Reflection

Thursday was the last actual day of class for Art and Technology, it was also the day of our final presentation. Overall I think that our group presented itself in a professional manner, as our objective was to treat this situation as if we were explaining our process and ideas to a grant committee. We truly worked to consider all aspects of our previous design that could be improved and modified to create a better version of our original idea. I think that if we could somehow get support for our Shoosher, we could make an effective device that could be used in collegiate libraries for noise control.

The semester itself was also enjoyable, but filled with challenges. It was a change to go from strictly graphic design studio classes to this work environment, transitioning from self-motivated work to collaborative work. It was great to see how everybody's strengths and talents came together to fulfill the expectations of the class, and I think those specifics manifested themselves in everyone's projects. I really owe thanks to my group members, we all tossed in every possible skill we had to make our projects the best that they could be and I know that we would NOT have been as successful if even one of our members was absent.

I think that it would be beneficial for there to be a "part two" of this class, taken the following semester, so that students could work further on projects made in the first semester or work more in-depth on one or two semester-long projects. With the limited amount of time in one semester, I noticed that it was difficult to really do all necessary research, develop an idea, figure out how to accomplish the idea, and then execute it successfully.


I really enjoyed my semester, I think that for an experimental class it finished well and I think that the group of students involved also took the task at hand and ran with it to create successful, interesting, and compelling pieces using previously developed and newly developed skills.

Presentation: Project 2.2

HOW to

http://www.wikihow.com/Apply-for-a-Grant

http://www.wikihow.com/Find-Grants


http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Grant-Proposal

Grants

http://www.artheals.org/artist_support/grants.php

http://www.nea.gov/grants/apply/artsed.html


http://www.naea-reston.org/grants

Update

So today was initially the due date for Project 3/ 2.2 but the date was changed so now it's due Thursday. I've been working on the presentation... just bringing all of our images and ideas together into a professional pitch for a grant.

Our group would really actually need the grant money to progress a considerable amount from where we were in "phase I" of the project, but we have thought about alot of directions that could be taken from that point to improve the idea. I think that that will definitely show in our presentation.

I also have started to gather images for the portfolio that we will have to make.

Project 3? More Like Project 2: Part 2

Today in class we sort of had a major bomb dropped on us... no more project 3. Now instead we have to revise project 2 to a higher state of completion. This was not the greatest news to my group because we had already invested time and money into our idea for our jacket, but we sat down and talked for awhile anyway about what we need to do to add finishing touches to our library shusher.

Ultimately we are treating our presentation as one to an investor or committee awarding grants. We are going to throroughly all aspects of this device that can be improved and provide complete sketches, information, explanation, etc. to achieve this next phase.

Our main focus is on the sound and the form. We want to change our sound from a single tone to a "melody", a handful of tones that will play in a specific order and with specific pauses to suggest a reproving phrase such as "please quiet down" or "please stop talking." This melody is not meant to be a pleasant musical sound but a reprimanding organization of tones.
We also want to make our housing tamper-proof, and are in the process of finding the best solution for that without changing our current design too drastically. In our presentation any changes made will be indicated by rhino sketches. We will also provide samples of materials we have been considering for the housing. Top contenders currently include bamboo, other possible kinds of wood, glass, possibly a kind of plastic?
If we are able, any major form changes to the housing will be replicated in a cardboard maquette.

Another new element to this project will be a branding/ logo system. This system will be applied to apects such as proposed packaging, labeling, the appearance of the form, promotional material, etc. The presentation will also reflect this branding system.

Other considerations to look into for this presentation are what other means we will need to use in order to make a finished unit, how much one unit would cost to make, and how that would therefore dictate possible pricing; how these will function in a network system, perhaps designing a program that would act as the central hub of this system- so that the librarian could use the program to pinpoint loud areas of the library.

There are lots of things to consider, we definitely have our hands full. But I think that what we will present will be carefully considered, well vocalized and visuallized, and professionally handled.

Thoughts

Monday night I met with the team and we set our goals for this project. Now we all have a clear idea of what needs to be done. I am going to think about the sewing and the look of the jacket, also our presentation of it to the class. This is going to be a very simple prototype of what we actually want the jacket to do, but I think that if we keep it simple (seeing as we've got less than 3 weeks including thanksgiving), we will be just fine.

