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  • Amira Pettus 10:30 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply
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    Amira Anne Pettus MIDTERM_ Journal Entry 1 

    Project overview:

    Originally a screen based game that allowed the player to manipulate their BPM in order to complete a time color matching game against a set pattern created by the computer.( BPM ranges matched up to specific colors which the player must discover and manipulate to match the computer’s color based patter.)

    Physical Object: The game became physical and now the player has a handheld object embedded with RGB leds. The concept is the same,however instead of squares on the screen the colors of leds are changed depending on BPMs.

    known and unknown challenge :

    To make a game ,using the heart sensor, that one could play alone or with another person. There was some initial trouble with mapping the BPM to the color ranges as well as creating a range that the player could manipulate to change the colors of the boxes(LEDs).

    AND PROGRAMMING.

    surprising: How the project evolved from living on the screen to a physical object and the natural handheld shape it took on.

    jewel/wildcard: When the project was screen based and the players competed against each other to match the computer generated pattern we had trouble thinking about how to make this aspect physical. The idea of cards with pattens came up and I believed fit in with the feel of the game nicely.

     

  • adamsabh 10:29 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    AdamSabh_Midterm_Journal_1 

    Here is a link to my inspiration:
    http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-08/02/heart-chamber-orchestra

    Known Challenges/Unknown Challenges

    My midterm started with a rough patch. The pulse sensor I received wasn’t of the best caliber. I believed the problem was that the sensor was sending bad signals to the processing sketch. After discussing the problem with Yuri one evening after class I was given an extra pulse sensor to see if that was what was going wrong. The signals I was getting became stronger and the resemblance of a heart beat started to become clearer. However, it took me quite a while to troubleshoot the remaining disturbance in the signal.

    I knew that getting the clearest signal would be tough, but I didn’t think for it to be a piece of equipment that was skewing my data. My steps went from simplifying wiring, to splitting up the equipment’s wiring to separate breadboards, to replacing all pieces with backup parts, to replacement of arduino, to a complete reiteration of coding.

    My project means to be an ambient LED display reader of ones heartbeat while listening to various music genres. Although the audio…. to be continued

    Easter Egg Experiences? Came upon a jewel of information

    Not all equipment should be taken for granted. I expect the equipment to be working at the highest level when in reality I paid a minor sum for it, and in return received the quality I paid for.

     

  • naterudolph 10:29 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Nate Rudolph's Midterm Journal Entry 1 

    I set out to create some sort of exercise tool with the pulse sensor. I’m still waiting on an accelerometer to begin piecing the project together, but I’ve begun the code and wiring diagrams to start sketching out how it will work.

    These components will be fit inside a ball with the LEDs in a line following one axis. The goal of the object is for the user to orient the ball according to a set LED by tilting to make that LED face upward. The rate at which the LEDs change will be determined by the pulse sensor that it attached to the side of the ball.

    My original concept was to implement this into a large weighted medicine ball, but as I sketched out a storyboard, I thought it would allow for a longer and more interesting interaction by having two hand held balls that interact with each other as the user progresses through the exercise.

     

  • mikesusol 10:28 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Mike Susol’s Midterm Journal Entry 1 

    While developing my mid-term project (name TBD) I was met with a few challenges. The first challenge was to come up with an idea that fit within my coding skill-set and budget. Since this pause of the project is exploratory, there was a certain leap of faith on my part so I could order my electronics from Sparkfun and source materials from other vendors. My goal is to design a stuffed robot “toy” that uses feedback from an embedded pulse sensor to control embedded LEDs in the shape of a heart. The concept is that the “robot” (through a series of pulse control tests) wants to be convinced that you are human. It was difficult to configure the size of the robot without all of the parts in my possession. Working from the dimensions provided online I could reverse engineer the first prototype. Once I get all of the actual parts, I’m sure that I’ll be making modifications as needed. The choice to order my fabric from Spoonflower early was a huge help and the quality of the printed fabric was a pleasant surprise.

