• View
• Edit
• History
• Print

NickHasty

Entry 1:

First meeting synopsis:

We began our first meeting by sharing our digital technology observations, and discussing the issues raised by the observation process lead the group's general route of inquiry into the frustrations and annoyances we experience during routine, day-to-day existence. One thing we all shared in common was the "simple" task of leaving our apartments. The conversation turned to how frustrating leaving behind an important item can be, especially when that item is your apartment key. Kyveli mentioned creating a device that would prevent one from leaving behind one's keys when leaving, and, after tossing around and dismissing other ideas, we decided that creating such a device would be beneficial in that the building process would allow the potential for working with and getting experienced in a variety of sensors, inputs and outputs, not to mention helping the more forgetful of us save money wasted on locksmiths.

Observations:

Zooming out from our idea, the obvious action(s) here is the process of physically opening a door (turn knob, pull/push, step forward) and exiting an internal space into another space, interior or exterior. This process augments the physical space (the medium) of the proximal area (the room(s) and stairwells within the apartment itself) by creating a fissure in the proximity's physical dividers (the walls), thus allowing for navigation between previously seperated and sectioned off spaces.

I suppose that in order to implement our idea we will have to work with some sort of proximity sensor located in the doorway that detects a signal emmitted from a device attached to the key ring. In order to prevent the sensor from going off whenever the keys are nearby, we will probably need another sensor that detects the state of the door. Somehow we will arrange the sensors so that opening the door will trigger the proximity sensor to search for the signal emitted from the key ring.

If no signal, then an array of seizure inducing lights and motion paralzying sounds will emit with a 6 foot radius of the doorway's proximity sensor so to prevent the apartment's inhabitant from exiting sans keys. Once the door is shut or the keys are presented to the door's sensor, the barrage of sensory violence will cease. This either precludes the inhabitant from leaving their apartment until the keys are located or allows the inhabitant to exit savoring the security of knowing that, upon return, they have the means to re-enter.

Rather than watch people enter and exit rooms all day, I decided to carry out my observations through more inductive means: namely my own experience in locking myself out of spaces where only moments before I had free reign, and talking to friends and dear ones about their experiences in shutting themselves out of necessary spaces. The general feedback on our idea was positive, as most people would prefer not to be locked out of their apartment or house, and nearly all seemed excited by the simplicity and obviousness of the device, which leads me to suspect that it will be both practical and well-recieved.

I plan to keep in mind my own experiences of being locked out and those shared with me as a guide during the design and creation process. As well, I am aware of how much conjecture surrounds the creation of our device at this point, and expect idea shifts and design changes as we collectively saunter towards the final product.

Overall, I look forward to this exercise.

-jnh

Entry 2

Dearest Journal,

Bold moves forward this week. Personally, I completed my lab assignment Saturday morning without a hitch. Though I didn't get to play with the code too much, I am looking forward to using my arduino to control events in Processing in the upcoming projects.

Meanwhile, our intrepid crew trekked into unknown physcomp territories, braving harsh mental terrains and alien design concepts. Though we nearly lost Marc in Chinatown on what was planned to be a routine trip to 269 electronics, we've recomposed and are once again on the move. Our big breakthrough this week was the discovery of the Texas Instruments RFID keyring tag and reader. It was uncovered while slashing through the endless rhizomic layers of the world wide web. Funny, it's as if almost as if someone has had the exact same ideas as we are having now! I can't verify this, as placing a locator on one's keys seems such an arcane and esoteric endeavor that I can't imagine someone else beating us to the punch. Anyways, can't let my paranoia take over. The group must stick together if we are going to make it through this. I won't let this turn like the Chupacabra excavation. I promise myself at least that.

So we are going to draw up some schematics, and bring what we can into class on Wednesday. If the RFID arrives in time we'll bring that in as well.

St. Christopher be with us,

JNH