Monday class we had a crit for project 2. Ours was really great, good feedback, good ideas on how to move it further, which hey we could possibly try to get a grant and make a real product out of it. I'm just so glad that people had such a fantastic response to all of the thought and work we put in to it.

Home stretch coming up...

Interactive Clothing Research

http://www.oobject.com/best-interactive-clothes/piezoresistive-textiles/639/
http://www.oobject.com/best-interactive-clothes/nyxit-illuminated-clothing/645/
http://www.oobject.com/best-interactive-clothes/solar-bikini/646/
http://www.oobject.com/best-interactive-clothes/hug-shirt/650/
http://www.oobject.com/best-interactive-clothes/the-printed-organism-jacket/652/

Kickbee
http://www.talk2myshirt.com/blog/archives/1266

Fabric Circuits

http://web.media.mit.edu/~leah/grad_work/engineering/fabric_PCB.html
http://web.media.mit.edu/~leah/grad_work/projects/e-textile_kit/e-textile_kit2.html

Breathe 2.0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHi3KVDmNOY&feature=related

Breathe 3.0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBBAyOeojkE&feature=related

Personal Space
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYtUM5iLfAk&feature=related

Noise Burlesque
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV2LcwH8vCE&feature=related

Yay project 2 completion... rejoicing short-lived

Tomorrow we present project 2. On Friday I met with Noah and we played around with the tolerance levels of the device (which was good timing because our code was on the N drive that failed this weekend!! *phew*)
It's really interesting to see how it reacts to the human voice because it seemed to respond more quickly to Noah's voice than mine. Perhaps, we thought, because male and female voices are not on the same frequency? But I had to raise my voice louder than Noah to even get a light to occur. The noise is funny too because sometimes it makes other random sounds. It is definitely annoying, which I think is good incentive to keep quiet in a place where quiet is needed.

I also printed our pamphlets, that was a two hour ordeal. It took me forever to figure out which program to use to print that would give me the best combination of color matching (between the print and the screen) and double-sided printing. You would think that whatever you make on screen would translate well to its printed counterpart but it is quite the opposite, that is why I always do several test prints before I do the final version. But this was definitely a fight. I did get it the best that I could and they look pretty good (for some reason there is a lot of red in my dark areas... but unfortunately I can't better the situation any more).

Tomorrow night I am corralling my group for a meeting so we can sit down and designate tasks for the new project, and set goals. There is little time left to the semester and we need to stay focused in order to finish. Thanksgiving, although delicious and my favorite holiday, throws a wrench into anything because that eliminates a substantial amount of time for us to work collaboratively... perhaps time for separate research/ tasks/ etc. I know it will get done, it always does no matter what.

Till next time...

Pamphlet Images

This is the pamphlet that I've been working on for Project 2 to ask students to be quiet in the library.

IT'S WORKING :)

We have a working project 2!

Lights and sound are being produced when we speak/ yell/ converse above a certain decibel level.

So exciting :)

HOUSINGGGGG

So we were able to pay for and pick up our housing yesterday (well Noah and Kevin picked it up because Tim and I went to see David Carson, graphic designer, lecture at FIT). It is so awesome to see the actual product produced in rhino in a 3D form. I am really excited to see when it is completely completely fun. Last night we worked on it (there were a few issues, for some reason it didn't print exact so we had to sand parts down and try to get the two pieces to fit together as best as we could) but I was unable to stay to see the completed product. We will definitely meet again this weekend though to play with it and make sure that everything is in ship-shape to present Monday.

I also have to print out the brochure on silence I have been working on. I hope that it adds to what we are trying to promote, which is the importance of respecting quiet in the library. It was also a good design exercise, I am happy with it :)

And then we are on to project 3. Already.

We sat down and discusses THAT too yesterday before we went to get the housing because we had some time.

The idea is the same, we just needed to tighten up our ideas (atleast I felt that way) because it just seemed as though there wasn't a cohesive thought on the goal of the project.

