Category: Marcela

Recitation Date: 2/15/19

Instructor: Marcela Godoy

Circuit 1: Door Bell

Materials:

1 * Breadboard,  1 * Buzzer,  1 * LM7805 Voltage Regulator,  1 * Push-Button Switch,  1 * 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor,  1 * 12 volt power supply,  1 * Multimeter,  Several Jumper Cables (Hook-up Wires),  1 * Barrel Jack

At first, we had no idea how to use the breadboard. So instead of using it, we tried to connect each component directly with the wires and quickly realized that was a mistake. With the help of some fellows, we were given a quick rundown on how to use the breadboard.

When the circuit was first completed, it did not work because the voltage regulator was not properly connected to the speaker and capacitor. We only connected one wire from the regulator to the voltage, and tried to connect the regulator with the speaker and capacitor without wires.

After finally fully grasping how to use wires and the breadboard, the circuit was properly completed. Although the speaker did go off, the switch did not work. When we pressed the switch, it couldn’t turn the speaker on and off like it should. So after some close inspection and help from the fellows, we noticed that the switch was not put in correctly. After that was solved, the switch finally worked.

Circuit 2: Lamp

Materials:

1 * Arcade Button,  1 * 220 ohm1 * Breadboard,  1 * LM7805 Voltage Regulator,  1 * Push-Button Switch,  1 * 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor,  1 * 12 volt power supply,  1 * Multimeter,  Several Jumper Cables (Hook-up Wires),  1 * Barrel Jack

This time, building the circuit went smoothly. Before constructing the circuit though, we tested to see which resistor had 220 Ohms with the multimeter. After we built the circuit, we tested it but the LED didn’t light up so we double checked all the wires and position of the components. It turned out that the LED light was not put in correctly. The positive and negative was put in the other way around. After we fixed that, the LED lighted up and the switch also worked. For this circuit, we tried replacing the switch with the arcade button we soldered and that also went smoothly.

Circuit 3: Dimmable Lamp

Materials:

1 * Arcade Button,  1 * 220 ohm1 * Breadboard,  1 * LM7805 Voltage Regulator,  1 * Push-Button Switch,  1 * 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor,  1 * 12 volt power supply,  1 * Multimeter, Several Jumper Cables (Hook-up Wires),  1 * Barrel Jack, 1 * 10K ohm Variable Resistor (Potentiometer)

By now, we had no problem putting together the circuit. We tested how the dimness of the LED light would change if we plugged the wire into the different parts of the variable resistor. We found out that the dimness level actually changes.

Reading Response:

The circuits that we built during recitation included interactivity because the LED light gave feedback when we pressed the button. However, as mentioned in “The Art of Interactive Design” feedback from machines like a light lighting up in a fridge or from the LED light in our case, is an example of a low level of interactivity. The circuit with the highest interactivity would probably be the last circuit where we were able to change the level of dimness by plugging the wire into different parts that were connected to the variable resistor.

Interaction design and physical computing can act as tools to create interactive art. The product that Zack Lieberman created the EyeWriter which enables Tony, a graffiti writer, who is paralyzed to be able to write graffiti with just his eye. The Eyewriter allows Tony to once again be able to interact with his environment by writing graffiti. This just shows that physical computing can create tools that allow humans to interact with their surrounding.

Lab Date: Feb. 15, 2019
Instructor: Marcela
Lab Partner: Ivy

Aim of Today’s Lab: Learn how to solder an arcade button and complete three circuits using a breadboard.

Soldering arcade button

Process: 
In this exercise, we soldered an arcade button. We soldered two jumper cables to our button by melting a metal wire to our cables. We also used pilers to expose some of the copper to help us solder the metal to the cable. 

Circuit 1: Door Bell

Materials used:
Breadboard, Speaker/Buzzer, Capacitor, Push-Button Switch, LM7805 Voltage Regulator, 12 volt Power Supply, Barrel Jack, Jumper Cables 

Process:
I was pretty intimidated beginning this exercise as my partner and I had no experience and didn’t know where to begin, so we began by asking fellows a lot of questions the breadboard, how to use it, and about some of the materials we acquired in the exercise. After assembling the circuit by ourselves according to the schematic, we ran into some problems. Consulting several fellows, we found out our capacitor was in the wrong place so we moved it next to our jumper cables in the power rails. We also found out that our voltage regulator was in the incorrect order so we fixed the jumper cables into the correct order. After fixing these issues, our circuit worked.

