Dimitri Darras Physical Computing ITP

Final Project

2006-08-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

Documentation

2004-12-14T17:09:00.000-08:00

Here is the application we filled out for the show, regarding context and purpose of the project:

Description

Punching bags are for exercise and stress relief. This punching bag indicates your progress with solid colors and sounds chosen to refelect intensity of punches.

We wanted to do something with exercise and a sense of humor. Initially we thought about baseball and other sports, but focused on boxing because it's something that everyone can do and is familiar with.

Audience
ITP Students and visitors who want to take out all their frustrations, tech and otherwise. Users can slap at it, punch the hell out it, kick it, etc.
User Scenario
Users will approach the piece, and if they choose to hit it, will get an immediate response. As they punch, they may realize that there is a color-coded system for advancement. They will also enjoy the spectacle of punching the bag and changing the colors and sounds.

Project References, Research and Literature
Boxers historically get a mixed rap. While Mohammed Ali is a great of the sport and a timeless winner, Tyson is a more notorious character.

Rocky won best film in the 1980's signifying its universal appeal. Boxing today draws crowds in Vegas and afar, woman now participate too.

Having tested the interactive punching bag, we received really positive feedback from students in the PComp lounge and Commons Area.

We demonstrated the punching bag Tuesday night for the pcomp projects presentation scheduled in the Japanese Room.

Here is Wlodek's excellent documentation for the project.

As soon as I can get it off of the two PCs, I'll post here the Illustrator source files and gifs for the graphics. I think that redundancy for pcomp projects is important considering that machines on occasion crap out.

We ended up using neither the crossover nor video in Processing; less is more.

The class demonstration went very well, Andrew invited 3 guests Alison, Colin, and a film maker to give us unbiased evaluation. Their main comment was to use the sound trigger more effectively, but otherwise they enjoyed using it.

12/3 Working Code - Testing Comments

2004-12-06T13:04:00.000-08:00

We are getting bad values from the Piezo, possibly because of long wires to the bread board causing interference.

Here is the latest Processing Code:

// CODE
// SONIA V2.5 -- Audio Live Stream.
//http://www.pitaru.com/sonia/
//Goal is to capture audio data and parse into if/then
statements //Note the Sonia code folder goes into the
sketch folder
//web site to
scrape:http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=29
//sounds: http://www.findsounds.com/ISAPI/search.dll

//Settings for display of color images
int picDislayTime =400; //time imageis
displayed in milliseconds

int numOfPics = 5; //number of
images in image array for colors
BImage[] colors = new BImage[numOfPics]; //new array
of up for displaying color photos
int whichImage = 0; //to display
appropriate image
boolean showing = false; //for
checking whether or not time of the images displayed
has elapsed
int startTime; //variable
for timer
float previousLevel = 0; //to check
previous mic input
float meterData = 0;

//settings for display of homepage image
int introDisplayTime = 30000; //time after
last sensor input that "homepage" image gets displayed
BImage start; //the "home
page" image
int waitingTime; //
boolean waiting = false;

//settings for playing sounds
int numOfSounds = 5; //a sound
for each color
Sample[] thunder = new Sample[numOfSounds]; //array to
hold each sound

//serial piezo
float piezo = 0;

float combinedAverageData = 0;

void setup()
{
beginSerial(); // Default start serial at 9600
baud
serialWrite(65); //sent message to pic to
begin serial communication

Sonia.start(this); // Start Sonia engine.
LiveInput.start(256); // Start LiveInput and
return 256 FFT frequency bands.

size(800,600);

for(int j=1 ; j<6 ; j++)
{
colors [j-1] = loadImage ("color" + j + ".gif");
thunder[j-1] = new Sample("thunder"+ j + ".wav");
}
start = loadImage("homepict.gif");
startTime = millis();
background (0);
}

void loop()
{
soundShow(); //Show appropriate image based on
input from microphone

if (showing)
{
image(colors[whichImage], 0, 0);
}
if ((millis() - startTime > picDislayTime))
{
showing = false;
}

intro(); //display homepage image if no
input is received from sensors
}
void soundShow()//Show image based on input from
microphone
{
meterData = 250 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.LEFT);
combinedAverageData = (meterData + piezo)/2;

for(int i = 100 ; i > 10 ; i-=20)
{
int j = i/20;

if (!showing)
{
if (combinedAverageData > i)
{
whichImage = j - 1;
thunder[j-1].play();
showing = true;
startTime = millis();
previousLevel = i + 20;

println (meterData+ " " +piezo+ "
"+combinedAverageData);
}
}
}
}

void intro()
{

if ((combinedAverageData < 10) && (!waiting))
{
waiting = true;
waitingTime = millis();
}
else if (combinedAverageData >= 10) {
waiting = false;
}
if ((millis() - waitingTime > introDisplayTime) &&
(waiting))
{
waiting = false;
image(start, 300, 0);