Here are my notes from our "brainstorm":

basic principal= person in motion- goes to the arduino (data)- data is sent to the digital realm (meaning the computer and whatever program we use)

instead of focusing on exercise, we broadened the term more as "life-tracking" (see Tim LaSalle's blog)

we want this device to provide "instant gratification" (so to speak)
using the microcontroller, wifi, and the computer- so this means we will need to read up on wireless technology

this also means we will need multiple arduinos, and a specific one that is made as a receiver

sensors to be used- whatever is available and easy for us to use (basically); current thoughts are- accelerometer, sensors for heart rate/ light/ temperature

these sensors will collect the information around the person, not even necessarily OF the person (well heart rate probably it will), this will create a data base of random numbers, these numbers will go into the computer and affect the visual/ audio elements we have going on.

method of wearing this circuit- we really want to do a jacket, that way anybody can wear it but we also considered more form fitting apparel (some sensors could have the potential to need skin contact)

ultimately one person will wear this from the group, we are all different sizes, so no matter what- whatever we produces is a mere suggestion anyway of what the technology can do and what is possible. obviously even though one person wears this jacket or whatever it is in our presentation, we are not limiting the possibility of who the user is and what body-type they have.

new questions we discovered:
how can random numbers/ data create a visual or sound?
if they don't generate anything how then can they alter existing sound or a visual?
what would the effect of layering videos and sounds do for the project?
layering sound creates a more realistic idea of the environment we live in- how can we use the data to alter some or all of the sound?
pertaining to our "jacket" or clothing- aesthetics (what will it look like?), appropriated or made from scratch?
who wears it (meaning in the group in a more immediate sense, but also how can we make it approachable for a mass audience?)

Thoughts on Sound:
we can record various spaces (indoors, outdoors) to use as the sound in our project (that is altered).
some thoughts on the places include studio space, classroom space, a busy street, cafe, library, etc. any space either public or private.

This is where we are currently in our thought process. This is still a ton to think about so hopefully we can refine again... and possibly again, until we get a perfectly formed and shaped product. This will be a challenge for sure but I think it will relate nicely to the idea of "synthesis"- what we have learned so far in the course... I hope.

Problem...

My group ran into a problem today... since we had critique of the projects all class we did not get the chance to put our housing file into the digifab lab to print. This poses difficulties because the lab is not open until thursday BUT we need to have atleast 24 hours for our object to be successfully made. The lab isn't open weekends so I'm not quite sure what we are going to do on this one. We didn't think it would be an issue since we were comfortable (atleast we thought) time-wise. This kind of thing always happens... doesn't it? Right before a project is due big problems surface. Time to figure this one out...

Digital Art Museum

http://www.dam.org/home

The Algorists

http://hebert.kitp.ucsb.edu/73s.html

http://www.davidem.com/01_art/4_morphs/metamorphoses.html

http://collaboratory.nunet.net/phertz/portfoli/main.htm?fbottom=cv.htm&fmid=cv_dir.htm&view=cv

http://www.langorigami.com/art/gallery/gallery.php4?name=rings4

http://www.csuri.com/index.php/category/digital-art/

"Algorithmic art is a subset of generative art, and is practically always executed by a computer. If executed by a computer, it is also classified as computer-generated art, but in much computer-generated art the role of the computer is confined to the execution. In contrast, in algorithmic art the creative design is the result of an algorithmic process, usually using a random or pseudo-random process to produce variability. Algorithmic art is also related to systems art.
It is usually digital art, although a number of artists work with plotters. Fractal art is an example of algorithmic art..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithmic_art

Better Idea of our Outcome?

http://www.soban-art.com/galery2.asp

http://v2d7c.sheepserver.net/cgi/node?id=30812

This is how I understand our visual to be for project 3. I know today in our class-long crit some had a hard time understanding what we wanted to produce with the data collected by the arduino. This is similar to what I atleast had visioned in my head.

Here are more really interesting ideas about interaction, the user causing an interaction:


http://empac.rpi.edu/events/2005/bubbles.html

http://www.suziwebster.org/electricskin/index.html

Concept Explanation

I finished the text for our concept board today. I was kind of unsure that I had it right but I checked in with Tim's blog and yay I got it all in there!

Hopefully the rest of the class will follow along but I think it's farily simple to understand. I'm hoping we get good feedback too about it and further applications for its use.

