Ideas

After-thoughts on meeting Friday afternoon:

Although we have some good ideas that would easily fulfill the requirements of the mid-term project assignment (Chris’ box idea, jug orchestra, etc) we decided it was of greatest value for ourselves and the project to take a more ground-up approach to the construction of the concept and production of the final piece. We described several ideas centered around a universal theme such as social protest, environmental effects and sustainability, economic diversity, and __ - all while considering uses of interactivity for the final “device”. We are all fairly confident in the basic electronics in PComp class and after discussing our individual skill sets (Chris: physical construction/production, EJ: graphic and movement design, David: interface design and development) and found we are all very interested in experimenting with new/different sensors along with passive interaction in an installation environment. The meeting ended with ideas surrounding the creation of several autonomous devices triggered by an unknowing user entering into a space, inadvertently triggering sensors that, in-turn, trigger other devices. The anthropomorphic objects considered were trash cans, lamps, cell phones, boxes, and plants. All objects discussed would be blended into the environment, and the non-technical aspect of the objects would create a much more approachable interaction for the user, causing a very pleasant experience. Although a learning curve would be needed for interaction, this would also be seen as comical and not intimidating.

Options for user and device interaction in environment:

- objects that are having conversation between each other, and user “interrupts” this conversation
- objects lay dormant in their setting until being triggered by the user, which then trigger other devices using other sensor/sensory inputs
- objects in conversation that eventually “ignore” the user
- pre-determined scenes randomly generated
- objects being usable only with a single user
- objects requiring multiple users
- objects laying dormant only when in user(s)’ presence, “acting” when in solidarity
- linear narrative scene(s) between user and object(s)
- non-linear scenes created by device and user interaction

10/5/2007 IDEAS

special delivery/pee-wee’s playhouse
short, and not drawn out experience
breaking a predicted/repetitive response causes surprise

input:
sound
proximity
force (floor)
photo interrupter
light
movement
digital input (wired or wireless) - from another unit
touch
wind
barometric change
suction
RFiD
height of person
combination of several - walk and stop, touch and speak, etc.
one or more people

output:
lights (LEDs)
sound (voice distinguished or not, music)
action (large movement - zooming across the floor)
movement
record + playback :
mirroring video and/or sound
remixing of video and/or audio

halloween….

sports:
baseball
bat
soccer ball

household:
plant
trash can
lamp
blinds/drapes
TV
magazine rack
book case
phone
locker
microwave
cd player
rug
clock (alarm or wall)

business:
briefcase
cell phone
mouse
laptop
printer
keyboard

personal:
clothing
backpack
books
wallet
watch

children:
teddy bear
barbie doll
baby doll
play pen

industrial:
wrench
hammer
toolbox

trash/waste:
paper
dog feces
food

restroom:
toilet
sink
cups
paper towel dispenser
toilet paper rack

circuit mess:
huge pile of wires and breadboards
circuit boards
beat a robot to death

video games:
atari
controllers

wrong robot:
picking up with face

10/13/2007

1- book: drunk — get closer, laughs more , if no trigger for 1 min starts talking to/hitting on bag
2- bag: coy/giggle — giggles when far away, moves and turns off when close
3- pencils: group craziness — talking, chatting when far, when close stops for a second, and then goes NUTS

all by proximity (2 IR and 1 ultrasonic)

bottom of pencil holder: ideas on moving pencils
- cut a piece of neoprene (mouse pad) the size of the bottom of the bottom and staple into it to create texture, rotate with servo
- zip tie a pager motor to separate pencils

“you’re shitting bricks because you can’t find an empty bag? hell, I have tons of ‘em at home - I’ll bring you one tomorrow” - Sanjay

regular wire ended up being too thick, used
attempted using bubble wrap to silence the pencils rattling, but ended up taking away from their jumping

bag will have stacked papers and other randomness to deter from the raised platform

Functions:

Book:
IR sensor
3 ft. - one up and down, random time delay 1.5-3 secs, up and down again
2 ft. - larger up and down random every .5-1 sec
1 ft. - largest up and down random every 20 mili - .2 sec, drunk laugh, after 5 secs of being close it vomits (green LEDs), panting, and passes out

Bag:
ultrasonic sensor
6 ft - giggle
4 ft - move away slightly, giggle more
2 ft - coy , move away totally (125 degrees)
touch/lift - screams! (looking under dress)

Pencils:
IR sensor
3 ft. - small chatter
1.75 ft. - more chatter, sounding like angry or sneaky
.5 ft. - gone crazy, jumping everywhere, loud party

possible inter-linked functions:
2 min of inactivity: book hits on bag - book mumbles a few words and bag giggles
3 min of inactivity:

Sounds:

book: chuckle(3 versions) , more chuckle(3 versions), drunk laugh, vomit, panting, passing out
bag: giggle, louder giggle, coy remark, scream
pencils: chattering (3 v), louder/angry something chatter (2 v), crazy laughing (5 v)