}
}
void serialEvent() //automatic serial listener
{
piezo = serial; // save messages to variable
"piezo"
serialWrite(65); // send message to PIC
}

// Safely close the sound engine upon Browser
shutdown.
public void stop(){
Sonia.stop();
super.stop();
}

Processing Code 11/29

2004-11-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

There is a problem with the .wav and timing of the color changes. We are wondering if this is a Processing or Sonia issue. This code uses for loops and arrays to cut down on file size.


// CODE

// SONIA V2.5 -- Audio Live Stream.

//http://www.pitaru.com/sonia/

//Goal is to capture audio data and parse into if/then statements

//Note the Sonia code folder goes into the sketch folder



//web site to scrape: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=29

//sounds: http://www.findsounds.com/ISAPI/search.dll



int numOfPics = 5;                       //number of images in image array for colors

BImage[] colors = new BImage[numOfPics]; //new array of up for displaying color photos

int picDislayTime = 100000;                //time image is displayed in milliseconds



int whichImage = 0;

int startTime;

Sample thunder;

float previousLevel = 0;

boolean showing  = false;



void setup()

{

  Sonia.start(this);    // Start Sonia engine.

  LiveInput.start(256); // Start LiveInput and return 256 FFT frequency bands.



  thunder = new Sample("thunder.wav");



  size(640,480);

  

  for(int j=0 ; j<5  ; j++)

  {

    int m = j+1;

    colors[j] = loadImage("color" + m + ".gif");

  }

  startTime = millis();

}



void loop()

{



  showImage();      //Show appropriate image based on input from microphone



  for(int i = 5 ; i > 0  ; i-=1)

  {

    int j = i-1;

    if (showing)



    if (whichImage == i) {

      image(colors[j], 0, 0);

    }    

    if ((millis() - startTime > picDislayTime) || (1500 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.LEFT) > previousLevel))

    /* || (1000 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.LEFT) < previousLevel)*/{

      showing = false;

    }

  }

}



void showImage()//Show image based on input from microphone

{

  float meterDataLeft = 1500 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.LEFT);//avg this w/ serial in



  for(int i = 800 ; i > 100  ; i-=160)

  {

    int j = i/160;



    if (!showing)

    {

      if (meterDataLeft > i)

      {

        whichImage = j;

        println(j);

        thunder.play();

        showing = true;

        startTime = millis();

        previousLevel= meterDataLeft;

      }

    }

  }

}

// Safely close the sound engine upon Browser shutdown.

public void stop(){

  Sonia.stop();

  super.stop();

}

Thanksgiving Processing Code

2004-11-27T17:48:00.000-08:00

This version has a timer for 10 seconds and stays on a level till the user hits it up to the next or until the 10 seconds are up. We will have a legend so they know what the colors mean.

// CODE
// SONIA V2.5 -- Audio Live Stream.
//http://www.pitaru.com/sonia/
//Goal is to capture audio data and parse into if/then statements
//Note the Sonia code folder goes into the sketch folder

BImage color1;
BImage color2;
BImage color3;
BImage color4;
BImage color5;

/*int numOfPics = 150; //number of images in image array for video sequence
BImage[] carlos = new BImage[numOfPics]; //new array of up to 224 photos

int numOfImages = 100; //number of images in image array for background images
BImage[] boxing = new BImage[numOfImages]; //new array of photos*/

int a = 0; // variable for counting through the display of photos
int picDislayTime = 10000; //time image is displayed in milliseconds
int movDisplayTime = 70; //time image is displayed in milliseconds

int whichImage = 0;
int startTime;
int startTimeMov;

float previousLevel = 0;
//float meterLevel = liveinput.getlevel

boolean showing = false;
boolean slowDown = false;

void setup(){

Sonia.start(this); // Start Sonia engine.
LiveInput.start(256); // Start LiveInput and return 256 FFT frequency bands.

