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The Final Project

For our final project, we created a Theremin using the Arduino. We wanted to create a technology that was able to interact with the user and create an identity. In our project, the Arduino with the addition of a distance sensor and a speaker became an instrument for a musician. It displays how the interaction between a human and a piece of technology creates a completely new meaning for the object and the user. I watched as people viewed our project that they did not even think about the Arduino that was inside the black box, but only cared about playing the Theremin.

The creation of the project involved not only the technical portion but how to make the Arduino look like an instrument. Properties were added in the form of design, such as hiding the wiring inside a box with only the speakers in sight. It was like a make-shift stereo. We added a white board with scales marked on it to guide a player to play a tune. We added familiar features which we already identify with music into the Arduino to make it into our own instrument.

Star wars on the Arduino theremin. Performed By Katie .

Just a sample of our poster...

Week 12 Reflection

The Boehner article this week raises the question: how do we get people involved in the design process? It discusses the merits and problems of 'cultural probes' and how they are used in the HCI design process.

“How can you extract user requirements from dreams?” is the thought-provoking quote that begins the article. It highlights the tensions between the tactile possibilities of technologies and the human imagination. Personally, I dream of a day when I can navigate beautiful touch screen interfaces while doing intensive legal and business research but perhaps my dreams are mediated through my own iSchool experience and career aspirations. :)

Probes aren't meant to enage me, however, they're meant to engage older people, or people who aren't as technologically engaged. They hope to give these people a way to voice their ideas about future technologies, as they may not have much of an opportunity to do so. Boehner notes, however, that while they are useful in some instances for specific purposes, they aren't by any means a perfect solution.

Technological engagement is rapidly becoming a political and social necessity and it will only become more important to find ways to help people engage. The article highlights the need for a better solution.

First attempt trying out our Arduino theremin

#arduino #theremin

Week 11 reflection

Sorry this post is a bit belated. Better late than never!

Last week was a great class - we all finished up and presented our wearables project and I was blown away by everyone's great ideas. I'm looking forward to brainstorming and developing our final project (poster reception, please!).

I thought the DiSalvo article sort of described the critical making process that we experience for each project. He touched upon the brainstorming and building processes as well as the purpose of this in the field of participatory design. The Neighbourhood Networks project reminded me of aspects of our class! We're working on the Arduino and making technology that helps "reveal and/or call into question common assumptions and beliefs about technology and the urban environment, and the possible relations between those subjects".

This article made me think about how fascinating it is that every group in our class comes up with a different idea for each project. The varied ways in which we approach each project, and use the readings from class to develop them is pretty amazing. Every group and individual has a different way of expressing the issues and concepts we discuss, and the application of these different approaches to critical making yields so many great, and different projects. We're able to engage with each device on a few different levels, and critically reflect and think about each different interpretation collaboratively. Participatory design!

Leave it to Latour to blow my mind. "There is no outside: outside is another inside with another climate control, another thermostat, another air conditioning system". Waaaaaa!

Regarding design, and then connecting it with our class, I like the questions Latour posed regarding the spaces in which we design. Very often designs created and imagined in a space where controversies and contradictions are not taken into account - this isn't really beneficial, because areas of concern will always arise when something is created and put out into the world. So, Latour asks how we can draw these matters of concern together in the design process - how can we address the questions of good and bad design, as well as associated political issues? Something to keep in mind for the last project - how can we associate the possible ethical concerns and political issues that can stem from our project into the design and brainstorming process?

#critical making #notebook entry #reflection

Fertility Necklace: Making Private Info Public

For our wearables project, we made a fertility necklace using an arduino, a L35 temperature sensor and an LED. The purpose of the necklace was to indicate whether or not a female is fertile, by displaying a solid LED when ovulation is detected through change in (basal) body temperature. Of course, this isn't entirely feasible (due to our basic skills and constraints of the technology) so we had a temperature sensor detect changes in temperature and show a solid light when a change was detected.

There are many thought-provoking aspects of making this very private information public knowledge. Firstly, this is something that animals have different natural ways of displaying to potential mates, but is not something that humans have a way of displaying. Of course, this makes sense, as just because a woman is ovulating doesn't mean she wants/needs to become pregnant. However, some women (whether for barrier-free family planning, spreading out pregnancies, or simply for personal knowledge) feel empowered by being able to track when they are ovulating and a similar device could aide in this process.

Other more sensitive issues arise when we consider what it would mean if every woman wore a similar device that displayed this information publicly. What would the green light signal to others in terms of sexual consent? Does this technology have the potential to re-appropriate a woman's sexual decision-making? This is an example of a biological measurement having the potential for gross misinterpretation and highlights the dangers of similar biological measurements becoming public information.

#arduino #critical making #privacy

Katie is a fertile myrtle!

#arduino #critical making

Not rights...but control

Everything that is digital now requires an account and a password to be created the minute you wish to access the information. Back in 1995, when I first started using the Internet, information was not this controlled. Accounts existed, but it seemed more about creating a persona and individualism than how it is now. In today's world, the Internet is all about controlling the information.

