careless whispers….

So we everything came together. Unfortunately, we’re getting weird values from our photocells…Or they just may not be sensitive enough to record values inside the camera. This means we won’t be creating images any time soon. What we do have is:

1) A well designed, light proof housing.
2) A working XY plotter, with perfectly functioning IRs
3) A 16 cell pcell CCD with ethernet wiring.
4) Working Software.
5) The Best Team in the World
6) A strong desire to get this thing running and working
7) A project that we all love
A new found sense of confidence….

We have learned so much. Our goals were lofty, and I think we’re close to meeting them We have worked incredibly hard. I know we have alot to improve, but I am so proud of what we’ve already done.

I know we’ll get this. And I’ll keep you posted about it.

here are some pics of the “finished” housing and rig:

The software for the pinhole painter involves both arduino and processing. 18 sensor values (the 16 photocells from the MUX, along with values from the two IRs) are sent to processing via serial, parsed into pieces, and then plugged into arrays which transfer the photocell values into corresponding greyscales. The greyscales are then “painted” along the screen.

In order to ensure accuracy, the IR values are averaged in arduino before being sent to processing.

//ARDUINO CODE — ASCII SENDER
int val[16];
int analog1[5];
int h, j;
long average1;
int analog2[5];
int p, q;
long average2;

int a= 3; // SELECT PIN A0 GOING INTO PIN 2
int b= 4; // SELECT PIN A1 GOING INTO PIN 3
int c= 5; // SELECT PIN A2 GOING INTO PIN 4
int d= 6; // SELECT PIN A3 GOING INTO PIN 5
//we are using three analog pins
int analog0 = 0;
//int analog1 = 0;
//int analog2 = 0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(analog0, INPUT);
pinMode(a,OUTPUT);
pinMode(b,OUTPUT);
pinMode(c,OUTPUT);
pinMode(d,OUTPUT);
//pinMode(analog1, INPUT);
//pinMode(analog2, INPUT);
}

void loop() {

for (int i = 0; i > 1) ;
// shift value 2 bits to the right, and mask all but bit 0:
int pinThree = 1 & (i >> 2);
// shift value 3 bits to the right, and mask all but bit 0:
int pinFour = 1 & (i >> 3);

// set the address pins:
digitalWrite(a,pinOne);
digitalWrite(b,pinTwo);
digitalWrite(c,pinThree);
digitalWrite(d,pinFour);

// read the analog input and store it in the value array:
val[i] = analogRead(analog0);

//val[i] = i;
Serial.print(val[i], DEC);
if (i

Got the new, IMPROVED, 16 photocell ccd up and mounted. After massive wiring issues with the first cell (too many wires that weren’t flexible enough to allow movement), we gave the cells a common power source, and wired their outputs with ethernet cable. The result was much tidier, though I am a little freaked out by the fact that all the cells are now linked…much harder to deal with this way on the technical side, but this improvement should result in a more user friendly experience.

As i was somewhat concerned about building a completely lightproof box with our rather wonky shop tools, we decided to purchase a wooden record cube and outfit it to our needs. The cube itself was well constructed, but still ahd some light leaks along it’s seems. To combat this, every interior seem of the box was covered several times with black masking tape. In order to make changing the pinhol easy on this beast, I epoxied four bolts to the front of the camera, and made interchangable pinhole plates, and a light proof gasket of duvatene to ensure no leakage between the camera body and the plate itself.

in the end, a brass handle was added for portability.

Take a Look. Amanda is the best.

Here she is:

16 photocells (the good ones from the bookstore) mounted on perf-board, connected to wire leads, heat shrunk, and ready for action JACKSON!!!

It ain’t pretty, but they all work. Somethings to change in Wonky CCD 2.0: RIBBON CABLE!!! this thing is a rats nest. Ribbon cable would make everything neat and tidy. Eddie suggested this, but I thought soldering headers on would have been too much of a pain….but if we USE A COMMON POWER LINE (we didn’t think of it, no one suggested it, now that the thing is done, it’s all I can think of everytime I see it) that would only be 16 header pins…very doable.

Amanda and Eddie ripped this thing apart, as we were hoping we could steal the mechanisms inside for our camera rig. Turned our the interior was far to flimsy, but pretty damn brilliant in it’s construction. We’re still going with the plotter thing, but this was pretty neat. Also sort of funny how silvery the two o them got…..

