Tuesday 9:30 - 2 pm
Brown Center 206
Contact:jrouvelle@mica.edu
Office: Brown Center, room 211, phone (in office).
Office hours: by appointment
“But, what does
"interface" mean? And "cybernetics?" Basically,
the former represents any surface which separates two systems, while the
latter is a discipline that studies how the referred systems communicate and
interact with each other.
If interactivity
can be freely defined as a reciprocal relationship between two systems through
an interface, just like it happens in the interaction between humans and
machines or between machines and other machines, then the works selected
for the exhibition perfectly fit within the theory of cybernetics."
The works selected "embody concepts which are important to cybernetics, such as feedback, communication, causality, information, observation, predictability and equilibrium.
Evaluation:
Grades in this course
will be based on regular class attendance, the quality of your work, class
participation, and progress. Tardiness
and excessive absences will adversely affect your grade. Participation in discussions and critiques
is mandatory.
Projects & Grading:
You will be asked
to do assignments throughout the semester.
Most of the assignments will be presented in class and will be designed
to stimulate group conversation.
***We will not have a
final exam during finals week***
Students will be
graded by letter, A-F, on all evaluated work.
Work must be completed on time and in full satisfaction of each project
goal. Late work (assignments handed in or
posted after the start of in-class critique sessions) will be automatically downgraded
by one letter grade. In addition to in
class exercises, you will complete four projects.
A
|
Well above the expectations of the course. Outstanding participation, attendance, and
exceptional progress. |
B |
Above average assignments and participation. No more than
one absence. |
C |
Average execution of assignments, participation, and no
more than two absences. |
D |
Well below average: work, attendance (two absences),
projects, and participation. |
F |
Unsatisfactory: work, attendance (more than two absences),
projects, and participation |
Attendance:
Two or more unexcused absences from class may result in
failure. Two unexcused late arrivals,
or early departures will be marked as the equivalent of one absence. Absence from a class is not an excuse for
skipping a tutorial, reading assignment, or posting an assignment. You are fully responsible for completing
work.
Readings:
Readings will be linked from the syllabus. There is no textbook. You may utilize the printers in class to
download hard copies of web-based content if you prefer. Critiques and discussion will frequently be
initiated from various topics covered in the readings – in other words, please
use the concepts you read about in discussion of fellow students’ work.
Materials:
You will be expected to purchase an Arduino-USB
micro-controller, for $31.95 by week 4 of our class.
Supplies:
Please bring to each class a storage media of your choice. I recommend a jump drive from the bookstore, in lieu of this, an ipod, or server space, or 1-2 CD-R(s) – Recordable Compact Discs (700 MB) will suffice. You’ll probably go through many of them, for both this and other digital classes. You might also want to bring in a sharpie to label your CD’s.
It is essential that
all work done in class be saved to either your jump drive, CD-R, server space,
ipod, etc… at the conclusion of class.
There will be many, many other students using these computers and
anything saved on them will be permanently removed shortly after the conclusion
of class.
Food and Drink in the Computer Labs:
No.
ADA COMPLIANCE:
In MICA's efforts to provide the highest possible quality
educational experience for every student, MICA maintains compliance with the
requirements of the ADA and Section 504. Any student who has, or suspects he or
she may have, a disability and wants to request academic accommodations must
contact Dr. Kathryn Smith at the Learning Resource Center, 443 695-1384 or
email at ksmith@mica.edu immediately.
MICA has developed policies and
practices to ensure a healthful environment
and safe approaches to the use of
equipment, materials, and processes. It is
the mutual responsibility of
faculty and students to review health and
safety standards relevant to each
class at the beginning of each semester.
Students should be aware of
general fire, health, and safety regulations
posted in each area and course
specific polices, practices, and cautions.
Students who have concerns related
to health and safety should contact
Quentin Moseley, Environment
Health and Safety Coordinator at 410 225 0220
or email at qmoseley@mica.edu
Electronic Art,
Artists, and Projects List
Weekly
Schedule
Introduction to course and lab.
Please send an email with the account you want us to use to both me (jrouvelle@mica.edu, and sam: jss@problemboard.com). We will set up a group this week and invite you.
Sam Sheffield will be working with us. If you have technical and/or lab questions that come up during the week and you feel you would like to sit down with him to go over some things send him and email and make an appointment: jss@problemboard.com
Circuit Bending.
Reed Ghazala will server as our virtual mentor during this phase of the course. His site contains many good pieces of information and it is organized like a textbook.
Jeff Boynton also maintains an excellent site.
There are a lot of videos on YouTube.
Always make …board scans…
Some videos:
The goal of the circuit bending phase is to create a bent circuit of your own for presentation during week 4’s class.
Your presentation must:
What you’ll need to provide: some batteries, headphones. You are encouraged to get a circuit or two on your own. Check out the local thrift stores and Goodwill (especially good, pick a location and call first) for circuits. Craigslist and ebay are also good.
Assignment:
***try using your fingers to probe the surface of a circuit you are interested in bending. To increase the conductivity of your fingertips, try a small amount of tap water.
Discuss Cell Phone, at the contemporary museum, and TextuaL HEaLing
Circuit Bending
‘When
people say "interface", they usually mean VIRTUALITY.
