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Physical Computing

say what??

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Computer Interactivity as We Know It


Input: Keyboard Mouse Voice Output Text Images (static & dynamic) Audio

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Physical Computing Interactivity: Input


Sensors that detect: sound (volume; frequency; language) light (luminosity; chroma) movement / speed proximity (infrared); global position (GPS) heat moisture touch force / pressure digital information (computer)

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Physical Computing Interactivity: Output

sound lights motors digital devices

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Transduction
A fancy word referring to the convergence of one form of energy into another. For us, it is converting the intentions of the user into action. A microphone changes sound waves into variable electrical voltage. Speakers reverse the process. Sensors convert forms of energy into digital data that the micro-controller can then convert into instructions to trigger specic actions (more energy) by an output device.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Processing
Turn a light on and off and the relationship between the switch and the light is direct: if the switch is up, the light is on; if the switch is down, the light is off. Insert a computer in the form of a micro-controller between the switch (input) and the light (output) and you can add complexity to this simple formula. Perhaps two clicks are required to turn it on. Or perhaps it only works if another light in the adjoining room is on. This requires processing. Giving the user choice requires coding with an if-then statement. If switch 2 is also on, then turn on light 1. The Arduino board uses a simple programming language with lots of built-in code. Another (more powerful) programming language used for physical computing is the Processing language.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Circuits & Micro-controllers


A circuit is a closed loop containing a source of electrical energy (e..g, a battery) and a load (e.g., a light bulb). A circuit board connects wires from the transducers and channels the input to the micro-controller Schematics are diagrams showing the connections between the electronic components Think of micro-controllers as small computers embedded on a chip, whose job it is to act as a gateway between the physical world and the computing world Arduino is an open-source, single-board micro-controller. It has minimal bult-in intelligence. You have to clearly tell it everything you want it to do.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Electricity & Electronics


Electricity, and specically electric current, is the ow of electrons, which can be converted into energy that can power mechanical devices (but only since the late 19th century!). A switch interrupts the ow of electrons. A.C. (alternating current) travels in two directions and is better for longer distances. D.C. (direct current) travels in one direction Most electronic devices use D.C. at low voltage, which is why these devices come with converters Electronics is a subset of electricity, converting the ow of electrons into information; it uses very little power.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Physical Computing Possibilities


Any action you can detect with a sensor can be converted into digital information that can then be used to control an output device. For example, someones position in a room as determined by a GPS could control the choice or volume of an audio selection. Physical computing is used in toys, mobile devices, art installations, and interactive performance. The skys the limit!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

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