Author Archives: admin

Week 5: Assignment

Leave a reply

1) Finish your ATtiny circuit.
2) Before next class, I would like you to try learning a new craft. That’s it. NO electronics. Make a swatch (small example) that comes out of your learning. This could include any of the following:

  • sewing (by hand or on the machine)
  • embroidery
  • knitting
  • crocheting
  • draping
  • paper engineering
  • woodworking
  • silkscreening
  • surface design / fabric printing
  • etc, etc, etc

Here are some tutorials from last year as inspiration (also, this was a much longer project last year – you do NOT need to go into this depth). There are also a TON of tutorials if you hit the Googles.

Next, create a post with an image of your swatch and reflect on the following questions.
After doing all of the above, write a blog post that answers the questions below. It doesn’t have to be long, but I would like you to spend a good amount of time reflecting on these:

  • How do you identify / classify your practice? Choose as many as you would like from the following and feel free to add to it. Briefly explain why you chose them.
    • storyteller
    • maker
    • engineer
    • coder
    • designer
    • artist
    • learner
    • hacker
    • research
    • educator
    • gamer
    • craftsperson
    • [other?]
  • What is your favorite tool and why? Yes, again 🙂 (I’m going to put one restriction on this – you’re not allowed to say computer 🙂
  • Reflect on your experience trying out a new craft. Some questions you could address: What did you like about the process? What was frustrating? What insight did you gain? What advice would you give to someone?

3) Continue working on your midterm.

Week 4: Assignment

Leave a reply
  1. Build a circuit with one constructed switch or sensor and 3 (or more) LEDs.
  2. Use one of the following control structures to turn the LEDs on and off in sequence when the sensor or switch value changes: if, if/else, while()
  3. Individually or in groups, film a short play or movie that explains what is happening to a 5 year old. If you work in a group, each member should post this to the blog. Individually, write a few sentences about what was fun and challenging about this exercise. HAVE FUN WITH THIS!!!
  4. Bring in sketches and an idea for your midterm lamp project.

Inspiration…

eTextile Plays: How Would You Explain Electromagnetism to a 5 Year Old? from Liza Stark on Vimeo.

Midterm Assignment: Lamp Project due Oct.10

Leave a reply

Design a lamp using the techniques, tools, and materials we have been learning over the course. Lamp and presentation are due OCT. 10. You will have seven minutes total to present. I suggest 5 minutes for presentation and 2 for feedback. You do not need to have a slide deck unless you want to. You should plan to demo. Instructable due Friday, Oct. 17.

Constraints:
1) MUST use a switch or sensor. RE: You must have a way of controlling the circuit.
2) Must have at least two states (e.g. on/off, fading fast/slow, red/blue, etc) or more.
3) You do not have to use Arduino.
4) You cannot use jumper wires *unless* it is to connect your circuit traces to the Arduino. In this case, you should consider how to integrate your Arduino into the design. Depending on your time and financial constraints, you may want to explore other types of Arduinos that better fit your design, such as a Lilypad, Flora, Gemma, Arduino Mini, etc.
5) The midterm is an individual project.

NOTE: Please do not use a breadboard for the same reasons as the Arduino constraint above. Again, the goal of this project is to evaluate your comprehension of the materials, techniques, and processes. Only using wires and a breadboard or Arduino will not help me understand that you have mastered what we have been doing in the semester.

I will be evaluating you along the following categories:
Process
– Paper prototyping interaction and structure
– Grasp of assembly and how to integrate electronics with materials
– Material is appropriate for the project

Concept + Design
– Clear design goal
– Desired interaction accomplished (What should the user be doing or feeling? What action do you want them to perform?)
– Intuitive interface (or convoluted depending on the design goal)
– Articulated audience – who is this for?

Documentation
– Create an Instructable documenting your project. Due October 17.

DUE SEPTEMBER 26
Just bring any sketches and an idea to talk through.

Week 3: Assignment

Leave a reply
  1. Create one switch or a sensor. You can use any materials or techniques you like.
  2. Make three more identical ones. You will have 4 total swatches. Bring ALL of them to next class.
  3. Document it on the blog. I will give you a format to follow.
  4. Bring your Arduino and related supplies for next class.

Week 2: Assignment

Leave a reply

Illustration Project

Pick sentence or passage from a story that you like (children’s storybooks work VERY well). Illustrate one scene from that book and integrate a circuit into it using the materials we discussed in class.

  1. You must use at least 2 LEDs
  2. Focus on the construction and aesthetics.
  3. Post documentation to the blog and bring your final product into class.