Tim is also creating an illustration for the concept board and I can't wait to see what he comes up with because he's a super designer/ illustrator.

Yup... and of course our moodboard is done too... I think that together they will present a very clear picture of our thought process at this point.

ONE MORE WEEK left for project 2... coming down to the wire but I think we will be ok. I can't wait to see how much we can accomplish with it. Sometimes it's hard to bite that reality bullet but I think that we will come close to our initial intention with the circuits we've been working on. 

Random... but super awesome

Circuit Typeface

:)

Better Results... New Project... Moodboard?

Today was an interesting day. We were introduced to project 3... which we have to make a mood-board and concept-board for, due Monday. Then afterward we went down to the digifab lab to look at our new file to print (for cost), and to noah's lab to talk about project 3.

The new housing is much more affordable, probably about $100 at most per unit... much better than $200. We are close to being able to print, which is good because it will probably take 12 hours to print both, and then another 4 hours to clean all of the excess material off (all of which will be done for us). It still amazes me that something can be printed in 3D. I will be interested to see it when it is finished printing.

For project three we have been asked to synthesize everything we've learned so far. Currently we are thinking about the lillypad arduino to create a device that goes on clothing and collects information from its person, such as movement, perhaps vital signs, sounds, etc. (information of life basically) and then turns the information into a visual representation using Isadora (organic lines, forms, colors, etc.). This is interesting because it is taking something organic, making it digital, and then making it organic again through digital means.

For our mood board we are trying to evoke this with images of plants, people in motion, cloth, origami, etc.
I personally am putting this together for Monday and I think it's a really great way to collect thoughts in a visual way (besides writing them down).

The semester is quickly diminishing... we still have alot of work to do. More later...

Major Update

So a few things have changed since the beginning of the week:

Thursday's class really shocked us. Tim went down to the DigiFab Lab and asked about how much it would cost for us to print the form he created... only to find out that it would be $88... for the BOTTOM. The top part would most likely cost the same... so that means ONE complete device would be almost $200. We initally intended to make 3 of these, because in our system there are 3 different "settings" due to the various levels in the library.
We met as a group later that evening for some revisions...
Not only did we decide to make just one as an example of our idea- really three isn't necessary... we can get our point across with one- BUT we also re-designed our form as well. We tried to make it as compact as possible, switching to a flatter, rectangular shape as opposed to a circular, dome shape.
We also ordered some awesome small headlight rings used in cars as our light in the device. We were concerned about the light being more consistently shown versus "dots" of light- which occurred when we tested the higher-intensity LEDs. So that will be fun to play with, hopefully we will use it but if not I know we will figure somthing else out.

YESTERDAY- Tim and I decided a few more things, some pertaining to the form of the housing, and some just kind of for fun.
We went to Lowes to look at some pipes and other things that had to do with interlocking parts, basically looking at how forms can be put together in different ways. We found this really awesome crimped pipe that we are using as the inspiration for how our form will lock together.
example: http://www.lowes.com/pd_181820-42471-940CR-06_0__?productId=3131275&Ntt=crimped+pipe&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dcrimped%2Bpipe

As another component to our project we really want to design a small pamphlet or poster about being quiet in the library to accompany our device. I think this will be a fun addition to what we will produce and also aid in further understanding of why we chose the topic we did for our social tool.

There were also thoughts about turning our presentation into a performance piece... a recreation of a scenario that our device is intended for.

SO many things to think about... and now down to two weeks. So excited :)

Some More Interesting Links

These two are kind of humorous:
http://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Immensely-Rude-People

http://www.wikihow.com/Get-People-In-a-Library-to-Be-Quiet

This debate about the libraries is really interesting:
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2217584838&topic=10346

And this is just amazingly fun:
http://www.offbeatearth.com/quiet-at-the-library/

Some Awesome Websites

So I've been just looking around at some different topics that relate to this project...

