Introduction:
In this class, we learned to build three circuits including fade, toneMelody and speed game. The details are as followed.
Materials:
- 1 * Arduino Uno
- 1 * USB A to B cable
- 1 * breadboard
- 1 * buzzer
- 2 * LEDs
- 2 * 220 ohm resistors
- 2 * 10k ohm resistors
- 2 * pushbottons
- A handful of jumper cables
- 2 * arcade buttons
- 1 * Multimeter
Circuit 1: Fade
For this circuit, we followed the instruction from the website and built a circuit to fade an LED off and on. To build the circuit, we used three wires, an Arduino Uno, a breadboard, a resistor and an LED. By changing the number in “delay”, we also changed the speed of its fading.
Circuit 2: toneMelody
This circuit is also very simple. We used two wires, an Arduino Uno, a breadboard and a buzzer to build it. In this circuit, we used the code to let the buzzer make a melodic sound.
Circuit 3: Speed Game
This is a relatively complicated circuit compared to the previous two. We used a breadboard, an Arduino Uno, two push-buttons, two LEDs, a buzzer, four resistors and several wires. When the circuit is completed, two players can play together. If one player press the button fast enough for a few seconds, the LED on his/her side would be turned on showing that he/she has won the game.
Question 1:
Definition: Interaction is an iterative process which involves actions and feedbacks. The whole process are composed by input, process, and output, or more straightaway, “listening, thinking, and speaking”. Interaction needs constant response. It exists not only between humans but also between humans and machines/devices. I often use my computer and my phone in my daily lives for doing my homework, chatting with my friends, searching information, etc. I think the relationship between me and my devices can be counted as an interaction because they can respond to my action constantly. In other words, they process my input and provide output back to me. The circuits that I just built also did the same thing. They respond to my input — the code and pressing the button.
Question 2:
We used the 10k resistor to protect the circuit. If we don’t use the resistor, the voltage would be too high and the circuit might be damaged.
Question 3:
If I have 100,000 LEDs of any brightness and color at my disposal, I would make it as a light curtain and put it on the wall in my living room. I think turning them into a light curtain would be so cool and I can also make them create any picture that I want to.