Right now, it is 31st of March 2:15PM, and I am starting to right this post which will be based on my artifact based on a conceptual research that I inspired from daydreaming. Let’s start from the beginning and let me tell you about my work.
Research
Click on the link to open the document. This PDF includes my research.
March 6. 2016
Time to start sketching and looking for an idea. I wrote down multiple sub-titles on my sketchbook such as what is expected from Studio class, or Lab class, and a small brainstorming for a amusing conceptual research.
I was doing research online, at the same time for the type of technology I was interested in and communication methods between the user and the Arduino.
Through my research I did my first Bill of Materials list to made a bed side clock which shines in different colors depending on your mood and the time of the day.
March 7. 2016
Satisfying idea ay? I was down to work on this idea and I started doing beautiful yet basic sketches in order to figure out the design- connections- what kind of arduino I need and everything basically. While I was working on the design I started thinking about sailing to the seas that I’ve never been and Googled something called “Gesture Sensor” and SparkFun had one I was amazed and I added that to my device.
March 8. 2016 – conceptual meeting with Ayo
The spring has sprung! Time to kill our babies with Ayo. Ayo liked my idea however, as he said the idea was so broad. It was a clock, daydreaming device, alarm and more…. He told me to just focus on one thing which is Daydreaming. So I went back to my sketchbook and re-designed my whole product and concept.
The second iteration of the artifact happened that day. I sketched all of the connections and eveything I need, in order to make the artifact I had to do more research and create a bill of materials.
March 9. 2016 – technology meeting with Michael
Today was a day where I talked about all of the possible outcomes I can have from using the materials that I declared.
bill of materials:
Android Smartphone (HTC m8)
Computer
Arduino UNO
HC-06 Bluetooth Module (Thinksphere NYC)
24 NeoPixel rings x2 (AdaFruit)
Vibrating motors x2 (AdaFruit)
Gesture sensor (SparkFun)
Headphones (RadioShack)
During March 9th, I worked on my project a lot to declare every single connection, because I wanted to be sure that I will not face any technical difficulty while I am wiring the whole system. However, I was still missing the design…
March 10. 2016
On this day, I asked myself multiple questions to understand and believe in my own concept. Also I used this day to understand peoples views about daydreaming. The questions I asked was provided by Michael. I questioned my product, my concept and I was good to go, and build my artifact.
” You’re Just a Daydream Away”
-5 day break from overthinking-
March 15. 2016
AutoCAD time! I designed the object virtually by teaching myself how to use AutoCAD for the first time. I also was sure about the design so, it was time to buy materials. I ordered what I needed from SparkFun and Adafruit also I had a small hike through east village for extra parts, such as cables and bluetooth and headphones.
-4 day break waiting for materials-
March 19 – March 28
Building the object + wiring took the whole process in this time. I am attaching some pictures from the end product but daily progress, research, presentations can be reached over github link that is attached at the end.
The code:
The progress of the code can be seen in different documents inside the repository I created in Github. The code that will be seen on this post is the final version.
Repository and Directory:
REPO: https://github.com/emres13/DT-Lab-2-/tree/master/Midterm
4 Technologies I Used:
Bluetooth HC-06 (Android – Arduino Voice Command Communication)
First of all I downloaded AMR_Voice application from Google Play store, also wired my bluetooth to Arduino. With the functions I declared, the specific vocabulary had specific color schemes. Voice command can also be used in order to turn on and off the device. I chose to communicate with bluetooth as one way of communication with arduino because daydreaming is usually take place on the bed, by the technology the user would not have to get up and do any analog movement.
Gesture Sensor
Gesture Sensor reads 6 different directions, which are UP , DOWN , LEFT , RIGHT , FAR and NEAR. I used UP command as turning the device on. DOWN command to turn it off. NEAR and FAR commands stand for NeoPixel functions created by Adafruit. These two functions are only build-in in order for user to create out of box color schemes. I selected gesture sensor in order to create more mystical and future in time kind of an effect.
NeoPixels
These beautiful LED rings, shine up in different colors according to commands that they get. They can shine in many beautiful colors, and the LED ring I used has 24 separate LED’s and build by AdaFruit.
Vibrating Motors (connected to 3.5mm audio jack)
These really small hectic motors are connected to 3.5mm audio jack. So that the user can connect their vibration headphone to their computer and listen to music with vibration. The reason behind using an unexpected way of listening to music was in order to create a in between state, where reality and artificial reality clashes.
List of the 6 libraries / bodies of code that I chose to use/write:
0. <FastLED.h> (for practice of neopixels)
- <Wire.h>
2. <SparkFun_APDS9960.h>
3. <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
4. int voiceCommand() ( +if/else +functions )
5. int handleGesture() ( + case/switch +functions)
6. xColorSchemes tab (neopixel functions) + ( RGB numerical definitions in verbal version.)
7. AutoCAD
The whole progress can be found on my GitHub repository based on this project.
https://github.com/emres13/DT-Lab-2-/tree/master/Midterm