With Arcade Button

Circuit 2: Lamp

Materials used:
Breadboard, LED, 220 ohm Resistor, Capacitor, Push-Button Switch, LM7805 Voltage Regulator, 12 volt Power Supply, Barrel Jack, Jumper Cables

Process:
There was not much change between the door bell circuit and the lamp circuit. For this circuit, we exchanged the speaker/buzzer for the LED and 220 ohm resistor and rearranged the position of our capacitor and jumper wires. We tested both resistors by using the multimeter to determine which was the resistor we needed. There wasn’t much trouble building this circuit. However, we realized when building this circuit that we needed to exchange our push-button switch with the arcade button we had soldered from earlier. Although when we tried our arcade button, the LED failed to turn on. After consulting a fellow, we exchanged our arcade button with another one as the wires to our buttons were suspected to be burnt when we were soldering. We also learned how a push button worked and how to place it in our breadboard despite the fact our guesses on how to use it were correct. Our circuit worked again.

With Arcade Button

Circuit 3: Dimmable Lamp

Materials used:
Breadboard, LED, 220 ohm Resistor, 10K ohm Variable Resistor, Capacitor, Push-Button Switch, LM7805 Voltage Regulator, 12 volt Power Supply, Barrel Jack, Jumper Cables

Process:
There was not much issue with this circuit. We added the 10K ohm variable resistor and rearranged the position of our jumper wires. Tested the circuit with both buttons and it worked perfectly! We returned to our door bell circuit and tried it with the arcade button as well.

With Arcade Button

Conclusion
I learned so much during this recitation: what a breadboard does, how to use it, how it works, and how to read schematic diagrams and build simple circuits like the ones we did. Without prior experience, it also confirmed by beliefs that if you don’t know something, there are always resources out there to help you and questions to ask. Some mistakes we had during this exercise was understanding how certain components worked (capacitor, voltage regulator, buttons) and how to implement it into our circuits. We also learned some other tips such as using two different colored wires for our arcade button to tell the difference between our ground and power connections. All in all, this exercise made me excited for what’s to come in this class.  

Answers to Questions
After reading The Art of Interactive Design, in what way do you think that the circuits you built today include interactivity?

The Art of Interactive Design describes interactivity as at least two purposeful actors that react to one another. After reading this article, the circuits we built in this recitation in my opinion include interactivity because we can interact with it and it will respond to our actions. With the doorbell and lamp circuit, we could press a button which emitted a sound or turned an LED light on and allow these reactions to turn off when we release the button. With the dimmable lamp, we could not only press and release a button which to turn on and off the light, but we could also change the brightness of the LED light.

How can Interaction Design and Physical Computing be used to create Interactive Art? You can reference Zack Lieberman’s video or any other artist that you know.

Interactive Design and Physical Computing can be used to create Interactive Art in all kinds of ways. One example of Interactive Art using Interactive Design and Physical Computing is Dialect for a New Era by Frederik Duerinck and Marcel Van Brakel which I experienced in the Cooper Hewitt last summer. This work of art uses Interactive Design by allowing the user to press a button on a glowing square pillar which in turn emits a scent allowing the user to smell. It uses Physical Computing through the button as well. The button is the input and in turn the piece understands to output a smell through holes above the button.

