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MagicBox

Constantine Koumoussis

You ask, the MagicBox answers

http://www.dinos.cc/physical-computing/2015/1/27/magic-box

Description

The magicBox is something like the Magic 8Ball. You ask it questions and it answers though answers like Yes and No. There is going to be an interface on my computer where you ask questions. My computer is going to be connected with the MagicBox through bluetooth. The MagicBox will be able to asnwer in 4 ways. Yes, No, Hazy, and Go to Hell. This is a project I worked on last year for Automata, and I am remaking it this year for Homemade hardware (I am making my own PCB for it now).

Classes

Homemade Hardware

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Small Screens

Matthew Kaney

Custom displays for the intimate presentation of small-scale, low-resolution video art.

http://small-screens.mindofmatthew.com

Description

Much of the early history of computer graphics has been defined by the challenge of creating beauty and art within the severe limits of early computer systems and display hardware. While this meant making certain compromises, it also enabled a wealth of creativity, as artists and designers sought innovative solutions for working within constraints. However, as televisions get larger and our mobile devices become more high resolution, these sorts of concerns have become less relevant, and viewers risk losing touch with the material properties of a screen as a grid of discrete colored lights. The continued influence of pixel art as a nostalgic style speaks to this somewhat, but does the artform a disservice by presenting it so devoid of context.

For my final project in Homemade Hardware, I've been developing a custom Arduino-based video monitor for presenting short, 128×128 pixel video loops on a low-resolution OLED screen. As an approximately 1-inch square, the screen is designed to foster an intimate viewing experience of a piece of video art, requiring close watching. The screens can be loaded with simple animated GIF images transferred via serial USB. Because the screens use a well-established animation format, and all of the image decoding is done on the actual device, these screens will hopefully make it easy for video artists to present work in a novel way.

For the winter show, I intend to hang four or five screens on a wall. These screens will be displaying various short video/animation loops created by myself and other ITP students. I'm also planning on having a laptop computer available with another screen (perhaps an earlier prototype), for me to use for demonstration of the circuitry and complete video loading process, if anyone is interested. The entire installation will take up about 2 feet of wall space and only requires connection to a power outlet and a power strip.

Classes

Homemade Hardware

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The Diverting Electric Lighter

Lutfiadi Rahmanto

Lighter that can only be lit up several times a day, and offers alternative joy when unusable

http://www.lutfiadi.com/portfolio/the-diverting-electric-lighter/

Description

This is an electric lighter that can only be lit up several times a day, with an intention to help the user build a better habit in smoking by reducing the consumption day by day. After the lighter is lighted up, the user has to wait until the bar fills up before it can be relighted. While the bar is waiting to fill up, it provides an alternative to relieve the urge to smoke. In that case, when pressed it will send a relaxing content to user’s phone to divert their urge to smoke.

Classes

Homemade Hardware

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Animal World

Shaun Axani, Xi Liu

An interactive electronic board experience for children with disabilities to be exposed to all types of sensory feedback.

http://shaunaxani.com/2015/12/07/sensory-wall-updates-getting-close/

Description

For our assistive tech class, Xi Liu and I have worked with Strivright, a Brooklyn school for children ages 2-5 with hearing impairment. We have devised a sensory wall unlike any other. It's a large magnetic surface with an animation of the outdoors. There are many animals that are CNC routed out of wood, with graphics adhered to the front and magnets on the back. They can be placed anywhere on the magnetic surface, but when they're put in special places, they close circuits and there is an assortment of sensory feedback, including flashing lights, animal sounds, vibrations, and spinning tails and ears on stepper motors. We are getting all the printed designs back from the printers this week, and the custom circuit boards will be etched, so everything will start to look much more like the final product in the days ahead. I will update the video with more of the final content shortly.

Classes

Designing for Digital Fabrication, Developing Assistive Technologies, Homemade Hardware

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Dhish

Denny George

Dhish is a musical instrument that captures universal percussive gestures like<br />
snapping and clapping to create music.

http://notes.abrain.in/digi-fab-proposal/

Description

I wish to create a novel electronic musical instrument that seems accessible and intuitive to audience.
I am using clapping as my focus for musical gesture.
I feel it is a universally understood gesture with musical connotations in Eastern Music (especially qawalli where its expected for performers AND audiences to clap to keep rhythm) and Western music where people often clap at concerts in rhythm.

There has been a history of using a glove like form for experimental electronic instrument but I feel never addressing the clapping capability of the hand is a missed opportunity. My project aims to explore that.

Eventually I wish to write and perform oral storytelling pieces with my instrument and also be able to give it as a MIDI instrument to other talented musicians to see where they go with it.

[Special Request] I am working on a comedy performance using this musical instrument. I would appreciate if I can get a small room for the ITP show. I remember there was a project by Kaini in Shawn's room last show. I wish to conduct 5 minute shows for 5,6 people one after the other all through the day. I feel it will really help me showcase my project and idea in the contex that I want.

Classes

Designing for Digital Fabrication, Homemade Hardware, New Interfaces for Musical Expression