This page provides a week-to-week breakdown of the class, with links to all related lessons, labs, and readings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tuesday 09\/02\/25<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fantasy Device<\/strong> – As a class, we’ll make a list of fantasy devices\u037e things that don’t exist, but that we wish did. For today, we’ll ignore technical feasibility and concentrate on how you’d operate these devices if they did exist. You’ll be divided into groups of 3. Pick a fantasy device from the list. Design a control interface for this device and demonstrate it in\u00ad class. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Think about what a person has to see, hear, touch, etc. while operating the device. Think about what cues they need to understand the interface. Think about what parts of their body they need to have free, what gestures are best for triggering the device’s behaviors, and so forth. Build a mock\u00adup of the controls from anything you can find nearby. At the end of class, one or two of you will act out the use of the device using your mock\u00adup while the third person narrates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ll get your parts kit in class today. This week, your main goal is to understand what those parts are<\/a>, and to build your first circuits. The lessons and labs below will help with that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Set up your Physical Computing Comp blog and e-mail the URL to your instructor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These two lessons<\/strong> give you background material for the labs you’ll do, which are linked below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related videos<\/strong>. These cover the same material as the lessons above:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These labs<\/strong> will give you a chance to practice what’s in the lessons. Try the labs below as soon as you have parts. Come to next class with questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following readings provide some context for thinking about physical interaction design. You won’t be tested on whether you’ve read these, but your instructor may refer to these ideas in future class discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday 09\/09\/25<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since last week, you\u2019ve built built some simple circuits and learned some of the terminology of electronics. We\u2019ll discuss how it went for you, and answer any questions that came up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We’ll also talk about documenting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go over the Electronics review questions<\/a>. This self-graded quiz covers intro to electronics material. You should be able to answer all the questions in it by now. If there are any you\u2019re not sure of, set up office hours with your instructor to discuss your understanding the electronics concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These lessons<\/strong> give you background material for the labs you’ll do, which are linked below. There are several, but they are all short and they build on each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Introduction to Microcontrollers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Introduction to Programming Microcontrollers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related videos<\/strong>. These cover the same material as the lessons above:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These labs<\/strong> will give you a chance to practice what’s in the lessons. Try the labs below and come to next class with questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following reading provides some context for thinking about physical interaction design. You won\u2019t be quizzed on whether you\u2019ve read this, but your instructor may refer to these ideas in future class discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday 09\/16\/25<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since last week, you\u2019ve built your first microcontroller circuits and you\u2019ve written programs to sense the physical world. We\u2019ll discuss how it went for you, and answer any questions that came up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lesson<\/strong> will give you background material for the labs you’ll do, which are linked below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Analog Output<\/a>: Pulse width modulation vs. frequency modulation<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related videos<\/strong>. These cover the same material as the lessons above:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These labs<\/strong> will give you a chance to practice what’s in the lessons. Try the labs below and come to next class with questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following readings provide some context for thinking about physical interaction design. You won\u2019t be quizzed on whether you\u2019ve read these, but your instructor may refer to these ideas in future class discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday 09\/23\/25<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since last week, you\u2019ve experimented with output from a microcontroller controlling light, sound, and movement. We\u2019ll discuss how it went for you, and answer any questions that came up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go over the Analog In and Out review questions<\/a>. This self-graded quiz covers the analog in and out labs. You should be able to answer all the questions in it by now. If there are any you\u2019re not sure of, set up office hours with your instructor to discuss your understanding the electronics concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This week’s lesson is to go into more detail on learning about components. Review the following videos and data sheets and come to next class with questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab<\/strong> will give you a chance to practice working with sensors more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lab: Sensor Change Detection<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are no readings this week other than the videos and data sheets above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Come up with a concept for your midterm project<\/a>. It’s due in week 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday 09\/30\/25<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since last week, you\u2019ve taken a look at a few electronic component data sheets and documentation. We\u2019ll discuss, and answer any questions that came up. We\u2019ll also talk some more about project planning and documents that are useful in making a project:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Start planning your midterm project<\/a>. It’s due in week 7. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Assignments for next class<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Lessons<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
<\/span>Labs<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/span>Readings<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/span>Week 2<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>In-Class Activity<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/span>Assignments for next class<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Lessons<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span>Labs<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/span>Readings<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/span>Week 3<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>In-Class Activity<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Assignments for next class<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/span>Lessons<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/span>Labs<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/span>Readings<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/span>Week 4<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>In-Class Activity<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Assignments for Next Class<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Lessons<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
<\/span>Labs<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Readings<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Midterm<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Week 5<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>In-Class Activity<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
<\/span>Assignments for next class<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Midterm<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n