Whether a country places control on IP addresses of another country to view their media, or Face book lets users control their private information, the key trend in information has become information security. There also always is a punishment attached in this DRM process such as denial of access or loss of privileges or even notifying police if the information you try to access is a national security breach.

I understand the noble concept that is behind DRM, it is to save the public from the users who have ill-intent, but because DRM has such ambiguous laws associated with it, it can be taken advantage of by corporations to actually control users. It is taking the power away from a central authority like the government and giving it to corporations who are creating these DRM's and judging information accessibility as they see fit. Take for example the ability for Canadians not being able to access many US based online TV shows. The online shows are supposed to be free for all, but corporations decided that Canadian users only have the right to view the same material through a Canadian site than an American site. If this was about simple rights to see the information, it would not be an issue, but the issue becomes about profit, privileges and marketing for the national TV station and they have decided that this is how they will manage the users.

In our project we displayed a man not being able to enter his own home because he was not able to enter the right password because it showed that how important digital control has become where a system created by others is now in charge of your world.

Our Draft Code: Project Two

*/ int button1 = 2; // pushbutton connected to digital pin 7 int button2 = 3; int button3 = 4; int button4 = 5; //submit button int buttonPushCounter1 = 0; int buttonPushCounter2 = 0; int buttonPushCounter3 = 0; int buttonState1 = 0; // current state of the button int lastButtonState1 = 0; int buttonState2 = 0; // current state of the button int lastButtonState2 = 0; int buttonState3 = 0; // current state of the button int lastButtonState3 = 0; int buttonState4 = 0; // current state of the button int lastButtonState4 = 0; char button1val = '1'; // pushbutton connected to digital pin 7 char button2val = '2'; char button3val = '3'; int password1 = 4; int password2 = 2; int password3 = 3; int ledPinRed = 12; // LED connected to digital pin 13 int val = 0; // variable to store the read value int count = 0; // Number of times tried void setup() { // declare the ledPins as an OUTPUT: pinMode(ledPinRed, OUTPUT); pinMode(button1, INPUT); // sets the digital pin as input pinMode(button2, INPUT); // sets the digital pin as input pinMode(button3, INPUT); // sets the digital pin as input pinMode(button4, INPUT); // sets the digital pin as input Serial.begin(9600); } void loop() { buttonState1 = digitalRead(button1); buttonState2 = digitalRead(button2); buttonState3 = digitalRead(button3); buttonState4 = digitalRead(button4); // compare the buttonState to its previous state if (buttonState1 != lastButtonState1) { // if the state has changed, increment the counter if (buttonState1 == HIGH) { // if the current state is HIGH then the button // wend from off to on: buttonPushCounter1++; Serial.println("on"); Serial.print("First Code: "); Serial.println(

buttonPushCounter1, DEC); } else { // if the current state is LOW then the button // wend from on to off: //Serial.println("off"); } } // save the current state as the last state, //for next time through the loop lastButtonState1 = buttonState1; // compare the buttonState to its previous state if (buttonState2 != lastButtonState2) { // if the state has changed, increment the counter if (buttonState2 == HIGH) { // if the current state is HIGH then the button // wend from off to on: buttonPushCounter2++; //Serial.println("on"); Serial.print("Second Code: "); Serial.println(buttonPushCounter2, DEC); } else { // if the current state is LOW then the button // wend from on to off: //Serial.println("off"); } } // save the current state as the last state, //for next time through the loop lastButtonState2 = buttonState2; // compare the buttonState to its previous state if (buttonState3 != lastButtonState3) { // if the state has changed, increment the counter if (buttonState3 == HIGH) { // if the current state is HIGH then the button // wend from off to on: buttonPushCounter3++; // Serial.println("on"); Serial.print("Third Code: "); Serial.println(buttonPushCounter3, DEC); } else { // if the current state is LOW then the button // wend from on to off: //Serial.println("off"); } } // save the current state as the last state, //for next time through the loop lastButtonState3 = buttonState3; // turns on the LED every four button pushes by // checking the modulo of the button push counter. // the modulo function gives you the remainder of // the division of two numbers: if (buttonState4 == LOW) { if (buttonPushCounter1 == password1 && buttonPushCounter2 == password2 ){ Serial.println(" Password is correct"); digitalWrite(ledPinRed, LOW); } else{ Serial.println(" Password is incorrect"); digitalWrite(ledPinRed, HIGH); } } /* if (buttonPushCounter1 % 4 == 0) { digitalWrite(ledPinRed, HIGH); } else { digitalWrite(ledPinRed, LOW); } */

Our Arduino set up for our second project.

#arduino

PRM System: Houduino Comes Home

For our 2nd group project, let me explain our system using a scenario.

Houduino, having just recovered from serious heart surgery, returns home to rest. His apartment uses a padlock entry system at the main entrance instead of keys, so Houduino must enter a special password to get in. Houduino is having a really bad day, so he takes a breath, and punches in the code "1...2...3...4...5...6". The display screen delivers the best news Houduino could hope for, "Password is correct! Welcome Home!" Phew...

