Chowdhury

Introduction to Physical Computing - Summer 2008

• Instructor: Jenny Chowdhury (jennyLC@gmail.com)
• Class hours: Tuesday & Thursday 3:15 - 6:10 PM
• Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 6:10 - 7:00 PM

Class Description

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 to use sensors to detect changes in energy given off by our bodies (in the form of sound, light, motion, and other forms) and feed these values into a very simple computer called a microcontrollers that will also control output of the circuit. The microcontroller used in this class is called Arduino, is much more accessible than previous microcontrollers and is intended specifically for artists and hobbyist. The core technical concepts of the class include digital, analog and serial input and output. You'll also 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. Students have weekly lab exercises to build skills with the microcontroller and related tools, and longer assignments in which they apply the principles from weekly labs in creative applications. Both individual work and group work is required.

Class documentation links

1. Jane li
2. Isidore Ramkissoon
3. Meade Bernard
4. Donna Cameron
5. Paul Pontious
6. Shirley Palma
7. Kolya Belakovski
8. Steve Lehburger

Class Schedule

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Week 1: Basic Electronics, Intro to microcontrollers

• Class 1 (5/20):
  • Introductions, Class structure
  • Digital vs. Analog
  • Intro to Electronics: Definition of components, reading a meter, reading a schematic, Ohm's Law
  • Soldering
  • Microcontrollers: what they are, different types, levels.
• Assignment:
  • Join the physcomp listserve
  • Email me links to any external site you're maintaining for this class.
  • Sign up for two days of shop cleaning.
  • Lab: Electronics
• Reading:
  • Physical Computing introduction, chapters 1-3
• Class 2 (5/22):
  • Intro to Arduino and first program.
  • Digital Input and Output
  • Discuss Midterm projects
• Assignment:
  • Lab: first Arduino program
• Reading:
  • Physical Computing chapters 4,5

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Week 2: Analog and Digital input, memory and variables

• Class 3 (5/27):
  • Memory and variables: Decimal, binary, hex.
  • Analog input, what an ADC is.
• Assignment:
  • Lab: Analog in; tracking changes with variables; practical jokes
• Reading:
  • Physical Computing chapters 6
  • Norman, Design of Everyday Things, ch. 1 (in coursepack)
  • Norman, Emotional Design, Chapter 1, "Attractive Things Work Better".
• Class 4 (5/29):
  • Analog output: Devices that create analog motion or sound. (servo, freqout, PWM)
• Reading:
  • Physical Computing chapter 7
• Assignment:
  • Begin midterm assignment (group project)
  • Lab: servo/analog out

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Week 3: Serial Communication

• Class 5(6/3):
  • Serial output: Sending bytes out
  • Serial interpretation: ASCII
• Reading:
  • Physical Computing chapter 7
• Class 6(6/5):
  • Serial to desktop: Into Processing
  • Discuss progress with midterm assignment
• Assignment:
  • Midterm initial prototype
  • Lab: Serial output and Talking to Processing
• Reading:
  • Myron Krueger, "Responsive Environments", in Packer & Jordan, Multimedia: From Wagner to Virtual Reality, ch. 12, pp. 104-120. (in coursepack)

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Week 4: Movement

• Class 7(6/10):
  • Midterm Presentations : midterm assignment
  • Digital output:Transistors and Relays: switching higher-current devices (light bulb and switch)
  • transistor diagram
• Reading:
  • Phys Comp book chapter 9
  • High Loads TIP120 lab
• Class 8(6/12):
  • Motors and Inductance:
  • DC motors
  • Steppers
  • Discuss final project ideas
• Assignment:
  • Lab: Controlling a motor
• Reading:
  • Phys Comp book chapter 10

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Week 5: Project Development, Extra Topics

• Class 9(6/17):
  • MIDI
  • MIDI lab
• Class 10(6/19):
  • TBA depending on class interests
  • Show final project in progress

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Week 6: Present finals

• Class 11 (6/24):
  • Workshop final projects
• Class 12 (6/26):
  • Show final projects

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Grading and Requirements

See http://itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/Intro/Grading

Parts

See http://itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/Intro/Supplies

Books

See http://itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/Intro/Reading for suggested reading