size(640,480);
colorMode(RGB, 255, 255 ,255, 100);//need this comment later for tinting, etc

/*for(int j=0; j int m = j + 1;
carlos[j] = loadImage("boxing" + m + ".jpg");
}*/

color1 = loadImage("color1.gif");
color2 = loadImage("color2.gif");
color3 = loadImage("color3.gif");
color4 = loadImage("color4.gif");
color5 = loadImage("color5.gif");

/*for(int i=0; i int n = i + 1;
carlos[i] = loadImage("carlos" + n + ".gif");
}*/

startTime = millis();

}
void loop(){

background(0,0,0);
showImage(); //Show appropriate image based on input from microphone
if (showing) {
if (whichImage == 5) {
image(color5, 0, 0);
}
else if (whichImage == 4) {
image(color4,0,0);
}
else if (whichImage == 3) {
image(color3,0,0);
}
else if (whichImage == 2) {
image(color2,0,0);
}
else if (whichImage == 1) {
image(color1,0,0);
}
if (millis() - startTime > picDislayTime) {
showing = false;
}
if (1000 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.LEFT) > previousLevel) {
showing = false;
}
}
}

// Safely close the sound engine upon Browser shutdown.
public void stop(){
Sonia.stop();
super.stop();
}

void showImage()//Show appropriate background image based on input from microphone
{
float meterDataLeft = 1000 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.LEFT);
println(meterDataLeft);

if (!showing) {
if (meterDataLeft > 740) {
previousLevel= meterDataLeft;
whichImage = 5;
showing = true;
startTime = millis();
}
else if (meterDataLeft > 580) {
previousLevel= meterDataLeft;
whichImage = 4;
showing = true;
startTime = millis();
}
else if (meterDataLeft > 420) {
previousLevel= meterDataLeft;
whichImage = 3;
showing = true;
startTime = millis();
}
else if (meterDataLeft > 260) {
previousLevel= meterDataLeft;
whichImage = 2;
showing = true;
startTime = millis();

}
else if (meterDataLeft > 100) {
whichImage = 1;
showing = true;
startTime = millis();
previousLevel= meterDataLeft;

}
}
}

Updated Final Project Code (Processing)

2004-11-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

We tested the project and received very positive feedback from users.

To run serial with Sonia at the same time, make sure that win32Comm.dll is in the same folder.

We are using colors to indicate progress

.
.
. . We need a stepped motion and a timer. We discussed using the Piezo for serial input for a meter.

Priorities:

Set up color program
Set up time delay
Set up audio and serial from strip

// CODE
// SONIA V2.5 -- Audio Live Stream.
//http://www.pitaru.com/sonia/
//Goal is to capture audio data and parse into if/then statements
//Note the Sonia code folder goes into the sketch folder

BImage b;
BImage c;

//int numOfPics = 150; //number of images in image array for video sequence
//BImage[] carlos = new BImage[numOfPics]; //new array of up to 224 photos

/*int numOfImages = 100; //number of images in image array for background images
BImage[] boxing = new BImage[numOfImages]; //new array of photos*/

int a = 0; // variable for counting through the display of photos
int picDislayTime = 1000; //time image is displayed in milliseconds
int movDisplayTime = 70; //time image is displayed in milliseconds

int whichImage = 0;
int startTime;
int startTimeMov;

boolean showing = false;
boolean slowDown = false;

void setup(){

Sonia.start(this); // Start Sonia engine.
LiveInput.start(256); // Start LiveInput and return 256 FFT frequency bands.
beginSerial();
size(640,480);
colorMode(RGB, 255, 255 ,255, 100);//need this comment later for tinting, etc

/*for(int j=0; j int m = j + 1;
carlos[j] = loadImage("boxing" + m + ".jpg");
}*/

b = loadImage("boxing1NL.jpg");
c = loadImage("bsuit.gif");

/*for(int i=0; i int n = i + 1;
carlos[i] = loadImage("carlos" + n + ".gif");
}*/

startTime = millis();

}
void loop(){
background(0,0,0);
//showImage(); //Show appropriate image based on input from microphone
if (showing) {
if (whichImage == 1) {
image(b, 0, 0);