By
"virtuality", I refer to the opposite of reality: the seeming of a
thing, anything. Most things have both a reality (nuts and bolts) and a
virtuality (conceptual structure and feel). A building and a car have a
physical reality and a virtuality-- a conceptual structure and feel. The
only thing that doesn't have a virtuality is something you're not supposed to
know about or feel-- like a fishhook (till it's too late).
We
don't usually design software interfaces, we design software virtuality.
The only time you design a software "interface" is when a program
already exists with very specific functions, and you are just deciding how that
function is to be shown to the user. But if you are designing or deciding
that function-- which is more usually the case-- then you are designing its
conceptual structure and feel, or its virtuality.’
-ted nelson
· Actuators (the things that control the movement and velocity of the car, for example), as opposed to Interfaces, as described above.
· What did you think of: Cell Phone, at the contemporary museum, and TextuaL HEaLing?
Assignment:
Continue Circuit Bending
Use a Variable Resistor between two hotspots
Place your order with Sam for an Arduino Board.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Continue Circuit Bending:
Capacitors
Transistors
A
simple audio amplifier with the LM386, here’s another.
Please order an Arduino-USB
micro-controller today: coordinate this with sam. ***You’ll also need a USB cable.
Assignment: Please prepare to show your Well-Bent circuit
next class. Don’t forget the …board scans….
_______________________________________________________________________________
Week 4
Circuit Bending Continues
Intro to the Arduino-USB micro-controller: “hello world”/sms/php, demo you’ll see…. THANKS SAM!
***We’ll have Lisa from Gardels restaurant in Fells Point
visiting us @ 3pm today. Lisa is
hosting a Mardi Gras party on the evening of February 20th (two
weeks away) and would like you to have your well bent circuits on display. Let’s talk about how you would like to show
your works: exhibit style or in a performance?
I’m going to visit Gardels later today and will report back on what the
space is like.
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Week 5
Circuit Bending/Performance Planning.
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Week 6
Mardi Gras Party at Gardel’s in Fells Point tonight. Present your work to the festive throng.
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Week 7
Congratulations on an excellent performance
at Gardels!
Dremel and Drill are now in the lab!
>>ARDUINO<<
è mark allen electron wrangling. (full course homepage)
è Transistor Circuits from
è The Electronics Club (how to identify components, read schematics, build projects, etc., Excellent resource)
è
Experiments
with electronics – build
your own gauss meter – ***warning: magnets may damage IC’s
è MacOSX
§ Goal: in two weeks (by the end of the first class after break, no homework over break!) have the arduino read an analog and digital sensor and toggle an on/off connection on your circuit bent project (see using a transistor as a switch for explanation and circuit diagram, see roomba hack link page and look at the schematic, paying close attention to the 2n3904 circuit [scroll down]).
· Galvanic skin sensor!
Some key sites that you should visit:
è RoombaReview (deals on roombas)
è Makezine
è Hackaday
è Gizmodo
Assignment: Have a good vacation. If you will be here, check out:
Friday
• March 9 • 7PM: Circuit Bending
Workshop with Beatrix*JAR
The Minneapolis-based sound-art duo, Beatrix*JAR, pays
a special visit to AVAM to reveal the secrets of circuit-bending: the art of
coaxing new and surprising sounds out of recycled battery-powered toys. Your
old "Speak & Spell" never sounded so good! In this hands-on
workshop, rework the innards of battery-powered sound-making toy(s) or small
keyboards and bend the sound with the force of your will and creativity and a
little solder. Followed by an improvised performance. Bring a battery-powered
sound-making toy(s). Bring a date. Check out www.beatrixjar.com. Call
410.244.1900 to sign up. $15 members; $25 non-members.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Week 8
Arduino/
Transistors/Relays, interfacing to your bent circuits.
Serial Communication with a terminal program.
…if…
(control structures)
The LM3914 Dot/Bar graph display
FINAL PROJECT OPPORTUNITY
>>Robot Fest
2007<< The Return of Circuit
Burger??? April 28, 2007
_______________________________________________________________________________
Week 9
“This lecture addresses the way in which knowledge is constructed collectively throughout the planning process. It does so by retracing the numerous translations taking place throughout this process as well as by investigating how also non-scientific knowledge can be involved in the planning process. Who and what is involved? How are they re-presented? In this lecture the Brabant Quarter is addressed, more specifically the Aasrchot Street where currently several architectural projects are in development. What is the history behind those projects? What can we learn from the traces that are left behind by such projects: not only as built reality but also in the form of written reports and other re-presentations.”
Transistors as Switches/using a transistor as a switch
Relays as Switches
Servo
Motors/Seattle Robotics Society (explore the seattle robotics society!) –
script from the Script Crypt
_______________________________________________________________________________
Week 10
More conditional logic, extending the inputs of an
arduino, Sonar Sensor
_______________________________________________________________________________
Week 11
ROBOTFEST is April 28, at The Historical Electronics
Museum in Linthicum (near the airport).
·
Gary Mauler, the organizer, would like some
information on what you plan on doing, and what you’ll need to do it.
Jason Sloan is organizing a performance event in
Baltimore over the summer and would like Circuit Burger to play. Interested?
ArtBots
in Philly opens April 13
_______________________________________________________________________________
Week 12
Networking the Arduino: python/max/flash/php
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Week 13
Final Project Workshop
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Week 14
Final Project Workshop
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Week 15
Final Project crit
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