What I did 10/24 - 10/26

10/24
We talked about final presentations today. People seemed to like my idea of the Hermes Hat (which has now become a top hat. Now I just need to find links to build this device.

10/26
Me and my group led a discussion of the reading (see previous posts). I think that turned out well. I was rather proud of my discussion questions. Hope the other groups do just as good a job as us.

Also did some research for the Hermes Hat:

• http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mabuchi-555-12V-DC-Motor-Printer-Portable-Drill-Robotics-Hobby-Motor-/281551583214
• http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/322220674312?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true
• http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA86V2Z33888
• http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA86V2Z33888
• http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA86V2Z32713
• https://www.google.com/shopping/product/15251513077784167512?q=toy+motors&prds=hsec:related,paur:ClkAsKraXx4EgKSsa9_D5F2cWeZ5Vhw5Dd4U6wf9o_ax2mqgi-RE7k8UVOtciojUnr2qXYKiILH15qRdGUkqbmmibz010I1LwqInITDXRRIgoCtp7-GPUmiKphIZAFPVH71oTtETHuE1N8pejrsFERLkHf6QBg&ved=0ahUKEwjey4KFiPnPAhUHKCYKHb6QB4IQ4SsICCgA
• https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=m-25+motor+miniature&tbs=vw:l,ss:9,p_ord:p&tbm=shop&spd=12753126358607306294
• https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=ornithopter+diy+with+motor
• https://3dprint.com/82355/3d-printed-ornithopters/
• http://kakutaclinic.life.coocan.jp/Habataki.htm
• https://3druck.com/objects/mechanische-voegel-flugsaurier-und-libellen-aus-dem-3d-drucker-3124916/
• http://hackaday.com/2014/10/12/mechanical-bird-actually-flies-by-flapping-its-wings/

But before I order anything I will go to the hobby store just up the road on 9 mile and see if they have a motor.

Human Born Cyborg Discussion Points 0-2 part 2

As written by Tuong

• Heavy metal

• what was the strict antithesis of Weiser's vision of ubiquitous computing.
• two types of technology: transparent technologies, opaque technologies what are they?
• transparent technologies: technology that is so well fitted to, and intergrated with, our own lives, biological capacities, and projects as to become almost invisible to use.
• opaque technologies: keeps tripping the user up, requires skills and capacities that do not come naturally to the biological organism, and thus remains the focus of attention even during routine problem-solving activity
• training for technology to become transparent?
• Transparent Tools
• who is Donald Norman?
• guru of of the age of information technology
• what is the problem with technology-centered products
• Smart Worlds
• information appliances are characterized by three central features:
• An information appliance is geared to support a specific activity, and to do so via the storage, reception, processing, and transmission of information. 
• Information appliances form an intercommunicating web. They can “talk” to each other. 
• Information appliances are transparent technologies, designed to be easy to use, and to fade into the background. They are poised to be taken for granted
• Weiser vision of home and work compare to Norman.
• Weiser is more fill with small, intercommunicating, unobtrusive intelligent devices was a vision of a world of such appliances
• Norman is more restricted, less futuristic.
• The web include a varied and mutually empowering matrix of what?
• human-centered technologies
• why do you need an even-richer web of support
• what is a wearable computer. 
• an information-processing tool that is a deep but non invasive sense, integral to the user
• human-centered technology
• what is Bradley Rhodes's wearable remembrance agent?
• a continuously running proactive memory aid
• what is an example of tangible computing?
• Marble answering machine by Durrell Bishop, at London Royal Collage of Art
• MIT Media Lab has a group called The Tangible Media Group and what vision do they wish to pursue
• embodied digitally
• augmented reality who used this term first?
• a group of Boeing engineers and scientists in the early 1990s
• how was augmented reality used?
• University of Central Florida used LEDs (liquid Electronic Displays) to see how the bones move while the women were walking.
• Mike Scaife
• worked as part of a multi-univeristy interdisciplinary research colaboartion helped design a mixed reality adventure game called hunting the Snark.
• Moving On
• how will the difference between the two vision show?
• if the information appliances will be designed to remain firmly out of sight and out of mind.

Human Born Cyborg Discussion Points 0-2 part 1

(as Written by John)

• General Question: What does it mean to be a Cyborg?

• Does the depth of the technology in regards to our human anatomy affect if the individual is considered a "Cyborg"
• ex: Lolo -- the author's microchipped cat -- vs the topless dancer with barcoded breasts in Warren Ellis's Transmetropolitan comic

• discuss Introduction's example of wireless tech helping become cyborgs
• or pilots and their computer autopilots

• What does cyborg stand for? what is the term's origins?
• what was the first cyborg?
• Who is Kevin Warwick and why should Thomas and his app based door opener be jealous?

