Dano Tues-Notes

Week 1: Physical Computing

• Intersection of physical world and computing
• The contradiction of Physical Computing.
• Most Innovations make time and space less important.
• Computational media is that it got us unstuck from the physical.
• For all the penetration of computers in our lives, the interface is usually still the keyboard, mouse and keyboard at a desk.
• Physical Computing is the exploration of the physical intersection between the person and the technology.
• This area has been around at ITP for a long time but has yet to show its true promise in the world. (The fact that most of our students would like work in this area and there are very few jobs might be one sign of the unexplored potential.)
  • Fine Arts
  • Mobile Technologies still looking back phones are at least expanding the physical context.
  • Architectural (eg Big Screens)
  • Wearables
  • Musical Instruments--People expression out is impovrished.
  • Biosensing The Cyborg visions suggested by these technologies are not entirely utopic which lends urgency to this area of exploration.I think in extreme reaction to this you hear a lot about bio and nano. But that brings us back stuck media.
  • Telepresence
  • Web 3.0 Things rfid, semantic web word is a reference to a thing it should be able to connect with that thing.
  • Education Where-able is a conceptual stretch to the ery strong image of computer with mouse,keyboard, monitor. Why is this a core class?
    • Even if you spend the rest of your days making web sites. It is worth being stretched in this direction.
    • fundamentals of computing through your hands with your eyes.
    • Binary than digital devices Yes's and No's in switches and lights.
    • Hone skills Small so you have to be parsimonious so you learn about memory.
    • Interaction Design
      • Intput more than the usual. output you find people appealing to your emotions.
      • the reading: simplicity Similarly with interface soft interface can multiply, hard controls are expensive.
      • The "thinking" part of Crawford's thing comes in the programming. One good thing is the programs you will right here are very short simple. At this simple level it is more believable in artificial intelligence. Car Radio example. Dryer. It is thinking for me and it is pretty satisfying. It is tempting to believe that enough of these if statements could amount to artificial intelligence but that didn't pan out.
• Platforms for Where-able Computing
  • Computers, Laptops, Single Board Computers, Phones, Modules, Chips, Molecules
• Chips: Microcontrollers brands PIC, Atmel, SX
• Modules: Basic Stamp, Fidgets, Maker Module, Arduino
• Arduino: Form Factors Nano, Mini, Diecimila, Lilypad
• Introductions
• Structure of the Semester
  • Clean Labs, Put names on Wiki, Join List serve, Saftey
• Lab One
  • LED's
  • Arduino
  • Power
  • Ground
  • Breadboard
  • Programming
  • Swithes
  • Soldering