} else if (whichImage == 2) {
image(c,0,0);
}
if (millis() - startTime > picDislayTime) {
showing = false;
}
}

/*showMeterLevel(); //Show simulated movie clip - acts like a meter based on volume from mic
if (slowDown) {
image (carlos[a], 0, 0, carlos[0].width, carlos[0].height - mouseY); //display each image in sequence
if (millis() - startTimeMov > movDisplayTime){
slowDown = false;
}
}*/
}

/*void showMeterLevel(){//Show simulated movie clip - acts like a meter based on volume from mic

float meterDataLeft = 1000 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.LEFT);
float meterDataRight = 1000 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.RIGHT);

if (!slowDown) {
image (carlos[a], 0, 0, carlos[0].width, carlos[0].height - mouseY); //display each image in sequence
a = a + 1;
if ( a >= numOfPics ) {
a = 0;
}
slowDown = true;
startTimeMov = millis();
}
}*/
// Safely close the sound engine upon Browser shutdown.
public void stop(){
Sonia.stop();
super.stop();
}

Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery Visit

2004-11-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

I went to the "Sign Language" exhibit by Tatsuo Miyajima and Ben Rubin. Miyajim's pieces centers on numbers in various configurations. "Counter me on No. 3" is made of neon and steel and reflects the viewer on close inspection. The 2 Ben Rubin pieces "Instability" were really cool. I looked for a projector to see how the words reflected on the LED and realized that there's probably something within the tubes which generates these characters.

Here is the gallery web site: http://www.brycewolkowitz.com The building houses other galleries too.

ADC With a BX-24

2004-11-12T19:00:00.001-08:00

I am using a BX-24 because I am short on PICs and for my processing final, I am using analgue input.

Here is the schematic from Tom Igoe's site for the BX-24:

This is the first program I tried on the BX-24:

dim potVar as integer

Sub main()
call delay(0.5) ' start program with a half-second delay

do
potVar = getADC(13)
debug.print "potVar = " ; cstr(potVar)
loop

end sub

For some reason,the BX-24 returns really clean values from the potentiometer.

Lab 7- Motors Lab

2004-11-09T13:33:00.000-08:00

I wired a BX-24 and used the following modified code from Tom Igoe's site. I tested the H-Bridge with the multimeter, but couldn't get a reading of 12V for the motor.

' H-bridge is connected to pins 11 and 12.
' Switch is connected to pin 20
' motor enable pin is connected to pin 8

Const switchPin as byte = 20
Const motor1Pin as byte = 11
Const motor2Pin as byte = 12
Const motorEnablePin as byte = 8

Sub main()
' initialize variables:
call putPin(motor1Pin,1)
call putPin(motor2Pin,0)
call getPin(motoeEnablePin, 1)

do
if motorDirection = 1 then
call putPin(motor1Pin,0)
call putPin(motor2Pin,1)
else
call putPin(motor1Pin,1)
call putPin(motor2Pin,0)
end if
loop
end sub

As a side note, the BX-24 showed errors after faulty programming. I tried resetting the RES pin to ground (didn't work) and eventually pulled the chip out of the breadboard for 10 minutes - the light on the chip lit up and it worked again.

I was able to get circular motion from a stepper motor. To find which wires (mine were black) to send to power, use an Ohmeter to test resistance across the circuit. I used trial-and-error for the other four colored wires. This is the order I used:

Green
Brown
Orange
Yellow

Igoe's book has the following order:

Orange
Yellow
Black
Brown
Red

There has to be a better way to figure where they go, I will try to find out if I update this entry.

Also, I still need to use a switch to reverse direction.

I purchased H-Bridges from Digikey, but ended up using a transistor array from the Computer Store. Here is the documentation for a Darlington Array. Here is the PIC basic code I used to get basic motion from the motor:

start:
High PORTB.0

' set variables:
x VAR BYTE
steps VAR WORD
stepArray VAR BYTE(4)
clear

TRISD = %11110000
PORTD = 255
input portb.4
Pause 1000

stepArray[0] = %00001010
stepArray[1] = %00000110
stepArray[2] =%00000101
stepArray[3] = %00001001

main:
if portb.4 = 1 then
steps = steps + 1
else
steps = steps - 1
endif

portD = stepArray[steps //4]
pause 2

GoTo main

Here are two somewhat out-of-focus photos of the breadboard and motors:

Interactive Punching Bag Documentation

2004-11-04T18:46:00.000-08:00

This is the short description of the project to go where we set it up

Here is the initial proposal and Wlodek's current documentation for the project

PROCESSING CODE

// CODE
// SONIA V2.5 -- Audio Live Stream.
//http://www.pitaru.com/sonia/
//Goal is to capture audio data and parse into if/then statements
//Note the Sonia code folder goes into the sketch folder

BImage b;
BImage c;

int numOfPics = 150; //number of images in image array for video sequence
BImage[] carlos = new BImage[numOfPics]; //new array of up to 224 photos

/*int numOfImages = 100; //number of images in image array for background images
BImage[] boxing = new BImage[numOfImages]; //new array of photos*/

int a = 0; // variable for counting through the display of photos
int picDislayTime = 1000; //time image is displayed in milliseconds
int movDisplayTime = 30; //time image is displayed in milliseconds

int whichImage = 0;
int startTime;
int startTimeMov;

boolean showing = false;
boolean slowDown = false;

void setup(){

Sonia.start(this); // Start Sonia engine.
LiveInput.start(256); // Start LiveInput and return 256 FFT frequency bands.

size(640,480);
colorMode(RGB, 255, 255 ,255, 100);//need this comment later for tinting, etc

/*for(int j=0; j int m = j + 1;
carlos[j] = loadImage("boxing" + m + ".jpg");
}*/

b = loadImage("boxing1NL.jpg");
c = loadImage("bsuit.gif");

for(int i=0; i int n = i + 1;
carlos[i] = loadImage("carlos" + n + ".gif");
}

startTime = millis();

}
void loop(){
background(0,0,0);
showImage(); //Show appropriate image based on input from microphone
if (showing) {
if (whichImage == 1) {
image(b, 0, 0);

} else if (whichImage == 2) {
image(c,0,0);
}
if (millis() - startTime > picDislayTime) {
showing = false;
}
}

showMeterLevel(); //Show simulated movie clip - acts like a meter based on volume from mic
if (slowDown) {
image (carlos[a], 0, 0, carlos[0].width, carlos[0].height - mouseY); //display each image in sequence
if (millis() - startTimeMov > movDisplayTime){
slowDown = false;
}
}
}

void showMeterLevel(){//Show simulated movie clip - acts like a meter based on volume from mic

float meterDataLeft = 1000 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.LEFT);
float meterDataRight = 1000 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.RIGHT);

if (!slowDown) {
image (carlos[a], 0, 0, carlos[0].width, carlos[0].height - mouseY); //display each image in sequence
a = a + 1;
if ( a >= numOfPics ) {
a = 0;
}
slowDown = true;
startTimeMov = millis();
}
}
// Safely close the sound engine upon Browser shutdown.
public void stop(){
Sonia.stop();
super.stop();
}

void showImage()//Show appropriate background image based on input from microphone
{
float meterDataLeft = 1000 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.LEFT);
float meterDataRight = 1000 * LiveInput.getLevel(Sonia.RIGHT);
println(startTimeMov);

if (!showing) {
if (meterDataLeft > 500) {
whichImage = 1;
showing = true;
startTime = millis();
} else if (meterDataLeft > 200){
whichImage = 2;
showing = true;
startTime = millis();
}
}
}

Interactive Punching Bag Project - Presentation III

2004-11-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

Tonight we present for class. The following hardware is in place:

Wlodek's Crossover for low frequency microphone input
My mic inside the punching bag
Piezo strip motion sensor sewed to the punching bag
PIC chip and bread board with diode array
MIDI synthesizer
MIDI and audio cables
Amplifier
Speaker

The PIC BASIC PRO code for the PIC is as follows

'****************************************************************
'* Name : week7 MIDI with 1 pot *
'* Author : wk372 *
'* Date : 10/23/2004 *
'****************************************************************
' open the file with the definitions that we need:
INCLUDE "modedefs.bas"

DEFINE OSC 20
Define ADC_BITS 10 ' Set number of bits in result
DEFINE ADC_CLOCK 3 ' Set clock source (3=rc)
Define ADC_SAMPLEUS 15 ' Set sampling time in uS

'set up serial UART registers:
DEFINE HSER_RCSTA 90h ' enable the receive register
DEFINE HSER_TXSTA 20h ' enable the transmit register
DEFINE HSER_BAUD 31250 ' set the baud rate