Final project Idea Presentation

My idea is a hat with wings inspired by the greek and roman god Mercury / Hermes's hat/helmet. It would be a normal hat but would have wings on top which would have some mechanism to make them flutter.

like this found illustration but to the side rather than to the back

I was thinking the wings would be based on a  ornithopter/chirothopter similar to this Instructable page but on a hat. I had a hard time finding exactly the same mechanism that I am envisioning. Most were like the ornithopter or were wings like these but they don't look as fun as something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqoY5JMMSME. There was also this interesting one: http://hackaday.com/2014/10/12/mechanical-bird-actually-flies-by-flapping-its-wings/

I am first to admit this is a rough idea but I think it would be fun.

 The circuit could be similar to this and would attach to the arduino. 

Oter links:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-controlled-Aluminum-Archangel-Costume-Win/?ALLSTEPS

http://www.ornithopter.org/how.flap.shtml

http://www.ornithopter.de/english/wings.htm

• https://www.google.com/search?q=arduino+wings&biw=1247&bih=1263&source=lnms&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjow8ako-fPAhXFeT4KHUrcC4sQ_AUIDCgA&dpr=1#q=ornithopter+flapping+mechanism
• http://hackaday.com/2014/10/12/mechanical-bird-actually-flies-by-flapping-its-wings/
• http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=162039.15

Human Born Cyborg Notes 0-2

Introduction

• Wireless discussion of human cyborgs (regarding cellphones)

Ch 1 Cyborg Unplugged

Rats in Space:

• origin of the cyborg (rather reengineering the space ships for comfort, why not reengineer the humans?)
• Manfred Clynes: chief research scientist at Rockland State Hospital and an expert on the design and development of physiological measuring equipment
• remarked that it sounded “like a town in Denmark."
• For the exogenously extended organizational complex . . . we propose the term “cyborg.” The Cyborg deliberately incorporates exogenous components extending the self-regulating control function of the organism in order to adapt it to new environments
• “cyborg” stood for Cybernetic Organism or Cybernetically Controlled Organism; 
• it was a term of art meant to capture both a notion of humanmachine merging and the rather specific nature of the merging envisaged
• First cyborg
• 1955) classic cyborg: rat with implanted Rose osmotic pump. The pump automatically injects chemicals into the rat to form a biotechnological control loop, which can be adapted to unusual conditions (for example, survival in space

Implants and Mergers

• cocullar implants

• Kevin Warwick
• the Department of Cybernetics at the University of Reading, in England
• 1st: 1998 
• a fairly simple silicon chip, encased in a glass tube
• opening doors as he approached, turning lights on and off, and so on
• 2nd: March 14, 2002: 
• 100 tips on array connect to nerve fibers in wrist and linked to wires in arm and then linked via radio contact to a computer
• disconnected nerve transmission to the brain.
• plans for wife:
• have a matching but surface-level device connected to his wife, Irena
• signals accompanying actions, pains, and pleasures could then be copied between the two implants, allowing Irena’s nervous system to be stimulated by Kevin’s and vice versa
• other ex:
• able to control the movements of a live cockroach by hooking its motor neurons to a microprocessor
• electronically mediated control of some muscular function
• paralyzed stroke patient, fitted with a neurally implanted transmitter, has been able to will a cursor to move across a computer screen
• rats with similar implants have learned to depress a reward-generating lever by just thinking about it
• female orgasm-generating electronic implant
• pilots and their computer autopilots

stopped at pg 31

What I did 10/17 - 10/19

10/17
In class we talked about if then statements, for statements and a few other things to finish off the Arduino notebook. The most fascinating piece of coding information for me was the random number generator which would generate a number which would be the brightness of the light connected to the circuit (if it is a light). the equivalent of that would be randomized.

Suggested Github for pre-made code. when using that site we have to go into the code and take out "master apend". put the downloaded file into the libraries folder.

10/19
Thomas wasn't there so there wasn't officially class but I did come in anyway (I didn't check my email as I had spent the morning grocery shopping). Since I was there already I used the school computers to research links for my Final Project.

I have not flushed out everything entirely but I am considering making a device similar to the god Mercury/Hermes's hat/helmet. It would be a normal hat but would have wings on top which would have some mechanism to make them flutter. I figure my input would be light but that might change. I just like the idea of a hat with wings. It would go good with the magic mirror.

