Physical Computing with David

[davidgetsphysical]

Weather Window Timeline

This is a living document of my Weather Window Timeline. I will be updating it to keep myself on track to finish the assignment on time. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1apUuOAEGp7cRN1lnsKTM-LTFsFbQcKEzZL-RJoDFlpc/edit?usp=sharing

[davidgetsphysical]

Weather Window

As I begin my final project, I am sketching out ideas and reading up on components that could make my Project 1 Concept into a reality. Here’s my first mock up.

[davidgetsphysical]

Social Seismograph

Social Seismograph creates a real time activity graph for Twitter hashtags. The Twitter Search API is queried in Processing and sent across serial to an arduino which drives a stepper motor that moves the paper and a servo that move an arm with a marker. This project was completed in 8 hours and all components will be reusable when disassembled.

[davidgetsphysical]

For project 2, I wanted to integrate some simple game mechanics into my prototype. I’ve been working a lot with color over the past few months and decided that would be a good direction to move in.

My game allows a player to select any image with a direct URL and dial in an external RGB LED to match the most used color in the image. The user adds Red, Green, and Blue color to and indicator LED one at a time and can tweak the color until they submit it. I’ve simplified the game somewhat for the user by giving them 4096 color choices instead of the traditional 16.9 million. On submission of the guessed color, an external seven segment display assigns a score from 0-9 based on the user’s performance and the computer monitor displays the most used color in the image.

The hardest part of this project was making the computer display and RGB LED match up in color. It’s a problem without a simple solution given the cheapness of the parts, but could be solved if the game were made at a grander scale with better components and more time.

Here is a video of the game in action, enjoy!

[davidgetsphysical]

Project #1

This project simulates some of the functionality of my Window Concept Project. It collects weather data from wunderground.com and displays sky conditions using an RGB LED. The Current conditions are displayed when the hand is highest, and 12 hours in the future when the hand is closest.

[davidgetsphysical]

Window Concept

Upon waking, I like to check the weather to make sure I know how to dress and if I’ll need an umbrella. While there are many ways for me to look up forecasts, I have yet to experience one that could be felt rather than just seen. Window changes that.

I propose a simple box shaped somewhat like a window. When the interactant inserts their hand inside, Window begins by simulating the current weather conditions for 3 seconds. Window then proceeds to simulate the weather conditions for the next 12 hours over the next 12 seconds. 

The weather forecast information would come from wundergroud, a light or proximity sensor would check if a hand was present and fans would simulate temperature and wind (two fans, one blowing hot air, one cold), a small sprinkler tube would simulate rain (like in produce sections of supermarkets) and a couple of RGB LEDs would simulate lighting conditions (cloud cover) during the day.