Final Documentation

December 17, 2011

In addition to the last 3 posts, I'd like to share the physical computing final documentation video.

MyCubes is a playful project combining the interaction of human with object and interaction of objects with each other.

During the course I've made several different cube designs. I am hoping to execute the idea further using wood or acrylic materials in order to make the cubes heavy and reliable in terms of conductivity.

This video shows my working prototype documentation. The actual cubes will be coming soon.

PComp Final - Final Push

December 7, 2011

After staying on the floor until 4 am now I have 3 functioning cubes with 3 different colors. This is the end product for now. Eventually I want to be able to make it using acrylic. And it works!!!

To see how it works check the video.

- how it's made video is coming soon too :)

Final Idea in progress

December 7, 2011

So it is Finals week for PComp and I can't wait to complete my project. Copper tape became the hero of this project since I am trying to create circuits by pushing conductive surfaces against each other. The technical part is really simple. Each cube has an open circuit inside but when it is pushed against a conductive surface polarized by 5V and Ground, it starts to function.

In this test The cube is working with an LED inside now I have to figure out how to execute the cubes.

I have couple of ideas though :) Here are some examples.

Final Idea, User test

December 7, 2011

I have managed to make some cardboard cubes and they ended up looking quite interesting. I created the vector images of the sides after playing with different shapes using paper. Paper is my favorite prototyping tool btw :) I laser cut cardboard pieces and glue gun them together in 2 interesting shape.

In this video Dollee is playing with them and trying to inter log them in different ways. This will help me to understand which way to go and to see possible different ways of inter log.

Transistor Lab - aka making a DC MOTOR WORK

December 7, 2011

In this lab I had chance to use a power supply for the first time and I have to tell that it was so much easier that I expected. Once again I've been reminded of not to be intimated by how complicated things look like. It was seriously intuitive and I think at some point I showed Luisa - she was sitting next to me, doing the same lab- how to use it :)

Here is the proof :)

The second step of this lab is to be able to control the power of the dc motor by a potentiometer. Basically I am trying to make the motor go faster or slower using a nub. It looks that I wasn't that successful in terms of mapping it since you will see the motor jumping unexpectedly.

PComp Final Proposal

November 23, 2011

We talk about interaction day in and day out. How are we interacting with objects, with technology, with each other. How about the interaction of the objects with each other? I want to experiment with this idea. Us playing with object that would react to each other or that will allow you to build and see what it will do.

I am proposing a series of shapes that are placed on a conductive surface that would have different properties such as having a propeller, having a lamp, having a tone or a sensor. When you place the shapes on the surface they will be activated. Some of them won't be activated unless you stack them on top of a particular shape.

To give an idea here is a sketch of the idea.