Ok, so here are a few basic screenshots showing how (we hope) the software for the newly christened PINHOLE PAINTER!!! camera will work

OK. This is a 4X4 pixel example of how our code will work. The pixels (represented by the grey square, there values will directly represent that of the photocells inside the camera) will roll over the grid of pixels, transfering their values and, hopefull, building an image.

This shot shows some the background squares values, altered after the camera rollover. This is four pixels. We will have over 1600. I’m officially freaked out.

This is a simple example of 40X40 pixel grid, and the 16X16 pixel cursor which will hold the incoming data from the photocells inside the camera.

Code for our simple roll-over:

int pulse;
int setfill;
int fill1=0;
int fill2=0;
int fill3=0;
int fill4=0;

void setup() {
size(800,800);
}

void draw(){
fill(fill1);
rect(0,0,400,400); //top left, begining of backgroundpixels
fill(fill2);
rect(0,400,400,400); //bottomleft
fill(fill3);
rect(400,0,400,400);//top right
fill(fill4);
rect(400,400,400,400);//bottomright

pulse = pulse+1;
if (pulse >= 255){pulse=0;
}
fill(pulse);
rect(mouseX,mouseY,400,400); //cursorpixel

if(mouseX = 410){fill2=pulse;
}
if(mouseX >= 410 && mouseY = 410 && mouseY >= 410){fill4=pulse;
}
}

//end

Code for our simple grid/cursor mock-up:

void setup() {
size(800,800); //YOU NEED TO ADD SOME IF STATEMENTS TO KEEP THE PIXELCURSOR ON SCREEN
}

void draw(){
background(255);

int cellWidth = width/40;
int cellHeight = height/40;
stroke(0);

for (int i=cellWidth; i

It’s been quite a while since Understand Media, by Marshal Mcluhan, has crossed my path, and I have to say it’s a book I’m happy to see. Many of Mcluhan’s writings and articles were included in the course packets of sociology classes I took as an undergraduate, and for very good reason; the man was incredibly insightful, and undoubtedly ahead of his time.
In Understanding Media, Mcluhan coins the phrase “the medium is the message”, suggesting that various forms media should themselves be studied, not just the information they express. It is Mcluhan’s belief that emerging and traditional forms of media, such as television, film, radio, and print, have just as much, or even greater, power to shape society as the content that they carry.
Understanding Media was written in 1964, an ideal time for any sociologist or media theorist to postulate based on observation. Though I know such a time existed, I have hard time imagining life without a television set in the living room, a portable music player of some sort, or a way of contacting friends and family instantly and inexpensively. The advent of instant, cheap forms of communication alone have shaped society in countless ways. While I live in New York City, many of my closest relationships are with friends who are strewn across the globe. Despite the fact that I get to see these individuals just a few times a year, I can’t help but feel as if they are an active and essential part of my social circle, as we are able to participate in each others live constantly via various forms of media, and it’s getting easier to do so every day. With social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace, it became possible to check up on friends instantaneously, without even speaking to them directly. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying this is socially healthy, and is certainly not my preferred method of communication, but I have to admit that such sites have shaped my social sphere. With a few keystrokes and mouse clicks, I can see my friends smiling (in some cases) faces, know what they’ve been up to, and send them a quick hello…All in a (mostly) public forum without an iota of personal contact. I can’t deny that even this impersonal form of contact makes me feel somewhat fulfilled; It’s not what I’m saying or being told, it’s simply that someone cares enough to take the time to do so. It is the medium of the social network site that allows this, and this media has changed human social interaction in ways that not even Mcluhan could have imagined.

The man was right, plain and simple

Over the past few weeks, Kacie and I have been working on an audio assignment for comm lab. We set off to record some aounds on the street and in the Bobst Library, edited our bits and pieces in audacity, and then put the whole thing together in Garageband. Some of our samples are heavily manipulated, something I could really get into. I think it might be interesting to take on task again, using one simple sound, and warping it to build an entire audio track.

I set our soundscape to some pictures I took on my M5 ride.

Take a Look Here

For some reason the video came out a little jumpy, but the audio is fine.

Kacie was really great to work with…I had a great time watching her stalk people with her mic. I hope we get to do something again!