TRISA = %11111111 'set PORTA to all input

'setup ADCON1
ADCON1= %10000010

'declare an aarray of 12 word variables
pitch var byte(12)

'declare other variables
note var byte
ADCVar var word

'the 12 elements of the array called pitch are the 12 notes of a scale
pitch (0) =60 ' middle c
pitch (1) =61 ' C#
pitch (2) =62 ' D
pitch (3) =63 ' D#
pitch (4) =64 ' E
pitch (5) =65 ' F
pitch (6) =66 ' F#
pitch (7) =63 ' G
pitch (8) =68 ' G#
pitch (9) =69 ' A
pitch (10) =70 ' A#
pitch (11) =71 ' B

main
'mypot gave a value of 0 to 1023
ADCin 0, ADCVar
'convert to a range from o to 10
Note = ADCVar / 100

if ADCVar>600 then
'play note
hserout [$90, pitch(note),$40]
pause 250
'noteoff:
hserout[$80, pitch(note), $00]

endif

goto main

Lab 6 0.20.04 - MIDI

2004-10-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

IDI output requires a PIC program stating which note to repeat on the synthesizer. I used the basic circuit from the lab.

DEFINE OSC 20
DEFINE HSER_RCSTA 90h ' enable the receive register
DEFINE HSER_TXSTA 20h ' enable the transmit register
DEFINE HSER_BAUD 31250 ' set the baud rate

main:
' noteon channel 1, middle A, middle velocity
hserout [$90, $45,$40]
pause 1000

' noteoff channel 1, middle A
hserout [$80, $45, $00]
goto main

IDI output requires a PIC program stating which note to repeat on the synthesizer. I used the basic circuit from the lab.

DEFINE OSC 20
DEFINE HSER_RCSTA 90h ' enable the receive register
DEFINE HSER_TXSTA 20h ' enable the transmit register
DEFINE HSER_BAUD 31250 ' set the baud rate

main:
' noteon channel 1, middle A, middle velocity
hserout [$90, $45,$40]
pause 1000

' noteoff channel 1, middle A
hserout [$80, $45, $00]
goto main

IDI output requires a PIC program stating which note to repeat on the synthesizer. I used the basic circuit from the lab.

DEFINE OSC 20
DEFINE HSER_RCSTA 90h ' enable the receive register
DEFINE HSER_TXSTA 20h ' enable the transmit register
DEFINE HSER_BAUD 31250 ' set the baud rate

main:
' noteon channel 1, middle A, middle velocity
hserout [$90, $45,$40]
pause 1000

' noteoff channel 1, middle A
hserout [$80, $45, $00]
goto main

Note the 20 Mhz clock on the chip - this is required for MIDI. Another very important fact for PIC BASIC PRO - set the oscillator to HS (High Speed), otherwise the MIDI won't work.

This is the sythesizer I used - it worked after a couple of tries. The knob on the right sets the instrument. To test the synthesizer, press the tone button on the pad to get a tone.

Lab 5 10.20.04 - Analogue Input through to Serial Processing

2004-10-20T19:32:00.000-07:00

Norretranders, User Illusion, ch. 6, "The Bandwidth of Consciousness" deals with human brain cell capacity to process information from the outside world. I'm unclear on the point of this reading but I get the sense that it's part scientific, part qualitative. The argument goes that we cannot possibly register everything in our sensory environment so the brain has to decipher messages in a complex fashion.

Here is a connector schematic from Tom Igoe's site to solder a serial connection.

For the lab assignment, I hooked up 2 potentiometers to a PIC, using the BASIC program from the serial lab. Here is the processing code to vary amplitude of the sine waves:

/* Serial call-and-response
by Tom Igoe (with adjustments by Dan)

Sends a byte out the serial port, and reads 3 bytes in.
sets background color, x location and rotation of a rect

Updated October 12, 2004
*/

int bkcolor; // background color
int[] serialStuff = new int[3]; // where we'll put what we receive
int serialCount = 0; // a count of how many bytes we receive
int xpos; // x location of rectangle
int rot; // rotation of rectangle
//BFont font;

void setup() {
//begin serial communication
beginSerial();
size(640, 240);
// font = loadFont("Garamond-Bold.vlw.gz");

