Jason Li

     In this recitation, I successfully built and connected three different circuits together. By order, they were Circuit 1: Fade, Circuit 2: toneMelody, and Circuit 3: Speed Game. I then in Arduino, an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software, ran the circuits using the sample code provided. Following the sequential order, the events happened as follows below: 

Circuit 1

     Following the visual example in Arduino, I very quickly assembled the task and lighted the LED. First, the Arduino Uno board needs to be connected to the computer via a USB-C to USB-A. Then, the jumper cables have to be wired correctly, with the goal of powering the LED. After completing this step, I tested the code around and tried to tweak the delay in the LED. Overall, this was a relatively easy but meaningful task! 

     
                         

Circuit 2

     Again, I followed the visual example to guide me in Arduino. Instead of the LED light now, we replaced it with a buzzer to play sound. I expected this to be easy, however, I ran into a bizarre situation. My buzzer had malfunctioned and did not sound! Upon testing another classmate’s buzzer, this theory was proven. Hearing the buzzer of the entire recitation in unison, it was hilarious yet troublesome to listen to my own tune. In this step, some mistakes and abnormalities appeared, but the code still ran and the buzzer sounded! I attempted to change the code and test if the sound would vary, but I didn’t hear much of a difference. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                

Circuit 3

     For this task, we had to design a minigame where two players would compete by clicking a small button. The game is decided when one side clicks to the value ten first. The winner would be announced by a shining LED light and buzzer. For the code, we had to copy it through a website called Tinkercad. Again, it seemed easy enough, but some issues occurred. Through the help of Kaylee (LA), most of my flawed wiring work was fixed. She even explained the concepts in depth to help me understand the process. I first verified the code on Arduino program, and then uploaded the code to run. Finally, after trial and error, we were able to play the game together. In the first round, I had tactically beat her. However, I lost on the second round after I got cocky. In the end, there was not enough time to play the four-player speed game, so this part was not recorded. Overall, this recitation was entertaining and a fantastic learning experience. I learned a lot about Arduino code, and also the trivial troubles that might affect the whole process!

                         

                         
                         

Schematic for Circuit 3

Question 1: 

     Another creative button that can be added is simply another set of mini buttons. The primary objective of this game was to click the fastest, however, the rules can be altered here. In the first scenario, players could only click with one finger as there’s only so much space. With the addition of two or even more buttons, the efficiency and hand-eye coordination of players would be challenged. Also, the code could be reprogrammed to allow the LED lights to blink in different patterns. Instead of racing to click, players would now play a different game similar to the Simon device. By switching the combinations and play styles, many more layers and ideas could be created. In Tom Igoe and Dan O’ Sullivan’s book, Physical Computing, they said a memorable line: “If you are attempting something very specific and unusual, there will come a time when it’s easier to do it yourself than to find, cobble together, and then work around a bunch of mix-and-match prepared solutions. A combination of working at the highest level, knowing what’s available at lower levels, and knowing when to switch up or down, will yield the best results” (XXIV). This quote brilliantly sums up the point of the limitless interactive creations that can be created with mere wires, mini buttons, a buzzer, and LED lights.

     The skill floor is very low, and almost anyone can learn with a little knowledge of how parts work. In contrast, the skill ceiling is very high as various individuals have their own unique ideas. As these games are designed, the difficulty and interactiveness progressively develops. Another quote is, “This description tells you nothing about the technologies that make it work, but it gives you enough description to start to plan how to make it a reality” (Tom & Dan, XXII). Overall, the main takeaway is that little implements and changes to the original game can make a drastic turn. By adding another creative button like an additional LED light, mini- button, or buzzer, the game changes.

Question 2: 

    In this example, the 10 kOhm resistor served as a pull-down resistor. In other words, the 10 kOhm resistor connects unused digital input pins to ground when the switch is activated. This assists in maintaining and keeping the pins from floating (disconnecting) and overall smoothes the entire process. This resistor can be seen as a traffic guard, ensuring the necessary movements are proceeded and holding down the other side.