Here is the links I have found thus far:

http://www.instructables.com/id/make-an-ornithopterchirothopter/?ALLSTEPS

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-controlled-Aluminum-Archangel-Costume-Win/?ALLSTEPS

http://www.ornithopter.org/how.flap.shtml

http://www.ornithopter.de/english/wings.htm

https://www.google.com/search?q=arduino+wings&biw=1247&bih=1263&source=lnms&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjow8ako-fPAhXFeT4KHUrcC4sQ_AUIDCgA&dpr=1#q=ornithopter+flapping+mechanism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqoY5JMMSME

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/282356285_fig1_Figure-4-Ornithopter-and-Arduino-Circuitry

http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=162039.15

http://hackaday.com/2014/10/12/mechanical-bird-actually-flies-by-flapping-its-wings/

I will organize all this later in my proposal blog.

What I did 10/10 - 10/12

10/10
We talked about the Instructables links we posted, then we talked about the final project.
I'm not exactly sure what I'll do yet but I have an inkling. I will research to see if I can come up with some ideas.


10/12
We played with our arduinos and made a circuit connected with our bread boards, but this time we played with LEDs and a light sensor.

Thomas gave us the site fritzing which has software that simulates a breadboard/Arduino and other elements like resisters. Might be helpful for the final project.

Also did another circuit.

We looked at the Arduino notebook and talked about pages 11-14 specifically about variable declaration, bytes, integers, long, float, arrays, arithmetic, comparison operators, logical operators, constants (PI, HALFPI, TRUE, FALSE)

The Instructables: the good, the bad, and the ugly

Which Instructables will win the title of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly? Let's find out!

The Good

The first thing which I thought was pretty cool was the Plywood Laptop Table. I know it's simple but I don't really do wood working at all so this was really interesting. It also seems like anyone could do it.

I enjoyed looking at the costumes like Vastra Mask (though they needed a few more steps in regards to the modeling) and I thought that was my favorite but then I saw Stargate helmet animatronics. That is just so cool and actually pretty straightforward (it would be a long process for me to do but it all seemed straightforward).

Honorable mention is Draw-Sound-With-Arduino because I think it relates so much to this class seeing as we just did a noise project and we could easily assemble this.

The Bad

Ok. Let's all say this one out loud together now: LED Molotov Cocktail Lamp. This is well done and put together well but the very idea of it is so bad. I suppose this is just like the father from A Christmas Story's lady leg lamp. I just question this idea.

I jumped to older posts for a to see what the older content was like and ran across Camera Zip-lock. There is a point where you just need to get either water proof camera a really good waterproof aperatus and I think they are really on the edge of being unnecessarily dangerous. The idea could be applied to phones or some less expensive device but this just seems unnecessary and would drive me insane with worry every time I used it (am I feeling lucky?).

The Ugly

After much deliberation I chose Crochet Candy. I don't crochet but I know people who do. There was just no spark to this project. This felt between a kids project and an experienced crochet artist. Here's someone who can crochet a square but they are making a cover mechanism which I had a hard time idtifiying as candy. With a few tweaks this might actually be a good project but it needs something else to take it to the next level.

What I did 10/5

In class, we learned about Arduinos and their history (continued from one of the previous classes). Then we plugged them into our computers and inserted a specific command.

Next we took apart an extension cord and soldered wires going from that to ones which could be put on the Arduino. After that, we plugged the simple electric device we brought with us (I brought a fan)  to the extension cord and then plugged that in for power. The device turned on and off just as we had commanded it to.

It was a pretty cool thing. I was not having the best morning (roommate woke me up by making noises in his room) so I took the longest to solder the wires. I got it going eventually but I was just so tired of that day I wanted it over and done with. thus I did not take any pictures that day so here is said fan and said extension cord. It works when plugged into each other, the Arduino and powered up.

Project Critique Day (10/3)

The beginning

On the day of, I fiddled with circuit 2 (the one with the snake touch points) because it wasn't as strong and it was decreasing. Turns out at some point I had fried the circuit so you could could not hear what it was supposed to sound like. I thought it was the chip which fried but I realized it was the circuit board. Fortunately I have two circuits so it turned out half well.

Other people's projects

There were a number of interesting projects. One was a bear

Another was a helmet

 [Thomas then handed the helmet to me to wear with my mirror]

 One was potato/apple peeler

And there there several others I did not get to take a picture of...

My Project

Everyone seemed to enjoy my project (though at the beginning of the class when we got out to the field they didn't like it since I discovered I could use the mirror as a light weapon to annoy them). They said it was certainly ambitious. Thomas said he wished I had used something more sturdy than cardboard and said he would work with me. The students said the project was certainly me. I really enjoyed presenting it. I used my music maker personae to have a lot of fun. I used my announcer voice at the beginning and heckled the random passersby (or I just rotated and stared at them since I was the weird one with the mirror).