//start off our call and response by sending 65;
serialWrite(65);
}

void loop() {
println(xpos);
//draw background with red value from sensor
background(bkcolor,bkcolor,bkcolor);
//textFont(font, 44);
float xoff = 0.0;

background(153,51,0);
stroke(255,255,255);
xoff = xoff + .25;
float n = noise(xoff) * 1000;
float a = 60.0;
float inc = TWO_PI/18.0;

for(int i=0; i<900; i=i+10)
{
line(i+400, bkcolor, i, +noise(xoff)*sin(a)*xpos);
// line(i+400, random(int(height)), i+400, +noise(xoff)*sin(a)*800.0);
a = a + inc/5;
}

}

void serialEvent() {
// add the latest byte from the serial port to array:
serialStuff[serialCount] = serial;
serialCount++;

// if we have 3 things set our variables:
if (serialCount > 2 ) {
bkcolor = serialStuff[0];
xpos = serialStuff[1];
rot = serialStuff[2];
// clear the string when we're done, and ask for more:
serialCount = 0;
// send a capital A to request new sensor readings:
serialWrite(65);
}
}

Here is the PIC code from Wlodek's Journal for Serial Output:

PIC CODE

'****************************************************************
'* Author : wk372 *
'* Date : 10/20/2004 *
'****************************************************************

txPin var portc.6
rxPin var portc.7
grLed var portd.0
ylLed Var portd.1

output grled
output ylLed
output txpin
input rxpin

inputVar VAR byte
pot1 VAR WORD ' Create variable to store result pot1
pot2 VAR WORD ' Create variable to store result pot2

' POTENTIOMETER SETUP
' Define ADCIN parameters
DEFINE ADC_BITS 10 ' Set number of bits in result
DEFINE ADC_CLOCK 3 ' Set clock source (3=rc)
DEFINE ADC_SAMPLEUS 10 ' Set sampling time in uS

TRISA = %11111111 ' Set PORTA to all input
ADCON1 = %10000010 ' Set PORTA analog and right justify result

'light green LED to know program is working

high grled
pause 300
low grled
pause 150
high grled

PAUSE 500 ' Wait .5 second

'-------------------------------------------------------

main:

'Yellow LED to know program is running

low ylled

ADCIN 0, pot1 'potentiometer1 variable
ADCIN 1, pot2 'potentiometer2 variable
pot1 = pot1/4 'divide the value because it's too big
pot2 = pot2/4 'divide the value because it's too big

'----------------------
' THE LISTENING CODE - puts message into inputVar
serin2 rxpin, 16468, [inputVar] 'listening for processing signal

high ylled

if inputVar=65 then ' if received message is 65, then respond to processing

serout2 txpin, 16468, [pot1,pot2] 'talk to processing

ENDif

goto main

Processing accepts serial data from the PIC, so I used a program with a Sine function and varied the function parameters according to input from the potentiometers.

As a side note, I am working with Wlodek to parse sound data from the Sonia plug-in into Processing.

For the Lab assignment, Java-based processing receives serial input from the PIC. Here is a photo of two potentiometers controlling a Processing assignment.

The two potentiometers control extremities on a Sine curve.

Here is a photo of the output to Processing

Lab 4 0.13.04 Documentation and Reading

2004-10-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

Donald A. Norman's "The Psychopathology of Everyday Things" addresses the issue of bad design and how to improve it. Although some of the examples are dated, the points made are still valid. I still haven't figured out how to open the pcomp Shop door. The picture of "Carelman's Coffeepot for Masochists" is cool. We've all seen sadistic products before: "surround sound" amplifier buttons, trojan horse shareware which doesn't work, etc.

Norman says an important consideration is visibility and natural, i.e. intuitive design. He states that "when simple things need pictures, labels, or instructions, the design has failed." I couldn't agree more. Normal also states that designers need to consider the user's psychology. In conclusion, he states that clever design can help reduce complexity in (technological) products.

Lab 3 10.06.04 - Analogue Output

2004-10-06T19:27:00.000-07:00

Group Project with Chia Hao, please use this link for a full description of the Weathervane.

The reading was "Chapter One: What exactly is interactivity" by Chris Crawford. Crawford makes the case for interactivity and defines what it as a conversation. Crawford writes that you need two actors for interaction - these actors think, listen, and speak. Crawford defines activities such as reading as not interactive. He is heavy handed in his conclusion because linear art forms like books and movies can be the genesis of interactivity and discussion. Crawford cites an example from Greek antiquity to support his claim that the spoken word is better than the written. The conclusion addresses "web" generation and interaction designers and draws the distinction between UI designers and human factors.