     

  • christopherkoelsch 10:28 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    “Appointment With Death” – Journal Entry #1 

    Known challenges are the building of the physical structure itself.  I was a bit apprehensive as to the time that will have to be devoted to the wood-gluing and parts assembly itself.  I didn’t want this project to be about the physical look entirely of the building.   Concerned with the circuitry (and what I’m here to learn), I wanted to spend more time on code, wiring, etc.  Yet the physical ediface of the building is pretty cool.

    I’m also thinking about the outcome of the project.  If the user doesn’t have the stimulus needed, the project stands still.  It is possible that any user’s heart rate will not increase — and thus the “crescendo” of the project will not arrive.  Certain stimuli may have to be brought in to test the project to increase heartrate amongst users.

    I’m concerned with the code — as are most people.  I wanted to use an mp3 shield but way waylaid due to its cost (the project consists of a soundtrack — so during presentation I may just present with a soundtrack).

    However, I feel satisfied with the solidity of the idea and it fits in with my aesthetic w/ set design/goth/ ideas.  I also built the project with the mini-thesis of Charles Dickens in my mind:  running around Dickens’ head juxtaposed with a Dickensian house idea.

     

  • aisencc 10:28 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply
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    Theater Safety Glasses 


    Known and Unknown Challenges:
    The Theater Safety Glasses are an old idea that I am refurbishing to create a second version. The main intent is to take a good idea in the first prototype stage and take it further. To begin the Arduino board needs to be stripped from the circuit, therefore I began my technical implementation with creating a new circuit to be etched. An immense challenge was to configure all of the elements comfortably on to the glasses. I have found that I need to make a 3d-printed part for this project in order to incorporate the circuit, battery, servos and curtain.
    KNOWN: battery is huge, first etching of pcb.
    UNKOWN: 3d modeling, it’s not Christmas time… so it’s harder to find red velvet cloth : /

    Easter Egg Experiences:
    When thinking of how to recreate this project I found the new challenge of detaching from the previous image to make a new one. Unfortunately I have not been able to come up with a better look and feel, I am just making the electronics, the user experience, and the design tighter.
    Rhino is free, and there are a ton of tutorials online.
    I love designing pcbs.

     

  • aisencc 10:15 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Refurbishing Theater Safety Glasses

     

  • adamsabh 9:33 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Pulse Sensor Troubleshooting 

    So as you know I have had an extremely hard time getting the Pulse Sensor to cooperate with my computer (much like Mike).

    I do believe I have found the largest source of my problem though. The speakers that we purchased from SparkFun severely interferes with the PulseSensor signals. I have a few videos that I will post demonstrating the trouble that the speakers gives me.

    When playing a single tone in unison with the LED everything is fine, but as soon as you step up the complexity of the speaker all hell breaks loose and the sensor goes into a frenzy.

     

    • Yury Gitman 1:59 pm on March 20, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Did adding the 300 ohm (what you had on hand) resistor to the speaker help with the noise level of the PS reading? Ideal resistor for the 0.25w 80ohm speaker is 100ohm resistor for Arduino. But 300 ohms will work, it will just make the sound more dim.

    • Adam 3:46 pm on March 20, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I haven’t yet but I will tonight and let you know how that pans out.

  • Joe Volpe 7:09 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Pulse Sensor:iteration 2 

    My second iteration was an experiment of creating a different shape with the fabric provided and adding additional circuits and leds, and an embedded speaker to work with the pulse sensor.

    I began to see the limitations of using an arduino uno board with the pulse sensor as I would have enjoyed using pwm pins with this project to fade the lights but the timers are being devoted to the pulse sensors.

     

  • Joe Volpe 5:59 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply
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    Pulse sensor: iteration 1 

    For my first use of the pulse sensor and its accompanying code, I created a heart as instructed on the pulse sensor website and embedded my arduino uno board inside it. I then powered my board with a 9volt battery. Performing this task allowed me to gain a feel of working with fabric as I have never worked with fabrics or sewing before. While doing this I also learned that the fade loop within the code actually disrupts the pulse sensors count, and the pulse was not accurate until this bit was commented out. In my next iteration I plan on creating an additional plush toy with additional circuits using more digital pins on my arduino uno board.

     

  • kasiawitek 4:00 am on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply
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    PULSE / SENSOR / OH_THE_DRAMA 

     

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