Homework 6 & 7:  Physical Prototyping and Design with the Arduino

In these two homework assignments you will get the chance to explore designing a physical computing artifact using the Arduino microcontroller platform and other physical prototyping tools of your choosing. Physical computing combines electronics with programming enabling you to create artifacts in the real-world that can react and interact with the surrounding environment. Throughout these assignments, you will gain a basic understanding of the Arduino IDE, physical prototyping, electronic sensors, and interactive design.

In class, we will explore design and prototyping tools that will tie into the brainstorming, sketching and building activities that will be the basis for these homeworks. Throughout the prior coursework you will be reflecting on community data sources and how to think about and represent that data. In this project, you will continue that reflection, thinking specifically about an issue or problem space of your choosing. You will either choose to design a Superhero or a Supervillain that would help solve or exacerbate your chosen issue. You can then choose to create a wearable that turns the wearer into that Superhero or Supervillain or an interactive object that represents that superhero or supervillain in some way. You will be given the tools to integrate data from the internet and/or highly localized data captured from environmental sensors such as buttons, flexsensors, motion sensors, etc. During class time, you will be introduced to the Arduino and some physical prototyping tools like the laser cutter and 3D printer which you will be able to integrate into your designs.

Homework 6: Supervillain/Superhero Sketch and Pin-Up for Critique — Due Nov. 28th

This is the mid-project critique. At this point you should have a solid idea of what you will be creating and how you will carry it out. The point is to receive constructive critiques from the other students to improve your design and ideas. You will already have been given the outline for an interaction diagram (as pictured below) which you will use in conjunction with a sketch-up of your Super person. The sketch will be a rough drawing either by hand or digitally (your choice). You are NOT going to be graded on how good your drawing skills are but on how well you are able to convey your ideas for design.

Within your presentation, interaction diagram and sketch you must clearly identify:

1. The issue that your character is designed around (10pts)
2. The technology that you intend to use and the data that is being integrated (10pts)
3. What materials you will use for the various components of your design (10pts)
4. How the user will interact with your design and what those interactions represent  (10pts)
5. Your reasoning for the various choices above (10pts)

The interaction diagram will look like the following:

 

Homework 7: Supervillain/Superhero Final Design and Presentation — Due Dec. 5th

This is the final presentation of your physical computing artifact. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your artifact, while reflecting on the design. When presenting your project you will cover the following:

1. Who is your Supervillain or Superhero that you’ve created? What do they care about and how did this manifest into your design choices? (20pts)
2. Demonstrate the interactive capabilities of your artifact (20pts)
3. Discuss what design decisions went into the final product (20pts)
4. Reflect on issues that you hit and the difficulties that arose and how you overcame them (10pts)
5. Critique the strengths and weaknesses of your design (20pts)
6. Write a one to two page reflection discussing your experience throughout the final design project. Reflect on one or more of the following (10pts guaranteed for turning it in):

• How do you feel about the final project? What parts of it do you particularly like? Dislike? Why?
• Did you do your work the way other people did theirs? In what ways did you do it differently? In what ways was your work or process similar?
• What’s something that you have seen in your classmates’ work or process that you would like to try if you could do this type of project again?
• What would you change if you had a chance to do this piece over again? Is there anything you would like to improve upon?

**NOTE** In replacement of turning in the assignment you may also participate in a post study interview (30-45min) which will cover the same material in addition to a few more questions about your experience. Participation in the interview will guarantee you the 10pts as well.