Physical Computing - Spring '06 Class

Course Description: (adapted from Tom Igoe's Syllabus)
Instructor: Michael Schneider Wednesday 9:30AM - 12PM Office hours:
Many Monday evenings 6:30 - 8 Email me: mluck (at) nyu (dot) edu
Physical Computing is an approach to learning how humans communicate through computers that starts by
considering how humans express themselves physically. In this course, we take the human body as a given, and attempt to
design computing applications within the limits of its expression. To realize this goal, you'll learn how a computer converts the
changes in energy given off by our bodies (in the form of sound, light, motion, and other forms) into changing electronic
signals that it can read interpret. You'll learn about the sensors that do this, and about very simple computers called microcontrollers that read
sensors and convert their output into data. Finally, you'll learn how microcontrollers communicate with other computers.
Physical computing takes a hands-on approach, which means that you spend a lot of time building circuits,
soldering, writing programs, building structures to hold sensors and controls, and figuring out
how best to make all of these things relate to a person's expression.

Project Description My project will be an extension of my Toy Design final project. I will be using Physical Computing to "animate" my dumpster. My plan for the dumpster is the following: To have the cover (transparent) of the box open automatically as a switch activates it. The switch will be placed either outside of the box, or the top itself will be activated if the user pushes it down. The top of the dumpster will be pushed by a system of wires and a servo motor At the same time the top is opening, a series of lights will go off either in a linear shape, or randomly to illuminate for short periods of time the variety of content inside the box, the lights will be activated by a photosensor sensitive to light. As kids remove items from the dumpster, it will shake, lights will flash and you will hear sentences related to recycling. "Thank you for recycling" "Good job, now you've saved a tree" "Cut a tree, plant a tree" "Do not use styrofoam containers"
`Group 2: Project Description`	`click on movie to play or stop`	`Group 1: Project Description`	`click on movie to play or stop`
`Lab 1:`	`front view side view`	`Lab 2:`	`working... not...`
Interactive Technology Master's Program _ New York University • American Graphic Design Award - December 2004 • • Alumni Art Show WCSU - 2004 •