Recitation 1: Electronics and Soldering

Instructor: Marcela

Partner: Justin Wu

Materials Used in Circuits:

• Breadboard – a flat device used for short term electronic prototyping, that allows for easy and organized connections between jumper cables, etc. without the addition of soldering.
• LM7805 Voltage Regulator – this maintains the voltage output and is used support the current. For example, this device allows the 12V DC to be executed at 5V DC so the LED would not fry.
• Buzzer – this device acts as the output once it is pressed, resembling a  feedback system which allowed us to see if our circuit was working or not.
• Push-Button Switch – this device allows electrical currents to flow throughout the circuit; can act as an input and/or output. 
• Arcade Button – like the push button switch, this device is another input element that controls electrical flow through the circuit.
• 220 ohm Resistor – this device limits the voltage that flows to the LED to protect it. 
• LED – emits light once electricity flows to it; acts as a output.
• 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor – has the same function as the resister; used to protect the LED or buzzer.
• 10K ohm Variable Resistor (Potentiometer) – this device can adjust the voltage that flows to the LED, controlling the brightness of the LED.
• 12 volt power supply – we converted the 220V AC to 12V DC, a voltage level that was safer to experiment with.
• Barrel Jack – connects the breadboard with the 12V DC power supply. 
• Multimeter – ahas many different functions, but in this class, we used it to determine the correct resister level.
• Several Jumper Cables (Hook-up Wires) – flexible wires used in the breadboard to connect circuits.

Circuit 1: Doorbell

Components used:  Breadboard, LM7805 Voltage Regulator, Buzzer, Push Button Switch/Arcade Button, 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor, 12 volt power supply, Barrel Jack

While this model seemed fairly simple, it really helped me understand how the breadboard flow works and the concept of power and ground. Our first few trials were all failures. Being new at this, we weren’t really sure how to go about the circuit. We weren’t sure how to connect everything and what was connected to what. But once the functionality of the breadboard was explained to us, we were able to rearrange our jumper cables to connect the correct cables to power, ground, and legs of the components. We were also learned that the best way to format the button was to have the jumper cables in a cross formation, and that it would cancel out if the cables were in the same row. 

Circuit 2: Lamp

*finger on the button

Components used: Breadboard, LM7805 Voltage Regulator, Buzzer, Push-Button Switch/Arcade Button, 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor, 12 volt power supply, Barrel Jack, 220 ohm Resistor, LED

After assembling the first circuit, we had a much easier time with this circuit, We just replaced the buzzer aspect with the LED light. However, we had to be careful of the legs of the LED light and remember that the long leg is positive to power. Only if the legs are positioned correctly, then the LED would light up. 

Circuit 3: Dimmable Lamp

Components used: Breadboard, LM7805 Voltage Regulator, Buzzer, Push-Button Switch/Arcade Button, 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor, 12 volt power supply, Barrel Jack, 10K ohm Variable Resistor (Potentiometer), LED 

In this experience particularly, I think we realized the importance of breadboard organization. When we first began, we had a lot of jumper cables hanging out and plugged in with no purpose. It was difficult to see what line the potentiometer legs were plugged into. We replaced the resistor with the potentiometer, but were initially confused where to plug what because it had 3 legs. However, after further instruction, we were told to plug the cables into the left and middle legs. From there, we were able to light up and adjust the LED brightness.

Soldering!

While we only used this button in the first circuit, this was my favorite part of recitation. We were able to solder the wires onto the connecting metal circles to facilitate electrical flow by melting a little portion of the metal jumper cable.

Reflection Question 1:

After reading The Art of Interactive Design, I believe our circuits include interactivity through the cycle of human interaction and feedback. The author describes interactivity as a cycle where “two actors alternately listen, think, and speak.” In this case, both my partner and I were one actor and the breadboard circuit was the other actor. We would listen to the instructions given, think about how to format the elements, and speak to the breadboard by trying the circuit out. The circuit would then have to listen to our ideas, think if the ideas were suitable, and speak back to us, giving us feedback if the circuit was functioning or if something was wrong (ie. no buzzing or light). If something was wrong, we would then have to listen to what the circuit was doing (usually nothing), and if nothing was happening, we would then have to think about how to make it work, and ultimately speak again and execute what we thought would work. This cycle is a continuous loop of listening and feedback until both actors are satisfied with the outcome. 