The lab assignment was to hook up output to a servo motor. I still need to try audio output with a potentiometer. The main difficulty with the servo motor was ensuring that connections were solid on the Radio Shack breadboard and the servo wires which are really thin.

Here is the code to turn the servo to it's maximum position and start again:

start:
pulseWidth var byte
' set up constants with the minimum and maximum pulsewidths
minPulse CON 50
maxPulse CON 250
' set up a constant with the time between pulses:
refreshPeriod CON 20

' set an initial pulsewidth:
pulseWidth = minPulse

main:
'take the output pin low so we can pulse it high
Low PORTC.3
' pulse the pin
PulsOut PORTC.3, pulseWidth
' pause for as long as needed:
Pause refreshPeriod

' change the angle for the next time around:
IF pulseWidth > maxPulse Then
pulseWidth = minPulse
Else
pulseWidth = pulseWidth + 1
Endif

GoTo main

Lab 2 9.29.04 - Programming the PIC

2004-09-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

Pic programming requires multiple steps and a lot of patience. The PICBASIC compiler has a menu item under view called Serial Connection which is important for ensuring serial connectivity and serial communication.

I was able to hook up a potentiometer but it started to fry because of faulty wiring. In short, you place one end at ground, another at power, then place the middle wire to the PIC pin.

My first PIC has a broken pin, so I learned to use either a small screwdriver or PIC tweezer to remove the second chip carefully. During this lab, my power source was inconsistent due to poor wire connections.

The results from the potentiometer show up in the Serial Communication window and vary according to analogue input.

his is the PIC PROGRAMMER which you can check out from the equipment room. I rebooted to ensure serial connection. The LEDs are not a good indicator of power. I may look into getting a mac USB to serial connector to program a BX-24.

NOTE: a couple of PIC trouble shooting pointers

-Make sure the PIC pins are all touching the bread board
-When you place the PIC in the PIC Programmer, the little circle lines up with the lever in the PIC Programmer
-If your pin breaks or is bent, use the pliers to gently push the pins into place or solder a broken pin with a header.
-Unless you've removed the 5V regulator, it's unlikely that you've fried your PIC, try trouble shooting other areas.
-Be very carefull when you lift the PIC from the breadboard - use a PIC pliers or maybe a screwdriver.

Here are screenshots from PIC BASIC PRO. Finiding the icons isn't always clear:

This is the second part of the chip programming.

Again, make sure the right PIC is selected. If you get an "Error 100", there is something wrong with the connection, either serial or PIC. For instance, I have to push down on a PIC with a broken pin to get rid of the "Error 100".

Lab 1 9.12.04 - Turning on an LED on a bread board

2004-09-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

he reading, "Less is More.." by William Buxton (2001), makes some thought provoking comments regarding "Renaissance teams". The guiding model is to aggregate specialists since the scope of emerging technology is too overwhelming for the individual.

The article cites numerous sources to back up arguments, however, falls short of addressing economic needs versus user-based design. Maybe it's cheaper to continue with the mouse-monitor paradigm. On the upshot, there will be an economically viable alternative using physical space if it doesn't already exist.

With the help of generous students, I was able to power my LED. The main challenge with soldering is positioning the liquid metal in the right spot. I had to re-solder the switch connection.

I used a Radio Shack bread board which differs from the example in the electricity flow is horizontal instead of vertical

This week, I rewired the breadboard from Radio Shack to Jameco. The most important factors include wiring from ground to ground and power to power on each column. I spent a long time debugging a circuit only to find that the power regulator was facing on the wrong direction.

The resistors only power down for a particular row if you plug in an LED on another row, it will receive the full 5V.

I was able to power a flashlight bulb (5V) and got some movement from a motor by soldering onto the bulb exterior and motor connectors respectively.

Based on reading in the Igoe book, my soldering technique has improved since I heat up under the element and let the solder drip onto the wire from the top.

Additional Regulator Notes:

You have to press down hard to make a connection with the bread board, but not so hard that you bend the pins.

My regulator burned my finger. Turns out this is not supposed to happen. Read about it here.