Here are some links:

industrial art
http://industrialartanddesign.com/index.html

what is art?
http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/artartists/artartists.html

art on purpose
http://www.artonpurpose.org/index.cfm

site specific art
http://sofiefr.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/what-is-site-specific-art/

I was also thinking about this project and comparing it to what other things I've studied throughout art school. Sometimes it's difficult to consider what you are doing as art. Even when designing something, such as a website or a business card, it can be hard (for me atleast) to recognize that what I am doing is art. For some reason I tend to think of art as being the thing on the wall or pedestal in an art gallery with a nice spot light above it and a little rope around it. I do know the art movements of the post WWII era, but I suppose this class has helped me to get reacquainted with them a little bit. Yes, art can be, and is obviously, that nicely framed painting or that bronze sculpture but art can also be... useful. It can be touched, and intended for interaction beyond simply sight, it can improve people's lives even on a basic level... not just to be more "cultured" or "intellectual."

It's thoughts like these when I realize that the old argument of "what is art?" can't really be answered... it can be anything really. Maybe that's the answer... art is anything. Anything can be art if that is its intention. Ok, so maybe making sound sensors for a library seems less like art and more like just a solution to a pretty annoying problem but we (my group) is not only trying to solve a problem, we are thinking about design, interaction, interface, circuitry, sensors, LEDs, wiring, color, sound, layers and layers of information... there's the art... in the consideration of the thing, if you don't consider the thing actual art.

Update

Today was an excellent day for our group... talking about project two in further detail. We are continuing with the library device idea. Tim brought in a touch light so that we could decide what exactly our form would look like and how big it would have to be. We are thinking we will have to design our own form for the circuits to go in but Tim has been fantastic at designing with rhino. Our current dilemma is that we might have to make the bottom of the form and use the top plastic dome part of the touch light in order to have a material that will allow light to pass through. If we are allowed to buy our own ABS plastic, and if clear ABS is available, then it shouldn't be a problem and we can just design both parts.

Noah has been really great in trying to see what we can do with the arduino. I think that we will be able to create something that will be extremely usable in real situations.

This week we are focusing on figuring out what exactly we can do with our arduinos and the area that we will need to make the circuits so that we can have exact measurements for our form.

We are also really trying to develop all aspects of our concept, thinking about how this will get people to be conscious about their actions and how it can change the dynamic of the library.

This project has been very challenging (in a good way). I haven't had to consider concept as deeply since foundation classes in freshman year. It has been very mind-opening to not only participate in designing a form but think about the possible "consequences" of each decision (good or bad). I like that this idea is simple, a small way to make potentially positive change. It will be interesting to test it out and see how people actually react to this device in real-life situations.

Decibel Levels

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html


http://www.soundbytes.com/page/SB/CTGY/decibel-levels

http://www.dangerousdecibels.org/hearingloss.cfm

Some Cool Things About Color

Thinking about color and what it means...

This will be important when my group decides on LEDs to incorporate into our devices (especially depending on the level that the devices are located in the library)

http://www.sensationalcolor.com/color-messages-meanings/color-meaning-symbolism-psychology/all-about-the-color-red.html

http://www.sensationalcolor.com/color-messages-meanings/color-meaning-symbolism-psychology/all-about-the-color-yellow.html


http://www.sensationalcolor.com/color-messages-meanings/color-meaning-symbolism-psychology/all-about-the-color-orange.html

My current thought is:

Level 1= "loudest" level= yellow LED
Level 2= "less sound allowance"= orange LED
Level 3= "least sound allowance"= red LED

Yellow is a color of awareness, thinking about a stop light it warns drivers to slow down. In this case it will make students aware of their noise level.

Orange is a combination of yellow and red, therefore it makes sense that it would be used in the devices on floor 2 of the library to indicate a greater importance of silence for that environment.

Red could be effectively used on level 3 of the library, the quiet level, because it is greatly associated with the idea of "warning" or "stop" (as with a traffic light or stop sign).

Arduino Lights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K004RhULIIU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqP_F2lPgyM&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhFSg6ESpM0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxVkU6wvdPc&feature=related

Monday Brainstorm :)

Today in class my group (same group as project 1 plus NEW member Kevin! yay!) discussed further our thoughts on project 2. We changed route a bit after a fresh perspective offered by Kevin, awesome!

We are still going to focus our attention on the campus community, and want to make positive social change in the library by installing small devices that will help people be more aware of their affect on others around them. These devices will sense the volume at tables in the library and reprimand students if their noise reaches specific levels (depending on the area of the library, serious study areas would have a lower noise tolerance). Sound and light will be incorporated to alert students of their possible annoyance to others.