Reflection Question 2:

Interaction Design and Physical Computing can be used to create interactivity in numerous fashions. Both interaction design and physical computing have been around for ages, but in our most recent era, we have had the breakthrough of being able to combine both aspects to create interactive ideas with humans, other objects, etc. For example, interactive design can enhance existing ideas. In class, we watched this particularly eyeopening video “The Eyewriter”. This particular film really stood out to me because not only was this using physical computing to help someone, but that computing led to interactive design that changed his life. Being physically disabled left him constrained to his bed, but with this idea, he was essentially able to be transported outside and have his graffiti shown on buildings miles away from him, allowing him to interact with many other humans. However, I think interactive design and physical computing can also be for silly things like the head button game where 2 players wear helmets and try to slap each others head and have their picture taken when the button is pressed. Both ideas are great and create interactivity with each other and with physical things. The range of ideas to create interactivity is immense and can be for all different purposes. 

Lab Date: Feb 15, 2019
Instructor: Marcela
Lab Partner: Sam Li

Aim of Today’s Lab: build three sets of circuits using the breadboard and learn how to solder.

Circuit 1: Door Bell 

Components:

• 1 * Breadboard–A pre-organized cable layout, easy to plug in jumper cables and other units’ legs. Good for organizing circuit. 
• 1 * LM7805 Voltage Regulator–Turns 12V DC to 5V DC. This, with the power supply, gives our buzzer and LED a friendly 5V. 
• 1 * Buzzer–Output. Add direct current and it plays a 2200 Hz pitch.
• 1 * Arcade Button–Input. Switch on and the current can pass
• 1 * 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor–Stores electricity while current is flowing into them, then releases the energy when the incoming current is removed. Capacitors can also be used to stabilize and smooth the flow of electricity.
• 1 * 12 volt power supply–Turns 220V AC to 12V DC. 
• 1 * Barrel Jack–Convert the power in the cable into the form that the breadboard can process with
• Several Jumper Cables (Hook-up Wires)–Help with connecting the circuit

Circuit 2: Lamp

Components:

• 1 * Breadboard
• 1 * LM7805 Voltage Regulator
• 1 * Arcade Button
• 1 * 220 ohm Resistor–Help reduce the current and share the voltage so that the LED won’t pop.
• 1 * LED–Output. Polarized. Consume electricity and emits light.
• 1 * 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor
• 1 * 12 volt power supply
• 1 * Barrel Jack
• 1 * Multimeter–Test the resistance of the resistors.
• Several Jumper Cables (Hook-up Wires)

Circuit 3: Dimmable Lamp 

Components:

• 1 * Breadboard
• 1 * LM7805 Voltage Regulator
• 1 * Arcade Button
• 1 * 220 ohm Resistor
• 1 * LED
• 1 * 100 nF (0.1uF) Capacitor
• 1 * 10K ohm Variable Resistor (Potentiometer)–Control the brightness of the LED using the change of the resistance.
• 1 * 12 volt power supply
• 1 * Barrel Jack
• Several Jumper Cables (Hook-up Wires)

Problems:

1. Don’t know which is the front of the capacitor: the front is with the black box that sticks out.
2. The negative is seen as the ground.
3. The power should better be inserted into the very left/right column with specific signs of +/-
4. Each row should be connected with cables.
5. The very left/right column is not connected to the middle two columns.
6. Always plug out the device when altering the circuit.
7. The capacitor is both in parallel and series connection.

We’d also tested the push-button switch and found out that of the 4 legs of the switch, the diagonal 2 work to serve as a switch.

Soldering part

Tools:

Soldering iron: set to a specific degree

Soldering stand

Wire cutter and wire stripper

Problems:

1. The tip of the soldering iron has some oxide coating and it increases the difficulty of melting the solder. To avoid failure, solder for a longer time/use steel wool to clean the oxide coating/don’t touch the oxidic parts of the iron 
2. I burned some of the outer of the wire. Correction: Be careful.

Answers to the questions

1. For the first two circuits, if you push the button (or switch), the circuit gives feedback: either buzzing or lighting up the LED. For the third one, if you turn the handle of the potentiometer while you push the button, you can control the brightness of the LED. The users can interact with the buzzer/LED with the help of the circuit.

2.

Yayoi Kusama

Infinity Mirrored Room -The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, 2013