Monday, May 31, 2010

Final Video!!

Fire and dolls flashing in the dark








The layout

Compiled code!

With a little help from our friends...

We managed to combine the code for the LEDs and the Piezo's (No need for a second Arduino)

The "Civilians"

... And these are the cheeks of the civilians

The "fire"

Here we have the LED's working as the "fire"

Piezo Upgrade


The Piezos that we had previously been using worked fine, but were a bit inconsistent with their sensitivity, so we upgraded to the wider, flatter peizos that have greater surface sensitivity. They also fit more discretely under the road.

Piezo Experiment

Piezo experiment







Cardboard city



Idea for city ...

Solution!


So we CAN use Ardrumo but we don't want to make a drum kit. What we've decided is that drum sounds are also very effective as sound effects - i'e a floor drum's thud sound very much like a giant's footstep.

So this is what we've come up with:

SCENARIO
I (the user) am a giant stomping into a town that is caught on fire. We have to rescue the trapped civilians and put out the fire to save the day!

The piezos are used underneath the road the trigger the footsteps.
The fire inside the buildings are flashing LED's linked up with the Arduino board.
Inside some of the house are this little dolls (i.e civilians) who's cheeks are glowing bright red with fear (not to mention being burnt).
When the doors are opened, the circuit to the fire closest to that civilian is cut - putting out the fire

Midi vs. Ardrumo

Having found the relevant Midi file, we hooked up our piezos, and using the code for Ardrumo we tried it out.
Unfortunately Ardrumo doesn't seem to pick up on the file. We tried saving the track as a drum file to "trick" Ardrumo but no success!

Basically even though these Midi files should work, Ardrumo is only configured for drum files, and so we'd need a different program altogether.
So again...back to the drawing board!

Hot or cold?


We can't record new sounds with midis but we can download existing files.

Possibility;
Using piezos on the ground, staggered towards a corner of the room, where there are a seemingly inconspicuous pile of cardboard boxes.
As you walk towards the pile, you trigger different piezos - each with the two notes used in the Jaws theme song. Using garageband we can speed up the track for different piezos so that as you get closer to the boxes the tune plays faster and faster, building suspense. Finally, inside 5 of the boxes are 5 of the russian dolls, nesting quietly. As you open the box with the doll inside, you trigger a final piezo which makes the track go really fast with a high pitch -revealing the doll inside; cheeks glowing red because they've been caught.

Piezo Sensitive

Having looked further at the possibility of Ardrumo and having spoken to a electronic music whiz, it seems the problem with Ardrumo is that it works with MIDI files.
Because computer software has MIDI files in text form, you can't record vocals etc to make a new one.
BUT MIDI files, though low quality, can be compiled with different instrumental parts to play a song (sometimes used in polyphonic ringtones).
So now we're thinking audio is a possibility again!


http://todbot.com/blog/2006/10/29/spooky-arduino-projects-4-and-musical-arduino/

Audio + Arduino


We're still on the hunt for an audio solution.

We're posting on Arduino foums i.e adafruit and arduino.cc but no joy - mostly we've been suggested to buy a wave shield BUT...

Shields i.e Waveshield (using SD card)
Must order from the states - time restraint!

We know the program Ardrumo is a possibility, using Piezo sensors - but we don't wan't to make a drum kit!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Are lights enough?


We have the previous sketch sorted and could do this as our project, but after some critical self-evaluation we've concluded that the interaction isn't concrete enough for the user to feel involved with the experience.

But seeing as we have worked everything out for the potentiometer sketch- it seems a shame to waste it.

Audio seems to be more successful as an interactive element, so what if we could introduce an audio track with the existing sketch?

The Who-Dunnit concept;

Instead of the doll who is not being faced at the time just flashing at the mouth, we could have an audio recording playback play "it was him!" then the doll that was being faced who glow red cheeks.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

LEDs!!


Having had trouble with audio, we've gone back to light effects, using a potentiometer and different coloured LEDs.

Here, the idea is that the "mother" doll is surrounded by her "children." When her back is turned to one, it "talks" (Mouth flashes). The one she is facing however, stops "talking" and it's checks glow red, embarrassed for having being caught.

In this scenario we have a potentiometer working to determine which lights go when. Furthermore, the reaction is staggered so that the dolls on either side of the one who is chatting, are talking too, but not as much (i.e their mouths are flashing but at a slower speed). This also happens to the two one either side of the one who is "caught" - their cheeks glow red, but not as much. When the mother turns to the next doll, the reaction follows suit.