Question 3:

     In the book,Getting Started With Arduino, chapter 2 covers a significant concept that helps introduce how innovations are started. It covers the main ideas of prototyping, tinkering, & patching. The author states, “We believe that it is essential to play with technology, exploring different possibilities directly on hardware and software— sometimes without a very defined goal” (Banzi, Massimo, & Michael Shiloh, 6). They recommend that aspiring creators mess around and tweak toys/junk to learn more. Browsing the internet, I stumbled across a website filled with inventions using old objects. Nearly all of the examples are interesting, creative, and/or just over the top funny. I have picked out two that I think demonstrates the Arduino Way. Both of them have spinned a useless object, into something interactive and valuable. The first example depicts a half broken bike wheel combined with a desk light. By itself, the bike wheel cannot be used and is trash. However, it got refined into an antique piece that projects a ray of light on the table. The second piece is even more impressive, as the creator managed to create a working lightsaber. Using an old pipe and some modern technology, a fully-functioning lightsaber had come to life. These all follow the concepts of tinkering, prototyping, and patching. From scratch, these separate creators were able to innovate and design genius products just by combining old objects.

Cite: McFadden, Christopher. “13 Cool Ways People Reuse Old Tech Stuff.” Interesting Engineering, Interesting Engineering, 25 Feb. 2020, https://interestingengineering.com/science/13-cool-ways-people-reuse-old-tech-stuff. 

1. The Veldt – Ray Bradbury 

     In this short fictional story, the disturbing events about a family’s tragic downfall is shared. Happylife Home, a luxury building that listens to every command, is lived in by the Hadley family. Everything about this futuristic society seemed peaceful and loving at first glance. In fact, there’s even a crystal-walled room that can generate any virtual setting into reality (Bradbury 5). It all goes well until the Hadley children use their horrid thoughts to create twisted environments. The text depicts, “The hot straw smell of lion grass, the cool green smell of the hidden water hole, the great rusty smell of animals, the smell of dust like a red paprika in the hot air” (Bradbury 3). Completely upset with the children’s gruesome setting, the parents threatened them with the stoppage of the device. After a deceptive act, the children tricked their parents into the lion-infested room. As Bradbury wrote, ” . . . They turned and looked back at the beasts edging slowly forward crouching, tails stiff” (13). The innocent psychologist, who arrived shortly, had no idea that the Hadley children just violently and mercilessly murdered their own parents.

     To prevent this situation from ever re-occurring, I would implement a 24/7 alert body and voice-recognition system. This would work similarly to a TSA scan, but analyzes every single intricate detail. This revolutionary device would be able to speak, process human truth/lies, and detect any abnormalities within the visitor. Before walking into the virtual-reality room, it would only allow specific users in once verification is complete. In this case, the Hadley parents would solely authorize themselves. Furthermore, I would advise HappyLife to create a child-friendly mode which contains pre-arranged E-rated settings that cannot be altered. Additionally, there should be a safe-word regulation in-place that freezes the entire system once repeated. By simply updating cybersecurity settings, the Hadley parents would’ve never succumbed to such a grim ending. 

2. “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” – Ursula K LeGuin

     This morally paralyzing yet outstanding story written by LeGuin describes the citizens of Omela. In this disguised utopia, people are all genuinely cheerful. However, readers soon realize that this happiness comes with a frightening price. In the city slums, there lives a poor child who is physically, mentally, and emotionally malnourished. Instead of helping, the townspeople deliberately ignore the child and allow his/her grief to continue. LeGuin documents, “Yet it is their tears and anger, the trying of their generosity and the acceptance of their helplessness, which are perhaps the true source of the splendor of their lives” (4). As the Omela themselves know that their source of happiness causes direct harm to the child, they truly celebrate and enjoy what’s provided to them. Treating the harmless child as a sacrifice, they literally have to savor the freedom that they received in return. In this society, they’ve agreed that ‘if the child could be released, it would not get much good of its freedom: a little vague pleasure of warmth and food, no real doubt, but little more. It is too degraded and imbecile to know any real joy’ (LeGuin). It’s a painful story of moral compassion and choosing self-comfort over an pure soul. 

