is consumed by technology because as it grows the more it is used to complete assignments and used for entertainment. Much of the input and output of any of my technology, laptop or phone, is done for me. All I do is either type or click and I trigger an already programmed processing. The circuit is different, this time I am the one putting together the output and eventually need to find the correct input for whatever I am trying to make. This interaction is more of a higher degree of interaction because of the hands-on work to create the output, not knowing whether the processing will be a success, rather than using an already made input and output knowing the processing will be a success.  There is more conversation that goes into making than using.

Question two:

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

Answer two:

I would want to make a covered slide where it is dark on the outside, but once inside it is lit up by a rainbow of colors at a not too bright setting that it hurts the eyes (make the brightness adjustable). I would want to take this to the DuPont Hospital for Children that is local to me where I volunteered back in Pennsylvania. I would want to make it safe for kids with any disability to be able to use it, but most importantly something fun for the kids. There could be different themes too like underwater or rainforest and put audio in to make their situation transform.

Materials and functions:

• 1 * Breadboard      Provide a base for making electronic connections and aid in the prototyping of circuits.
• 1 * LM7805 Voltage Regulator    Maintain a constant voltage level. Make the output voltage 5V for other components to work safely.
• 1 * Buzzer      An audio signaling device.We can tell if the circuit works by listening to it.
• 1 * Push-Button Switch      Be used to interrupt the flow of current through a circuit. We use it to control(turn on/off) the buzz and the LED.
• 1 * Arcade Button     Be used to interrupt the flow of current through a circuit. We use it in soldering. Actually it’s an alternative of push-button switch.
• 1 * 220 ohm Resistor      Resist the flow of electricity to control the flow of current. It protects the LED from burning out.
• 1 * LED      A visible light source. We can tell if the circuit works by looking at it.
• 1 * 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor      Store electricity while current is flowing into them, then release the energy when the incoming current is removed. (Question: I still don’t know why it is included in circuits and in parallel with other loads)
• 1 * 10K ohm Variable Resistor (Potentiometer)      A resistor whose resistance can be adjusted. We use it to change the degree of LED brightness.
• 1 * 12 volt power supply      Provide the power for other components to work. It( 12V DC) was translated from 220V AC and then to 5V DC.
• 1 * Barrel Jack      It connects the power supply with the breadboard.
• 1 * Multimeter      Be able to measure the electrical properties of voltage, current and resistance. They are useful for testing circuits and determine the cause of electrical problems within a circuit. We use it to measure the resistance to find a 220 ohm resistor out of others.
• Several Jumper Cables (Hook-up Wires)      Be used to carry electricity from one point to another. We use it to connect different electrical components.

Tasks

• Circuit 1

diagram

video

process    

 Actually, this was my first time to build a circuit, although I had previewed some readings, I still got confused at first. So did my partner Sarah. So she asked a teaching fellow for help. The fellow almost helped us through the whole course. The first problem we confronted is about  the resistors . We measured several resistors with the multimeter. But their resistance were all 10 ohm. At last we found one 220- ohm resistor with the help of the fellow.

• Circuit 2

diagram

video

process

In this task, we added a new component: switch. But after we finished building the circuit and pressed the button on the switch, it didn’t work because the LED was always on. With the help of the teaching fellow we found out that we actually put the switch in the wrong place, so it was always connected. Later we put it across the middle line of the breadboard. 

• Circuit 3

diagram

video

process

We built this circuit quite successfully and smoothly, just by adding a potentiometer on the basis of task two.

• Soldering

picture

process

My partner Sarah tried to solder the Arcade Button with the red electric wire first, and the teaching fellow( another) emphasized that we should use the side of the tip of the iron instead of the very tip and scratch the soldering iron in the box when that part turns dim. But when I tired to solder the Arcade Button with the black electric wire, it still turned to be difficult to feed the melting roll of solder into the contact point. Anyway, I made it.

Answers to questions:

 1. In “The Art of Interactive Design”, the author generalizes the notion of the conversation as an interactive process to any human interaction and condensed it to three steps: listen, think, and speak (in turn). Academically, it’s input, process and output. From my perspective, the circuits we built do include interactivity because they can respond to our deeds like clicking the button of switch and changing the resistance of potentiometer by turning on and off the buzz/LED and changing the degree of LED brightness. But it’s also of low interactivity like the example of refrigerator light given by the author.

2. In Zach Lieberman’s video, the most impressive project for me is EyeWriter designed for paralyzed graffiti writer Tony. Their team created low-cost eye-tracking softwares and hardwares( connecting IR LEDs, micro CCD CAM, etc to sunglasses with copper wires and wire ties ), the result was quite pleasant that Tony could write graffiti and polish his works with his eyeballs, and his graffiti was even shadowed to the building.In my opinion, Interaction Design is the inner inspiration and Physical Computing is the technical basis for the design to be operated successfully. Interactive Art is created by the combination of the two.

Reference list:

Class 02 / Feb 14 Thu / Electricity, Electrical Components & Circuits

The Art of Interactive Design

Zach Lieberman’s video