Sunday, May 23, 2010

PlayMelody - Piezo

http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/PlayMelody

Piezo - Melody

Arduino Synthesizer

Audio-output code

Experimenting with a hack of 3-bit DAC (1k, 560, 200 ohm resistors and a speaker),
and been able to get much more interesting sounds than the usual square-wave beep. For instance:

#define NOISEINT 30
void drumbeat(int len1, int len2)
{
int i;
long t;
for (i=0; i < len1; i++) {
write_DA(random(8)); //attack
delayMicroseconds(NOISEINT);
}
for (i=0; i < 30; i++) {
write_DA(random(6)); //sustain
delayMicroseconds(NOISEINT);
}
for (i=0; i < 30; i++) {
write_DA(random(4)); //sustain
delayMicroseconds(NOISEINT);
}
for (i=0; i < 30; i++) {
write_DA(random(3)); //sustain
delayMicroseconds(NOISEINT);
}
for (i=0; i < 150; i++) {
write_DA(random(2)); //decay
delayMicroseconds(NOISEINT);
}
delay(len2 - 6);
// t = len2 - (20*len1) - (600+600+600+4000)
}


-Thanks WestFW

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Analog Input to Audio Pitch Output




Pitch follower using the tone() function

This example shows how to use the tone() command to generate a pitch that follows the values of an analog inputCode

The code for this example is very simple. Just take an analog input and map its values to a range of audible pitches. Humans can hear from 20 - 20,000Hz, but 100 - 1000 usually works pretty well for this sketch.

You'll need to get the actual range of your analog input for the mapping. In the circuit shown, the analog input value ranged from about 400 to about 1000. Change the values in the map() comand to match the range for your sensor.

The sketch is as follows:

http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Tone2

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Good ol' LED







Using a found sketch we linked up a potentiometer to the Arduino kit. Going back to the basics of the trusted LED, the potentiometer is used here to alter the speed of the blinking light.

As a simple application of this sketch, we are thinking of using light instead of audio as a simple solution to our MP3 troubles.
After having posted on several open source forums and talking to the experts, our previous concept is looking too complex for this brief length.

So... now we're thinking of having the "child" dolls react to the mother facing them or not. I.e "chatting" when her back is turned, but falling "silent" when she turns around, and getting embarrassed - cheeks glowing red.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The Switch


Idea for the switch:

Audio track doesn't play unless doll is closed.
This means when they are all stacked they will all be playing. It also means we don't have to have the switch having anything to do with them actually interacting with each other. That will merely be assumed.
This also allows two different sized doll to be stacked to make a "duet" sound- not dependent on them all being together or being in the right order

Baboushka

Our current ploy is to hack or configure the elctronics to play different audio tracks when the Russian doll is seperated.
i.e each peice has a different pitch/beat/"voice"/instrument that plays when it is stacked with the others.

If we do use a drum beat we can use the program ardrumo...but what about hacking an ipod remote/mp3 player to have other audio output??

Monday, May 10, 2010

Hacking iPod Remotes- Russian Doll Idea

http://www.jonasolson.se/content/arduino_tutorial/

Back to fabrics?


Just going back to our orignial idea of fabric- what if when you push a malleable surface, you create an audio reaction; i.e you push lightly and a low pitch sound plays, and you press harder and the sound gets higher pitch? Inspired by Silke Hilsing design (above).

-Or volume could change?
-Speed of beat could change?
-Light/colour element could be included?
-Audio element changes depending on pressure? I.e whimpers to crying.
-Could be soothing, i.e it calms the sound? (Audio would be playing until the person touches or caressing the fabric-lulling it to sleep)

Russian Dolls



-Each doll would have a persona
eg: Family
- Dad, Mum, older brother, sister, brother and baby

- voices or appropriate music to the age group
- or layer voices
- associate each audio with a doll
- as remove one doll that voice is removed

- connection via the bottom of the dolls
- circuit in box underneath them

- need to hack a music device
-ipod
-mp3
-SD card - waveshield



- starts either with a switch or a sensor
- or begins detached and interaction starts the circuit

- Ardrumo could be a way of tackling the audio

Monday, May 3, 2010

Furby Hacking





Also see: Furby Hacking 101 by Wayne Eggert
http://www.techdose.com/projects/Furby-Hacking-101/260/page1.html

Hacking our childhood toys




We like the idea we had previously of creating some kind of army/colony that the user can control.
Hacking a Furby or a Tamagotchi we could reconfigure the cause-effect interaction of each individual "bacterium."

Next task: Recall Furbies/Tamagotchis etc

One can & one feather




A silly idea I had while on the plane:
Make 2 simple objects "interact" top get un unusual relationship:

i.e A Can and a Feather:
Feather tickles Can - Can "giggles" and "bends" over laughing - eventually crumpling completely.
Basically the Feather "murders" the Can.
...could be done if we hacked a tickle-me-elmo or something?

