#stupidpettrick

[thebirdybabe]

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Finally got this on video. I'm going to post the longer version on YouTube later #longhairprobs #goffins #goffinscockatoo #cockatoo #birdtrick #stupidpettrick #acrobat #sillysaturday

[svaixdphysicalcomputing]

Virtual Synesthesia

For my “Stupid Pet Trick,” my plan was to assign a specific musical note (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) to a specific color (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, and White) respectively. Originally I intended to have 7 RGB LEDs that would each be assigned a specific color, which would turn on when that note was heard by the microphone. When I started putting together the pieces, however, it quickly became clear that I did not have enough PWM inputs on my Arduino Uno for seven RGB LEDs. So, in lieu of buying a larger Arduino the new plan was to have all seven lights connect to each other, instead of being individually assigned a particular color.

The tricky part was figuring out how to assign an input as a particular note. I ended up finding some code online that used the “minim library”in Processing to define frequencies in Hertz as musical notes. It is not entirely accurate, but pretty close. Using that as a base, I incorporated the light output with “if” statements, which output a particular RGB color to match the frequency. Since I was no longer limited to 7 LEDs, I incorporated all 12 musical notes, including half notes.

To see the full-write up and code, check out: http://www.hllrn.com/stupid-pet-trick/

[erin-meekhof]

The creepiest doll (or, why breadboards exist): Because attaching wires to each other without soldering is almost impossible. The creepiest doll's eyes glow red when you hold it's hand (temp sensor) and makes weird noises when you wave your hands around it (light theremin). It was supposed to have a heartbeat that depended on light/your hand's distance and change the pitch of the noise depending on the amount of squishing/twisting but that became impossible once I realised that I couldn't attach wires effectively outside of the breadboard. So now I know why it exists. Only now the doll is creepier and really useless because it's stuck to this board of wires. Stupid pet trick achieved.

[erin-meekhof]

The creepiest doll (or, why breadboards exist): Because attaching wires to each other without soldering is almost impossible. The creepiest doll's eyes glow red when you hold it's hand (temp sensor) and makes weird noises when you wave your hands around it (light theremin). It was supposed to have a heartbeat that depended on light/your hand's distance and change the pitch of the noise depending on the amount of squishing/twisting but that became impossible once I realised that I couldn't attach wires effectively outside of the breadboard. So now I know why it exists. Only now the doll is creepier and really useless because it's stuck to this board of wires. Stupid pet trick achieved.

[erin-meekhof]

The creepiest doll (or, why breadboards exist): Because attaching wires to each other without soldering is almost impossible. The creepiest doll's eyes glow red when you hold it's hand (temp sensor) and makes weird noises when you wave your hands around it (light theremin). It was supposed to have a heartbeat that depended on light/your hand's distance and change the pitch of the noise depending on the amount of squishing/twisting but that became impossible once I realised that I couldn't attach wires effectively outside of the breadboard. So now I know why breadboards are brilliant, useful items that make it unnecessary to solder every single wire in every single circuit you ever create... Only now the doll is creepier and really useless because it's stuck to this board of wires. Stupid pet trick achieved. As tigoe says, whether or not the actual pieces of computing are very original, it's all about finding a context that gives it meaning and usefulness.