This idea will be great for our group to focus our attention on and I am so excited to get going. Now we just need to figure out how to get the arduino to sense sound and then trigger a pre-recorded sound or message/ lights...

Although this project isn't necessarily as grand as we could possibly go (in scale), it will definitely benefit the population here on campus because I know I have had some bad library experiences and that is one place you should be able to find peace to work.

Update

So in the past week we have learned some more skills in Rhino, which was a challenge because it is different from other software that I have used (mainly the Adobe Creative Suite). Once I went back to the two exercises we did in class after class was over it was easier to understand how the program worked... my mind was free from frustration. It is interesting to see in that program how it forces you to consider the complete physicality of an object, including various sides and a 3D rendered version. I'm not sure if it makes it easier to design forms but it can get confusing... perhaps time and patience with the program allows you to start to think in those terms all at once.

On Thursday night I met with team mates Tim and Noah to talk about our ideas for the next project. We are definitely keeping our idea of creating a tool for social change that applies to the New Paltz campus, for student use. We want to use the arduino to create/ control sounds and lights in various combinations and install this circuitry into an object on campus, like an installation piece. We still need to work out the realities of what we want to do, get some permission to do the things we are thinking about, and figure out how to actually accomplish our ideas. I think this could be a really cool project... and OF COURSE we are still looking to fun theory as our inspiration.

It's a long weekend for Columbus Day so no class until Thursday...

Our "proposal":

Arduino Inspiration...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Laser-Tripwire/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Traffic-Light-Controller-wRemote-Control/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHLnw9Yt1rk&p=09141FA17CEDC930&playnext=1&index=3

REALLY REALLY COOL... I think:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H2Y_vSwmAE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt_VmJljmKU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIRebcf5_B4&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7CMI_imM68&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQhV601jIpg&feature=related

Meeting; Social Change? Arduino!

Update:

Last night I met with team mates Noah and Tim... we liked working with each other so much that we decided to do it again! We really have a good dynamic and our schedules also coincide efficiently so that helps in getting things done. Yay team!

We still are kind of rough on our ideas for the project... where to begin? Social change is so broad, and a tool for social change can be such an abstract concept... and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Atleast we have SOME goals to meet... such as incorporating human interaction, microcontrollers, and sensors... yeah... so now to build off of that idea! Oh and also it can't be larger than a human (what we build), not that I would be so down for building something larger than that anyway.

Ultimately we are thinking on the scale of campus improvement. What would benefit students? What would make people's experience here at SUNY more enjoyable? And we were really inspired by those fun theory videos shown in class... happiness really can make a difference! It's amazing what even a smile can do to somebody who's having a really tough day.

We were also thinking along the lines of making student's days more efficient, making something useful for them while they are walking to and from classes, work, activities, etc.
_ _ _ _ _ _

THEN today in class (Monday) we played with our arduinos for the first time! I was really excited about it because I actually understood what we were doing, how it worked, and I was able to do all of the exercises with no problem. I think since I've done some web design/ coding that really helped me get the processing language for arduino. It is definitely different but still it works very similarly to what I've already learned.

I can't wait to see where we can take this thing... there are just so many possibilities.
_ _ _ _ _

Here's a cool website on social change issues:

http://www.change.org/

Performance

We had our performance today! I thought it went quite well and we were able to see most other groups work too. I was impressed by the other groups and comforted to know that everybody else was feeling the same way as I was, it seemed like every group kept talking about the same issues... the artists had trouble understanding the circuits and the engineers had a hard time getting the artistic aspect of the project.

The actual performance went well... there were definitely many things that could have gone wrong but everything was pretty perfect. I'm just hoping the next project goes as smoothly.

Thursday we still have one more crit and then a class jam session! That will sound interesting... especially given that everybody's toy sounds completely different (which is quite awesome in my opinion).

One project down... two more to go.

PICTURES FROM THE WEEKEND

Currently Working to the Finish

Right now my group is hard at work trying to get everything together and working. We have our symbol sets established... just trying to get our instrument components to all function at the same time. I know we are close but it is getting to the point where once we have some things under control other challenges come up. No matter what we will have to bring what we have to class in less than 24 hours.

