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.