Introduction: The purpose of this lab was to understand the basics of Arduino. This was done through the completion of four circuit projects.
Components:
1- Arduino Uno
1- USB A to B Cable
1- Breadboard
1- Buzzer
2- LEDs
2- 220 ohm Resistors
2- 10k ohm Resistors
2- pushbuttons
Handful of Jumper cables
Circuit 1: Fade
Having been provided the schematic for this circuit we didn’t run into any problems. We were aware that the wires connected to the Arduino needed to match the programming for it. We also knew that we had to make sure the polarity of the LED was inserted correctly. Thus, when we ran the circuit, the LED was fading, we had successfully completed the task.
Circuit 2: toneMelody
As with the first circuit, we were given the schematics, therefore, the task was not hard. We were able to successfully build the circuit and the speaker did emit the melody it was supposed to.
Circuit 3: Speed Game
This circuit was really challenging for my partner and I. We were not provided the schematic and instead had to follow the circuit diagram. This was a little challenging to read because of the abundance of wires in the diagram. At points during the progress of building it was hard to keep track of which wires were connected to one another. When we thought we had finished building the circuit we tried running it, but the Arduino was not turning on. The instructor came by to see what was happening and figured out that we had created a short circuit. And that was why it was not working the way we intended it to. We had connected too many wires and voltage was running through where it was not supposed to. The instructor helped us fix the problem and the game finally worked. In the future, I would be more cautious about where I am placing wires and read the diagram more carefully.
Circuit 4: Four Player Speed Game
For this circuit, we paired up with another group. As a group, we changed the wires so that the two breadboards were connected to one another. Afterward, an instructor came by and guided us in altering the code, we changed the brackets within the code and the four player game was working.
Questions
1. Technology in this day and age is inescapable. It is hard to even imagine a world without technology. Everything that we do is aided by the use of technology in some way shape or form. From completing an assignment to purchasing items, every day the use of technology is present. In the circuits that we built, it gave me a better understanding of the behind the scenes of the devices we interact with every day. Technology has been simplified towards its consumers causing us to not really realize the complexity of it and how different parts interact with one another behind the screen.
Building the circuits and running code through it gave me a better understanding of how there needs to be an input (code) that goes into the microcontroller and the microcontroller then processes the information and then outputs the instruction. As reflected in the text “Physical Computing” this process is what the root of interaction is; parts working together to complete a given task.
2. If I had 100,000 LEDs of any brightness and color at my disposal I would make an art piece. I think using LEDs to create a portrait of someone would be pretty amazing. By programming specific LEDs to turn off and on at a given moment would allow the LEDs to take a different form. Using LEDs as a medium for art is also turning technology into an art form. I would want my work of art to be placed in a museum.