Following photos are from Ariana:

Sunday Report (10/2)

I drew some snake like lightning bolts on the longest sheets of metal (inspired by the snow white video from last post). I then cut out one, turned it over and traced that one on the other sheet of metal in order to duplicate it.

I then put the 4 squares and 2 snake future touch points on the mirror in order to see how they looked. I will not glue them just yet.

Next I tried to organize the chaos which is my cords by covering them with tape.

 And then put on the top card board to make sure it lined up. I had previously cut the button holes.

Sadified that everything was traced, I went outside my dorm and spray painted the mirror. One of my dorm mates walked past me but said nothing. I also saw a number of other people walk nearby as we are close to a stairwell. I kept hoping someone thought I was part of a gang spray painting my group's symbol before they saw what I was actually doing. 

 Goldfinger!

 I wasn't happy with the direct mirror and I liked the idea of making the mirror cloudy like the Snow White magic mirror. So I put some watercolor paint on it and put my fan directly above it so it would dry that way.

 Next I spray painted the top cardboard silver. Then I hole punched holes to thread and hold the circuits together.

 Then I hot glued the touch points down (btw that is my towel I put down so none of this would damage my bed).

Later I soldered the touch point wires to the touchpoints and then tied it all together.

Saturday Report (10/1) Part 2

After a break in which I finished watching Stranger Things on Netflix, I went back to the circuit project.

Flash Light circuit

I untangled the circuits to keep them straight. Don't know if you can see from the picture (the cloths pin might be hiding 2 buttons) but on this Flashlight circuit I have added an additional button to replace the "ladybug button". This makes 7 buttons. I believe I am going have one side of the mirror have 3 buttons which I have added for sound alteration and on the other side will be 4 buttons that are preprogramed.

Circuit 2

I also attached alligator clips to Circuit 2's touch points so I could try out the pieces of metal I had gotten to use. They are working well. I am going to cut them into decorative shapes to put on the mirror's inner boarder ring. I have one less piece of metal so right now I am using a screw but I might cut a piece in half to resolve this situation.

Right now deciding on the appropriate shape so decided to check out some inspiration:

Saturday Report (10/1)

I spent a good chunk of Friday night thinking out the layout of the mirror and how I would do things. So this morning after my yoga class I went to work on the project.

First I went to print lab where I cut two pieces of cardboard: one thin from a cereal box and one regular from a box. The regular cardboard is the base where I would attach the circuit itself. The thinner cereal box is the cover. It will go over all the electronics and will eventually have holes for buttons, switchs and the turntable dial rod.

I smoothed the edges and will eventually cut the button/etc. holes once I know the exact placement of the devices. I also added electrical tape to circuit 2 to protect it (as I don't trust the soldering on the resisters). I also drilled a hole for the turn table switch.

I went to the dollar store and picked up some gold and silver spray paint which I will use to paint the mirror frame (the blue is alright but I want my magic mirror to be gold). The silver I will use on the cereal box layer so it jumps. I also found a flower thing which I will put on the turn table. I wanted a bow tie ("because bow ties are cool" --the Doctor) but I have not seen a bowtie like what I envision. The flower thing will have to do.

What I did 9/26 - 9/28, Plus: Thursday/Friday Reports

9/26
Thomas liked the idea but suggested that I tweak it slightly. One suggestion was that I make it a wearable almost like armor so I become a one man electronic noise band. I did not like the idea at first but I grew to like it.

I worked a little bit at home soldering some of the circuit together so I wouldn't have to use as many alligator clips. For the Circuit 2 circuit (see 1st image) I started soldering the 6 touch points down to make noise. I am getting better at soldering.

9/28 - Class
On wednesday, I started to play with the Flash light circuit so I could make noises that weren't pre-programed. With the help and suggestions of Thomas, I soldered two wires to aspects of the circuits and attached buttons to activate noises which would disrupt the preprogramed system. I eventually added a 3rd wire/button.

9/29
Thursday night, I soldered sets of wires to the Flash circuit where buttons had been (but they had been plastic, non-wired buttons) and I added buttons to those wires. This made 3 new buttons with a total of 6 buttons (plus the ladybug button), the switch and the "turntable" switch.

9/30

On Friday, went to Harbor Freight and bought a new soldering iron as the tip on my old one was pretty much gone. I also went to Goodwill next door where I found two belts which will be perfect for the mirror so I can make it into a wearable. I also found some ribbon which I will use to tie up the circuit base (which will be cardboard).

Also on Friday, I went to Fablab lab hours and drilled a hole on the top of the mirror frame so I could place the turntable.

 I think