In this story, it’s very hard to criticize what’s right from wrong. While I can partially see the citizens’ perspective, it would be devastating to live as the child. Therefore, I would like to introduce a device known as the ‘Pain Splitter’. Inspired off of a Pokemon Move, ‘Pain Split’, this device would literally transfer the child’s physically, emotional, & mental trauma upon citizens of Omela. The device is immortal, cannot be destroyed, and will automatically choose its user at the end of the year. This child, or any individual enduring the most pain in Omela, could then activate the machine once a year. A hex would then be casted on the citizens of Omela, and the pain would be divided accordingly. This isn’t a strategy of revenge, but rather a lesson that no-one should be left out. This device warns citizens to be wary of their selfishness and unmoral deeds. If one suffers, everyone must undergo the same calculated feeling.

3. The Plague – Yan Leisheng

     In this futuristic city, there is a unstoppable virus that is consuming everyone. The symptoms are as follows: “The skin became silicon dioxide—silica, stone. But the victim was not dead. The eyes could still blink and move” (Leisheng). This disgusting yet cruel disease involves a slow excruciating process that kills the victim. The main character, defending a women with the virus, got himself infected in the process. In the end, this apocalyptic world had nothing but destruction to offer.

     In this case, I believe a ‘poison with poison’ tactic can be used to combat this virus. I call this invention the ‘Cryofreezer’, which literally does what the name indicates. By stepping in this freezer-like space, willing participants will freeze their core bodies for a year. This will not kill them, but will induce a hibernation-like state instead. It will be constantly monitored by ‘Crows’, but the device would be self-efficient in the case that humanity dies. The Cryofreezer would be carefully crafted using the upmost technology. It would have a usage rate of 50 years, and be assigned to a random user upon personal identification/set of agreements. If the virus does not disappear, the user would simply return to the machine over and over. Eventually, the goal is to have at least two humans survive, as the trace of the disease should be wiped out with time. 

 

      Upon analyzing the three research readings, I believe that I now have a more concrete description of what the word interaction truly means. Without exploring the unique experiences of artists and their inventions, the word interaction is broad and can be defined in various ways. In fact, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary states the word interaction as a ‘mutual or reciprocal action or influence’. However, this definition does not fully convey the sophisticated meaning of interaction. My definition of interaction is the sequential process of an actor, man or machine, delivering a primary signal. Then, the other actor after carefully listening — and thinking, responds to the original subject in some shape/form. In this scenario, both actors must perform their roles. If one of them fails to act out their duties, interaction does not occur. 

     In Crawford’s article, The Art of Interactive Design, this idea is further exemplified. He states, “There are two actors, not
one. If I’m out in the woods and I hear to the sound of a tree branch breaking, and I meditate on the implications of such a sound emanating from my zenith, jumping out of the way just as the branch crashes to earth, I am not interacting with the branch; I am reacting” (5). Therefore, it’s mandatory that both actor successfully enact their role. If not, the word interaction is merely reduced to a ‘reaction’. Additionally, Igoe’s Making Interactive Art: Set the Stage, Then Shut Up and Listen reminds us that, “You can suggest actions, but you can’t tell him how to feel about those actions; he will have to find it for himself. He’ll discover the statement you’re looking to make through that conversation you have in rehearsal, and the resulting expression will be your collaborative effort.” All in all, interaction is a ongoing process that isn’t always completed through one attempt. Only through both actors’ constant communication and listening, can a collaborative action happen.  

An example of successful Interaction : MotionPhone

                     

     MotionPhone is an software that allows users to create/design a continuous pattern of different shapes using solely hand movements. Ranging from one finger to all, this program allows materials to constantly be added. The shapes’ sizes, color, movement, speed, can all be altered with a click of a button. Furthermore, it links with Game Center to allow other interested creators to join the space. In this space, everything is linked and users can see/add their own designs come to life. To me, this is an successful example of interaction. The software first listens to the users’ (human fingers) with intensity, proceeds to think about the proper algorithm and presentation, and finally responds in various colorful shapes/forms. All three factors are present, while fully accommodating the users’ wishes, which is the foundation of what interaction is.