Evaluation of 3 concepts

We decided we need to take a step back, and do some research on specific interactions, and existing technologies that could be hacked.

So we gave ourselves the task to come up a whole list of simple everyday objects/toys and situations, and this is some of what we came up with:

- Tamagotchi
- Furby
- Toy babies you have to look after
- M&Ms
- Lego
- Babushka dolls
- Tickle-me-Elmo
- Spin tops
- Puzzle ball – ball you have to add to so it becomes a whole
- Lego – add all the right colour together
- Rubix cube
- Kids puzzle toys where you put the right shape in the right slot
- Marbles – smoky etc could reflect weather
- Umbrella – the more open the harder it rains
- Hats or coats that you put on and the weather changes to suit

Concept 3 - Absorbing the Environment



Above Designer Jinsun Park from Korea has come out with a simple tool called Color Picker. Place the pen against an object and press the scan button, the color will be detected by the color sensor and the RGB cartridges in the pen will mixed the required inks to create the target color.

With sound:
Holding an orb that "grows" as it picks up sounds, then can be thrown around - when hits different materials the quality of the sound changes - i.e thrown against a brick wall might lower the pitch of a sound giving it a "thud" quality, whereas thrown against plastic the sound might be higher pitch or in something hollow the sounds might echo etc.
Time bomb - the"orb" could be on a timer so at a certain point the sound "explodes" (simultaneous playback) and the sounds "hit" the different materials in the room?

Concept 2 - Colony



My Army

Cause & Effect - By creating an input i.e audio/movement etc, you can determine the behaviour of hundreds.
Could be as simple as a whole army of eggs that react in different ways, determined by your input.
...
The effect could spread through the crowd like a domino effect.
Spread disease/and emotion (i.e happiness=giggling, anger= moving jerkily, hitting others)
Multiplying - like bacteria?
Different inputs=different reactions? - If spread through the "crowd" different actions may "collide" to create a new reaction.
I.e vibration + beeping = lighting up.
The emotive quality of the movement could determine the emotive quality of the output i.e a soft "tickle" could result in a soft cooing sound, and an abrupt clap could result in a flashing light etc.

This could be like a simple evolution.

Possibility of hacking a Tamagotchi?

Concept 1 - Weather Power-play



Throwing the weather around

Changing the elements to suit. (Wind/rain/sunshine etc)
Determined by movement.
Weather could be simulated with sound etc -

i.e It doesn't need to rain to feel like rain- loud recording of rain all around couple with "splashes" on the ground might be enough to simulate heavy downpour.

Power-Play



What kind of control can we have??

Give life/kill?
Cause disease/heal?
Reading minds?
Super-strength?
Stop time?
Invisibility?
Super-speed?
Super-sensitive-hearing/sight?
Create a chain reaction?
Mutate a form?
Change a quality of an audio element?
Refract/reflect light?
Determine emotion?
Control population?
Control development?
Affect weather/the environment?
Affect/disable other users?

Re-Evaluation

After re-evaluating our intial concepts, we concluded that we were being too conservative.

But what we DID take from our brainstorm was one common theme: giving the user the ability to have unexpected control over something. This sense of power is what interested us.
We stretched this concept further to the sensation of having a super-power/playing God etc.

How do we do this??

Materiality



Quick brainstorm - ideas for using a "fabric" in a looser definition of the word.

Thursday, April 29, 2010



"The spikes are still liquid. With a latex glove you can stick your finger into the pile of spikes and feel that the fluid really wants to stay near the magnet. I was able to force my finger in there but I could feel the fluid squeezing back in around my finger! I don't think the density in g/cm3 changed but I haven't tried to measure it. A great experiment for a science fair would be to actually measure any change in density!"
- electricmic @xxSeaTownTrout




Exploration of Materiality - Liquid Material
Brainstorm:

-A music box - spinning wheels make sound
-Motion sensor - the objects follow your movement and you walk by
-Ripple effect-ripples in the material run away from you as you touch it
-Light - shadow.
- the wheels light up as they hit the material.
- reflective material
-Texture - patterns on the wheels
-Scale - (tiny/huge)
We were to choose one of our initial three concept from our first workshop session and develop it further.
Heres what we came up with:





Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Class activity

In class today we were to play around with materials to develop mock ups to produce:
-a switch
-an indicator
-a delayed reaction
-something surprising.
Heres what we came up with.




Thursday, April 1, 2010

Getting started :)

Hey
We're three students at Massey University, Wellington. In the following weeks we're undertaking an Arduino project - an open source programming tool to develop unorthodox interactive design.
We'll keep you posted with our progress!

Thanks,
Holly, Alice & Lucy