THUrSDAY 9:30 AM TO 12:00 PM
TODD HOLOUBEK
THOLOUBEK@NYC.RR.COM

Some things to Know:
What is this class about?
This is physical computing, where we explore the relationships between humans and technologies.


Good books to have/know about:
Physical Computing by Dan O'Sullivan and Tom Igoe (amazon link)
Practical Electronics for Inventors by Paul Scherz (amazon link)
The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size by Tor Nørretranders (amazon link)
The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman (amazon link)
Information Arts by Stephan Wilson (amazon link)

A lot of the things you will need for this class can be found at the NYU computer bookstore, Radio Shack, and on the junk shelf.

All the parts you will be needed can be found here

if you are confused, you can always ask someone


Week One - thursday, september 6th


This week is about introductions to Physical Computing
We Describe the class and cover the philosophy
We review the syllabus

Material Covered:
intro to basic electronics - (Link)
Current, Voltage, Resistance, Ohm's Law.
Components - capacitors, resistors, voltage regulators, LEDS
What's up with the 5 volts?
Setting up a breadboard for 5 volts(Link)
Soldering a power adapter(Link)
Soldering a switch(Link)
Series(Link)
Parallel(Link)

The tools:
The Multimeter
Soldering

assignment:
Join the listserve (link).
Pcomp Wikki.
Attend Safety Session.
Cleaning Sign Up.(link)
Lab: Electronics - build a simple circuit

Reading:
Physical Computing introduction, chapters 1-3
Crawford, The Art of Interactive Design, Chapters 1 and 2 (this can be found at NYUHome. )

Week Two - thursday, september 13th


Microcontrollers -
This week we introduce the Arduino and begin programming

Intro to the Arduino (Link)
Connecting the Arduino
Arduino programming
Reading a data sheet (link)
Electrical symbols(link to symbols)

assignment:
lab: First Arduino program. Blink an LED(S)(LINK)
Begin observation project. (description)
Attend Safety Session.
EXTRA: solder a potentiometer(LINK)

Reading:
Physical Computing chapters 4,5
James L. Adams, Conceptual Blockbusting, ch. 2 (handout)
Week Three - thursday, september 20th


Memory and Variables - dec, binary, hex
intro to Serial
Digital in and out (example)
Analog input ADC (ADC example)

assignment:
Arduino - Create a one to one relationship
Observation project - present location and observations
Lab: Analog In (example)
Reading:
Physical Computing chapters 5,6
Norman, Design of Everyday Things, ch. 1 (in coursepack)
Norman, Emotional Design, Chapter 1, "Attractive Things Work Better".

Week Four - thursday, september 27th


Analog out - servo, PWM
Presentation - show one to one relationship
Presentation - observation project - present observations

assignment:
Begin Midterm
Lab: servo/analog in/out

Week Five - thursday, October 4th


Serial communication
Serial to processing
Serial to Flash
Serial Server

PerfBoard construction

Presentation - observation project - show final prototypes

assignment:
initial breadboard/perfboard prototype
lab: serial communication with a computer

Week Six - thursday, October 11th


Digital output - transistors and relays: switching higher current devices(Bulb, switch, motor)
Motors, DC, Steppers
Presentations: First Production project initial breadboard prototype

assignment:
Final prototype
Lab: controlling a motor
Reading:Physical Computing chapter 10
Nørretranders, User Illusion, ch. 6, "The Bandwidth of Consciousness" (in coursepack)


Week Seven - thursday, October 18th



Presentations on your user testing

assignment: Finish your Midterm


Week Eight - thursday, October 25th


Presentations: Midterm Project

assignment:
decide on a final project - be prepared to talk about it next week
Reading:
Physical Computing chapter 12

Week Nine - thursday, november 1st


Begin Final Project
Code approaches - state machines, psudocode, using subroutines

Week Ten - thursday, november 9th


Wireless protocol

Week Eleven - thursday, november 15th


Making your own circuit board


Week Twelve - thursday, november 29th


Final Show Prototypes and user research

Week Thirteen - thursday, december 6th


Final Presentations part one

Week Fourteen - thursday, december 13th


Final Presentations part two

Labs

Code Samples

Links/Resources

DataSheets

Photos