We'll see what happens :)

UPDATE :)

The project is due in less than 48 hours and now it's down to the wire...

Yesterday (Friday) my group met for quite a while and we started to really assemble our instruments, after a Chinese food party. We were able to finish three of them, but had some problems with one due to how we applied glue (but I just got the word that that problem was fixed today so all four parts of our instrument are functioning!). My instrument also had problems with the potentiometer, it wasn't tightened down enough when we first put it together so it kept moving around- meaning that the indicator knob wouldn't line up with the symbols I applied to the cardboard (but it was fixed after much tired frustration).

This morning I started working on a symbol system for our score, which will be applied tomorrow when we are all able to meet again to put the finishing touches on everything, mark up our instruments with labels and such, and then jam out to figure out our score.

It's really amazing seeing this thing come together, It's totally different from any other project I've ever been part of and I was so lucky to get to work with two fantastic peers. I think our hard work and dedication shows in this thing, we had plenty of obstacles and frustrations but we worked it out... and I am looking forward to showing the class what we did.

Screen shots of what I worked on for the score:

Peers of John Cage

Morton Feldman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntpmn0YXXWI&feature=related

Karlheinz Stockhausen**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNt6a5xFOnE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-K1P92aZk8&feature=related

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwIdglRbgnw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_3GhM2hKe0&feature=related 

Iannis Xenakis

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7iub8HyrWM&feature=related

 

Experimental Music: Check it Out!

http://www.youtube.com/v/LmZP-fwFP3U?fs=1&hl=en_US

http://www.youtube.com/v/Vzt1Img1obk?fs=1&hl=en_US

http://www.youtube.com/v/LwsgAyZvgwY?fs=1&hl=en_US


http://www.youtube.com/v/9SgsqmQJAq0?fs=1&hl=en_US


http://www.youtube.com/v/Q6ipQfuLWhk?fs=1&hl=en_US

Update

Yesterday in class we had the opportunity to have some test pieces cut so we could see how our drawings at the time would translate onto the chipboard. Unfortunately we found some problems but they were easily fixed and we each decided on etchings to put on the housing. I designed one based on sound waves, which I thought was pretty pertinent to the project. Now we have to attach all of the circuits to our chipboard pieces, make sure all of the electronic components are in full working order, and just play. Of course it will be more work than just playing to figure out a score, a system of recording a score, and our entire performance, but I am optimistic that we can come up with something that sounds interesting and can be performed in a thoughtful way.

ALSO- I was looking ahead to that Filament festival at EMPAC (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus in Troy, NY) and I'm getting excited. It looks like all of the performances and installations will be interesting on their own and in relationship to what we are doing in class too.

Link: http://filament.empac.rpi.edu/

RHINO!

http://www.rhino3d.com/

September 13th Class

Today's class was spent learning Rhino software... very easy to pick up knowing the Adobe Suite well. This is cool though because now I can design in 3D versus just flat design. We realized we had to rethink our housing design today too... given that it would be too big for the cutter to accomplish on one sheet. It wasn't too hard to reconfigure everything so our design has simplified. Now we are down to just a five-sided cylinder, with one side 2 inches and the other four each 4 in. All of the members of our group will have separate components that come together to make one instrument... so instead of passing something around we will all have a part of the instrument. Very interesting concept indeed. Thursday is cutting! Can't wait to see what happens :)

Now to put everything together and think about a score...

More to come.

Update

The past couple of days I have met with my team mate Noah... it has been interesting. We had to replace our initial toys because a few of them shorted out when playing with the circuits. Wednesday night was spent shopping and then today we started to play around with the toys again. I think we are starting to get a good idea of how to combine the different circuits. Now we need to build our housing and get everything attached so we can talk about our performance. I'm anxiously awaiting the time when we can get this together!

Tim LaSalle's Blog

Oh, and by the way here is a link to Tim's blog that I mentioned in the last post. I meant to provide it there but forgot. Enjoy! It has alot of good things to read!


http://eattimlasalle.blogspot.com/

Housing

After a group meeting I had on Friday (reference team member Tim LaSalle's blog for Monday Sept. 6th) we discussed the issue of the housing component further. We measured our components to get a good idea of how big our form would have to be. It seems as though we are going to try to keep our original idea... we just didn't realize how big our ball would have to be. Unfortunately our ball won't be too tossable because we have to include a jack to plug an amp into for sound (so our instrument will act a sort of "hot potato" game).

