Wireless Flocking: Interpersonal Wireless and Tactile Interface
Instructors: Yury Gitman and Andrew Baron
yuryg@mac.com drew@rocketboom.com
MFA/DT Spring 2005 // Support Elective
Thursdays 6:00pm – 8:40pm
Course Description:
This class aims to give students an understanding of the various ways wireless can be used for inter-personal communication. Students will be asked to look at real world contexts in which wireless technology can allow a group (be they a couple, a sports team, a group of friends) to communicate more seamlessly, safely, subtly, or elegantly. Although sound and text are powerful interfaces, they are not ideal for loud, crowded, or socially sensitive contexts. Likewise the class will explore and develop alternative interfaces for wireless communication outside voice, like tactile and light interfaces. Students will be encouraged to explore interfaces that are not only hands-free, but eye-free, and ear-free too. The projects focus on inter-personal connectivity and examining how we communicate off-line. It will be largely a hands-on class that illustrates how wireless technology can be employed in Design Technology projects, be they physical computing, games, or live performances.
Week 1
Intro to class, physical computing, and assignments.
Review parts and texts.
Homework:
Drawing of design with 10-30 dots for LED wearable pendent. Buy physical computing parts from list #1.
Reading:
Physical Computing, Chapter 1 and 2
Tactile-display.pdf
Week 2
Intro to physical computing continued, powering LED’s, LED arrays, resisters, brightness, electricity, and switches.
Show pendent 3 designs in class
Breadboard LED pendents in class
Homework
Finalize design on pendents, consider aesthetic aspects
Order wireless parts
Reading:
Physical Computing Chap 3 and 4
See Post
Week 3
Wireless Interface: receiver and transmitter, encoder and decoder, addressing, range, and radiation.
Homework:
Finnish working prototype
Reading:
Tech Specs of Wireless Receivers
Week 4
Beardboard a working prototype of wireless controlled pendent
Class crit and Playtesting
Discuss enclosing devices, embedded switches, weather proofing, and mounting.
Homework:
Polish, rework, and finish prototypes
Order vibrating motors
Reading:
Soldering for “dummies” and professionals
Week 5
Playtesting and the city
Class trip and discussion
Homework:
Physical Computing Chapter 5-7 (for everyone)
Wireless interface specs
Week 6
Vibrotactile Interface and the White Rabbit effect
Controlling motors, vibration, intensity, direction, and speed
Beadboarding a vibrotactile device
Homework:
Vibrotactile Reader
Finnish breadboarding your vibrotactile device
Week 7
Playtest everyones’ vibrotactile device
Haptics vs Tactics
Wearable Computing and Flocking
Homework:
Solder, enclose, and make playtest ready
Week 8
Playtest vibrotactile devices in class and outdoors, then discuss
Homework:
Document your devices
Week 9
Flocking final project assigned
Discussion of Flocking
Intro to Microchip
Week 10
Present and discuss your ideas
More on the Microchip
Week 11
Work on Flocking final project
More on the Microchip
Advanced physical computing
Week 12
Work on Flocking final project
More on the Microchip
Advanced physical computing
Week 13
Presentation, playtest, and crit of Flocking final project
Week 14
Work on Flocking final project
Document project
Week 15
Public crits and playtesting
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