The reason Houduino is so relieved, is that his building employs a very strict PRM system - if the password is entered incorrectly more than 3 times, the display screen above the padlock turns red and displays the message "INVALID PASSWORD! BUILDING WILL COLLAPSE IN 90 SECONDS! YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!"

We modeled our PRM system after an idea we were able to easily connect with - that a DRM system must be able to enforce that an electronic document cannot be used once "time is up". This occurs often in digital enviroments with password limits, on iPhones, with bank cards, in many different scenarios. So, in the context of our PRM system - once the password is entered incorrectly after the time limit, you've really messed up. If the password is correct, then no problem - you got it right! Additionally, we learned that on another level, a DRM enforcement system must be proactive in ensuring that access is prevented - hence the extreme scenario in which a bad password causes the building to collapse. Finally, the DRM system must actively prevent continued attempts - no building, no more attempts are possible!

There are many ways to improve and enhance our PRM system, which we are all eager to explore in our papers, but we think that what we built in class shows clearly what we were going for.

Now we're eager to explore what our 3rd project will yield!

Weekly Reflection: Augmented Reality

This week's reading are in preparation of our next project involving wearable computers.

The Viseau article explores the shift from simulation to augmentation in how the physical and digital worlds interact. When this article was published in 2003, not many people would have had the opportunity to experience augmented reality, but now, most smart phone users will have augmented reality apps on their phones. I've only used augmented reality apps that help me navigate the physical world by providing me with extra information overlayed on a picture of the physical environment in front of me. For example, apps that will show you (using GPS and your camera), as your hold your phone up in front of you where certain restaurants are located or where to find nearby street art. There are also many augmented reality games, such as one for android phones that make it appear as if little android aliens are floating around in your current physical space, and you must track them down and shoot them.

Personally, I do not know of any augmented reality apps, wearable or not, that do more than add information to your current physical space in order to help you navigate, provide additional information, or are just fun distractions. These apps may certainly provide empowerment, especially for navigating in a new environment, and have relatively little control over the user (although even for something as harmless as a restaurant finder app could be exploited, showing users only restaurants that have monetarily opted-in to the application). I agree with Viseau that the more concerning aspect of augmenting reality through wearable computers is the amount of control we give to the computer, and exactly what decision-making we surrender to the technology.

In class, I hope we explore the concept of 'wearable computers' in more detail. I am not sure whether a 'wearable computer' could simply be a computer that is small enough and is meant to be worn-- or if it must interact with the physical body in some way (measure heart rate, etc.).

#augmented reality #wearable computers #lilypad arduino

Our project idea.

EDIT: We need to think more about this. Have done some research. Have some more ideas. Will report back with a more complex MS Paint drawing. Stay tuned.

Weekly reflection

I'm going to reflect on this weeks readings, as well as what we did in class last week while prof. was away.

We had a really interesting and engaging class-led discussion about DRM systems, and then split up into groups to story board a DRM experience. Our story board covered the sharing and transfer of music from iPod to iPod (which can't be done - at least I don't know how to do it). There were a few great ones in class, especially the story board about DVDs and country codes.

We then started working on our PRM project. This took quite a lot of brainstorming, but I think we came up with a decent idea that I'm looking forward to trying out this week. I'll post videos and pictures once our project gets underway.

As for this weeks readings, I was really fascinated by them! Weiser's article had some pretty amazing predictions, which have since come to be (Pads (iPads, tablets), the idea of ubiquitous computing I think, also the "computing environment" knowing your search history...). Very interesting! The quote I liked the most was the very first one in the article - The most profound technologies are those that disappear. That's a really interesting thought - how we might not notice the constant background presence of certain technologies.

As for Bell & Dourish, I thought a really interesting point they made was this one:

"Indeed, within this particular model of a technological future, it is hard to imagine how we could ever, as a community, say, ‘‘There. It is done.’’ Additionally, it's cool to see them explain that Weiser's predictions, at least a few of them, have come to be. As the authors claimed: The future is already here. But what's interesting is that the authors note our failure to notice the arrival of ubiquitous computing. Something to ponder, for sure.

As a supplement to these articles, I read something in Time magazine about Kurzweil and Singularity this week which is sort of fitting.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2048138,00.html

Project Notebook: Finishing of a Moral technology

This week we completed our Moral technology. Houduino.

Our group defined a technology as moral because as a group, our cultural norms stated that saving lives was a moral act. In our project, we had a potentiometer represent human heart rate. The LED's signified whether the heart rate was too low, too high or normal. As we wanted our technology to help patients, we added in a screen printout displaying the current heart rate and what it's status. If a heart rate was 0, we declared the patient dead.

In respect to the readings related to moral technology, I found both Latour's and Winner's paper to relate more closely to our project. Winner speaks of the political values technology can represent while Latour speaks to the human behavior change technology can bring. In regards to a heart monitor, we defined it as one for saving patients, it can easily be used for other purposes based on the intent of the individual.

By adding in the word moral to our project, we infused a piece of technology with socially constructed values that are subjective based on the life experiences of the one who creates and uses the technology. Below are videos and pictures of our finished product for you to enjoy!

Meet Houduino!

He must be master magician because he has survived many dangerous heart rates.

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