Recitation 2: Arduino Basics

Introduction:

In today’s recitation, we incorporated micro controllers into each of the circuits creating a fading LED light, a melody, and a speed game. By doing so, we increased the complexity of the circuits and were able to do more with the Arduino compared to the previous recitation.

Circuit 1: Fade

In the first circuit, we hooked the the LED to the breadboard and used a 220 ohm resistor. We uploaded the prewritten code on to the Arduino and the LED lit up and began dimming.The circuit worked the first time we built it, however, we forgot to include the voltage regulator. We were also unsure about the orientation of the switch. After a couple of rotations, we realized that it best bit between the gaps of the breadboard

Attached is the video of fade.

Circuit 2: toneMelody

In this circuit we plugged in the wires for power and ground into the breadboard as well as the small speaker. We then uploaded the prewritten code to the Arduino and the speaker played a small melody. It was a very simple circuit and was not hard to create. Attached is the video of toneMelody (buzzer)

Circuit 3: Speed Game

The speed game was an extremely complicated to build but we ended up making it work.We attach two LEDs, two switches, two 220 ohm resistors and a speaker to the breadboard and connected it to the Arduino. Our circuit worked perfectly the first time, the most challenging part of creating this circuit was trying to figure out where to put the wires as it was a tedious process. 

After uploading the code to the Arduino, the serial monitor would give a countdown and my partner and I would press the switches to see who would win. The inner would have their LED light up. We tried to connect two games together but it did not work.  Attached is the video of the game that worked.

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.

In modern society, it is impossible to escape the technology. From the LED screens on the windows of stores to our phone and computers, we are always surrounded by technology. To be honest, I find it quite suffocating because while it has made modern life so much more convenient, it’s rapid development gives society new types of anxieties. We are so dependent on it that one day, without them we would be completely lost and confused on basic fundamental tasks. I do not think that technology should be used to make life more convenient. Technology that cleans the floor and makes your coffee will take away the satisfaction of doing things ourselves and appreciating our resources; and it makes humans lazy. However, I do believe that technology that can enhance somebody’s life is so important, such as the Eyewriter. I was curious about how computers could make so much out of random letters and numbers, so I took interest digital electronics in high school. My experience with coding and Arduino has taught me so much about electronics and their logic. Every time I interact with computers or come in contact with technology, I think about how smart the people who wrote the code were, to think and create something so sophisticated. I was surprised when the text Physical Computing asked the question, how does  the computer see us? It gives a whole new perspective to interaction because most people have never thought of the computers interaction with us. Only our interaction with computers themselves. Interaction is the “cyclic process in which two actors alternately listen, think, and speak” and it is not just between two human beings.

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?

If I had 100,000 LEDs of any brightness at my disposal, I would attach them to every ceiling in my house and make the LEDs the only source of light in my house. The LEDs would only power on if they sense me movement so the light would follow me wherever I go. This way I don’t have to turn off the lights in every room and I can have light whenever I need.