interactive objects & spaces 1 - med m/567 - Summer 2008
Philip van Allen - v a n a l l e n @ a r t c e n t e r . e d u
room 227, wed 3:00-7:00pm

NET Lab Website
all materials on this web site © copyright 2008, Philip van Allen
 
course notes @ people.artcenter.edu/~vanallen/
week 01 :  course overview, demonstrations, assignment, hook up a sensor - brief, buy tools, exercise, readings. research  
week 02 :  ios design issues, NET Lab Connect, assignments, influences & prior work  
week 03 :  research presentations, midterm proposals
  
week 04 :  final project brief,
 
week 05 :  phil out of town - work on midterm  
week 06 :  midterm presentations, midterm wrapup assignment
  
week 07 :  final project proposal presentations & brainstorming
  
week 08 :  presentation of project 2 wrap-up
  
week 09 :  final project prototype 1 presentations  
week 10 :  work in class
 
week 11 :  final project prototype 2 presentations
  
week 12 :  discussion, in class work
  
week 13 :  final critiques, show prep
 
week 13 Thursday :  final show on Super Thursday
 
week 14 :  no class
 
syllabus
description :  This course is for students who want to make working interactive objects and spaces. These projects include installations & environments, portable devices, kiosks, and product prototypes. Projects sense and react to the world using alternative interfaces away from the computer screen and keyboard. These interfaces include touch sensors, hardware switches & knobs, light detectors, proximity sensors, projections, small LCD displays, motors, LEDs, and speakers.

Students will explore interactive design issues for physical computing such as sensing and interpreting the world; communication via interaction; human & social factors, gesture, arc of interaction, learning curve, re-mixable media; relationship of form, environment, affordance, and interface; and interactive logic & scripting.

The features and applications of alternative interface technologies are introduced with a focus on easy implementation and rapid prototyping. Topics include sensors, display devices, scripting, authoring environments such as Flash, and the electronics that glue these together (Analog to Digital converters, microcontrollers, wiring, MIDI).

Students will build several simple projects during the first part of the term, and will form interdisciplinary teams to design and make more ambitious final projects.

 

 
course structure : 
  1. In the first part of the term, the course will introduce concepts and technology for creating interactive objects and spaces. Students will have readings, lectures, perform research, and create several simple projects.
  2. In the second part of the term, students will develop proposals for the main course project, and learn more advanced topics.
  3. In the last part of the term, students will focus on developing a prototype and final working version of their main project.

 

  
objectives :  Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
  1. Think critically about interaction design for objects and spaces
  2. Design successful interactive projects with:
    1. strong concepts
    2. content designed for interaction
    3. interactions that enable the audience to create their own experience
    4. interesting dialogs between author and audience
    5. embeded interfaces that are natural and non-computer like
    6. appropriate use of multiple media
    7. consideration of human factors issues
    8. consideration of environmental design issues
  3. Build working interactive objects and spaces and:
    1. select appropriate sensors and effectors
    2. correctly wire sensors & effectors to a microcontroller
    3. script interactions

 

  
prerequisites :  Applicable undergraduate and graduate disciplines include: Media Design, Industrial/Product Design, Graphic Design, Environmental Design, Fine Art, and Transportation.

Students should have experience with interactive applications such as Flash or Director. Exposure to scripting is a definite advantage. A willingness to work with hand tools and physical materials is essential. You need to have access to a laptop to create your projects.

 

  
textbooks :  Recommended:

 

 

  
materials & tools :  The materials and tools needed for this course depend on the student's project requirements. A basic "kit" is required for the class that should be ordered from Makingthings.com:

Additional sensors, effectors, and other materials may be needed and must be purchased by the student.

The student will need basic electronics tools to build their projects. These can be obtained from Radio Shack or any other electronics supplier.

Basic Tool Set (with Radio Shack part numbers & prices):

 

  
grading :  Grading depends on successful completion of small projects and the final project
assignments
final project

40%
60%

 

  

all materials on this web site © copyright 2008, Philip van Allen

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