An failed example of Interaction:Miniatures

   

Here, the opposite case is demonstrated. Miniatures, an art project created by Brock Davis, attempts to recreate daily objects/items using witty and creative measures. For example, the iconic StoneHenge can be seen instead as a pile of Rice-Krispy treats (yum!). There are other flashy examples, like the Broccoli Tree House & Gummy Bear Rug. While the artistic aspect of Davis is undoubtedly displayed, there isn’t an interaction taking place. Viewers only have the opportunity to see the piece, not physically touch or interact with it. The factors of listening, thinking, & speaking incorporated are very little if not non-existent. Overall, this is wonderful for an exhibition. However, it lacks what it takes to become an art piece with proper interaction.

During the first recitation, I successfully collaborated with Jessie to create a working circuit!

As someone who has never experimented with wires or robotics equipment before, this task seemed daunting at first glance. Creating a functioning circuit from scratch that used electricity terrified me, both physically and mentally. All I had in front of me was a breadboard, yellow push-button switch, several colorful jumper cables, resistors, 2 LED lights, and my wonderful partner. 

Eventually, through trial and error, we were able to complete step one. The buzzer failed to work in the beginning, because of mistakes in the wiring work. After consulting Corrina (Learning Assistant), she brilliantly helped us rearranged the wire which resulted in the buzzer sounding. It was a slow start, but progress was definitive.  

At this stage, we’ve completed part 2. The previous wires had allowed electricity to flow through the buzzer into the button. A resistor was placed to stabilized the electricity flow. To make it more function-able, we’ve added an light blue LED light. I learned more in depth about how separate components paired together to focus on a task. Now, our craft started to take its initial form. 

While in the process of deciphering part 3, our entire table was called to the other side of the room. Professor Minsky then briefly taught us how to solder. It looked dangerous and nearly impossible, but I was quite satisfied with the product (paddle-switch made from cardboard, tape/copper tape, jumping cable, etc.)! I still need to work on my soldering skills, but I’m confident there will be plenty of additional practice ahead.

 

In the end, our finished product looks like this! We’ve added alot more wires, a variable resistor, a new red LED night, and the paddle-switch. Following the tutorial, we connected the two separate paddle switches together via tape. This entire learning/hands-on process taught me to be resilient and persevere. While we received occasional assistance from Corrina and Iris (IMA Fellow), we worked independently for the majority of it.

Personally, this learning curve was challenging yet rewarding. Building a complete gadget from scratch, and realizing your hard work paid off releases a immense amount of dopamine. Though this project has its flaws and unique look — it served its intended purpose! I truly enjoyed this recitation, as I feel a sense of fulfillment upon completing the assignment. I thank my partner and look forward to the next project!

 

Questions:

Question 1: R1’s function is to limit and stabilize the current & voltage that the LED generates. Light Emitting Diodes (LED), when connected to a source, typically generates as much power as possible. However, this is extremely harmful and could potentially destroy the device. In a real-life scenario, R1 serves as a close-friend who calms the red LED down during a heated argument and allows it to relax. 

Question 2:

Question 3:After reading the article, we can interpret that the circuit we built also includes interactivity. The articles lists three separate factors: listening, thinking, & speaking. Only when these elements are combined, does the concept of interactivity fully emerge itself. I think of the interactivity as the connection between the paddle-switch, LED light, and buzzer. When the paddle switch is clapped together, the circuit itself starts thinking. As the electricity current streams down, it tells the buzzer and LED light what to do. Finally, the LED light speaks by lighting up, while the buzzer speaks by literally buzzing. In this process, all three factors of ‘interactivity’ are demonstrated.  

Question 4: Interaction Design and Physical Computing be used to create Interactive Art due to the beautiful aspect of human creativity and the use of mechanic devices. According to Google, physical computing involves interactive systems that can sense and respond to the world around them. When a creator implements their ideas into a device, interactive art seemingly comes to life. An example I would like to use is my favorite movie character BayMax, an robot from Big Hero Six. The movie documents the process of how interaction design combined with physical computing (Interactive Art) can benefit the world, but simultaneously possesses the power to destroy it. Additionally, Zach Lieberman is a inventor who designed a device called Eyewriter. This device tracks the users’ eye movement, resulting in the ability to write/draw on a computer screen. It allows paralyzed artists, graffiti artists, and anyone looking to draw/write in general to communicate their opinions. Therefore, I believe that interactive art is beautiful and can be helpful to society in limitless ways.