I drew up some drawings on illustrator to easily find our measurements:

So now tomorrow, or possibly the next day, I will check in with another of our group members (Noah) and see if he has discovered more with our circuits. I'm excited! I just want to get this thing built and play!

:)

Recap of the Day

Today marked the first two weeks of this class and I think my group is finally starting to get somewhere. We still need to tinker with our circuits and decide what parts we are going to use/ what exactly we want to make it do. We also started to think about the housing that all of the "guts" are going to fit into and we decided to design our instrument with the intention of it being played by a group. The group will activate the sounds by throwing around the instrument and touching different sensors that will be on the outside of the body(Tim LaSalle, one of my group members brought in this kid guitar with an LED sensor that we've been trying to figure out how to incorporate). The housing will be made out of laser cut cardboard.

Tonight I will be drawing out some possible designs to use in the software... which we have already predetermined that we want to utilize a cylindrical shaped core that is inside two octagonal pieces that lock onto either end of the cylinder and will provide surface area to place the buttons and sensors. The important thing here is to get the measurements correct so that the housing the laser cutter produces for us actually works once we assemble it.

Also- I don't think we can really put together out circuit until our housing is done... so my group has to be determined to get this completed so we can have our instrument done on time and THEN think about the performance aspect.

But I do have confidence in my team... we work quite well together and I can't wait to see the end result.


Pictures from today :)

"Circut Bending for Dummies" (in four parts)

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/circuit-bending-for-beginners-pt-1-of-4/2b452467e0f67aebb2c02b452467e0f67aebb2c0-166462750788?q=circuit%20bending

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLURDNSBK5Q&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2md9UMoDH_k&feature=fvw


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIY9QE-IES4&feature=related

Soldering

I know we did this in class but I wanted to just have a more close up look at what was going on:
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/how-to-solder-and-de-solder-stuff/731dd6a03923a9964adb731dd6a03923a9964adb-168779056467?q=how%20to%20solder&FROM=LKVR5&GT1=LKVR5&FORM=LKVR1


I liked this one because it went into some Q and A:
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/how-and-why-to-solder-correctly/3ea50cd02371d021838f3ea50cd02371d021838f-166296486847?q=how%20to%20solder

Good information on how to choose solder:

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/how-to-solder-types-of-solder/7fed3ad1bcc758e5e7197fed3ad1bcc758e5e719-168826110187?q=how%20to%20solder

And another one:
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/how-to-do-it-basic-soldering/3043085f62b05ba7ce323043085f62b05ba7ce32-165747229059?q=how%20to%20solder

Homage to New York Footage

When I read about this I was curious... I wanted to see what actually happened. Here's my answer.

http://vimeo.com/8537769

Plus also kinda cool...
other groups inspired by E.A.T.

http://www.tech.plym.ac.uk/soc/staff/mikep/eat.html

The Results of Circut Bending...

I was pretty much thrilled when I saw this on youtube... it was my LEAST favorite childhood toy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut5PKEsOr9k&feature=related

also very cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY8I4kvkUzM&feature=related

Circuit Bending Documentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUYPoDcrlC4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1yGp8G6Bjk&feature=related

Conductive Glue?

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Conductive-Glue-and-Glue-a-Circuit/

John Cage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwsgAyZvgwY&feature=related
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGrhL49-YQw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN2zcLBr_VM&feature=related

Very Beginner Electronics

http://library.thinkquest.org/16497/home/index.html
http://www.squidoo.com/SimpleElectronics

First Day

Today was the first day of Experiments in Art and Technology and we were provided the opportunity to dismantle some toys... a very interesting experience indeed. The initial toy I had (top), a small "see and say," was broken, so that was anti-climactic after taking it completely apart. But after class I went out to get another musical toy, this time a glow worm toy for infants that sings songs and lights up. I haven't had the chance to play around with it yet but I did look inside to see what I had to experiment with. First I think I need to figure out what exactly I am looking at... because I am definitely a graphic design student, not an electrical engineer.