exploration

Month: February 2009

  • Using Arduino in Xcode

    While the Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is relatively simple way to program the Arduino hardware, I found myself getting frustrated by it’s limited features after spending time using Xcode and Eclipse. There are some simple tutorials available online which demonstrate how to set up Xcode for programming the Arduino, however these didn’t “just work” […]

  • 1-2-10: Interfaces research

    I’m running a linux-based home theater pc (HTPC for the uninitiated). Originally the user interface was solely MythTV, but lately I’ve been trying out XBMC, Boxee for media management as well asvarious fullscreen web apps (Hulu, NY Times Reader, Netflix WatchNow, Adobe TourTracker) to see what does and doesn’t work from ten feet away. MythTV, […]

  • Spatial Media: previz

    Started to put together the initial visualizations of the data flowing between the “cloud” and the potential devices on the table. The central area is the router, or the network conduit to the internet; each node around the periphery is a device on the table. In this rough demo the red and blue streams are […]

  • Spatial Media: Dining Table

    Situational Lighting for dining table. Dining tables in the home seem to be used for many functions and can be a central hub of activity in small living spaces. Three situations quickly come to my mind: entertaining, working and eating. I propose a situational reactive illumination system for the dining room table.

  • Thinking Physically: brauswitch demonstration

    Following up on the initial post about the brauswitch – the eyebrow activated headband switch. Here is some video with a simple application demonstrating it’s use. There are separate switches for both the left and right sides. The simple Arduino code listed below will indicate if the left, right or both sides have been activated. […]

  • feeling productive…iPhone glove

    after another rough week of classes, planning and discussions about projects without actually making anything, i needed a quick productivity break. iPhone gloves. some quick background. the touchscreen on the iPhone and iPod Touch (as well as the older click wheel iPods and trackpad on Macbook/Pro’s) use the capacitance of skin to track touches. gloves […]

  • Spatial Media: TrafficFlow Implementation

    The TrafficFlow project has changed due to comments received during the first critique. The table is circular with a smooth surface. User places an internet connected device on the table (mobile phone, PDA, laptop). After visiting the project’s website with the device and performing a brief initialization, particles representing internet traffic emanate from the device […]

  • Thinking Physically: Go away. (gesture)

    Designing a gesture. “The Expressive Body” by David Alberts describes movements and gestures at length. In it he writes: In terms of human interaction, physical behavior has five primary functions: (1) to express emotion; (2) to regulate interpersonal interactions; (3) to present one’s personality to others; (4) to convey interpersonal attitudes and relationships; (5) to […]

  • Toy Design: TraceBug proposal

    Visiting the American International Toy Fair gave me a brief overview of what is popular across many facets of the toy industry. I wouldn’t claim to have a thorough comprehension of the market, but it was certainly an informative experience. Some of my notes from fair: Infrared control. Lots of robot kits. Solar powered vs. […]

  • Thinking Physically: Dance Fever

    Under the close guidance of Anne Gridley from the Nature Theater of Oklahoma, our group (Mustafa, Andrew, DV and myself) were tasked with creating a dance of six moves whose choreography was determined by chance of a six-sided die. Each step is a single count. Each of the six moves we created were inspired by […]