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Printable Version of Entire Syllabus

Sections Spring 2008

H79.2301 (Greg Shakar)

Wednesday

6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Syllabus

Physical Computing is an approach to learning how humans communicate through computers that starts by considering how humans express themselves physically. In this course, we take the human body as a given, and attempt to design computing applications within the limits of its expression.

To realize this goal, you'll learn how a computer converts the changes in energy given off by our bodies (in the form of sound, light, motion, and other forms) into changing electronic signals that it can read interpret. You'll learn about the sensors that do this, and about very simple computers called microcontrollers that read sensors and convert their output into data. Finally, you'll learn how microcontrollers communicate with other computers.

Physical computing takes a hands-on approach, which means that you spend a lot of time building circuits, soldering, writing programs, building structures to hold sensors and controls, and figuring out how best to make all of these things relate to a person's expression.

Topics

• Intro to Electronics:
  • Definition of components
  • reading a meter
  • reading a schematic
  • Basic electrical relationships
• Soldering
• Microcontrollers: what they are, different types, levels of abstraction.
• Digital Input and Output
• Memory and variables
• Analog Input
• Analog Output
• Serial Communication
  • Serial Interpretation
  • Serial to Desktop in Processing
• Structures, enclosures, and presentation
• Code approaches
• Transistors and Relays: switching higher-current devices
• Motors and Inductance
  • DC motors
  • Steppers
• Communications Protocols