/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Physical Computing 2008 Course Introduction

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Course focus The course focuses on materials and methods used within interaction design to combine hardware, software and physical materials into working prototypes.

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Learning aims (1/2) Understand the importance of prototyping in interaction design. Find possible hardware and software to use in prototypes of computational things. Identify suitable physical and smart materials and understand their design potential. Understand basic technical specifications of electronic components.

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Learning aims (2/2) Perform basic programming of micro-controllers connected to sensors and actuators of different kinds. Define and realize communication between microcontrollers and ordinary PCs. Build prototypes that through the use of software and hardware can respond the surrounding world.

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr What you will learn Dealing with central design materials in interaction design, and ways of prototyping at various levels of detail and functionality. Using materials means: sensors, actuators, and the electronic and computational elements that enable and control real-time user experience. Understanding how hardware, software and other materials can be combined in the design of computational things for human use.

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Course plan WeekTopic Activity Sept. 36 Introduction 37 Basics of electronics & related design Resistors, capacitors... Basics of electronics & related design Transistors, piezo, soldering Interfacing digital & physical worlds, pt. 1 Arduino, sensors, actuators... Interfacing digital & physical worlds, pt. 1 Serial communication, MIDI Interfacing digital & physical worlds, pt. 2 Musical interfaces, software... Interfacing digital & physical worlds, pt. 2 RFID... + catch-up labs 40 Materials & craftmanship Intelligent textiles Materials & craftmanship Wood, metal... Oct. 41 Prototyping methods & evaluation of tech. Arduino vs. bx Mini-project, 42 Mini-project, cont. 43 Exam week Catch-up labs 44 Start of study period 2

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Lectures Lectures will give a basic understanding of the subject of physcomp by giving an overview of the field, of various key projects as well as design approaches to the combination of computing and material. Lectures take place in general on Mondays and/or Wednesdays between 10-12, with occasional exceptions (see on-line schedule – watch for updates!) Place: IT-University, room von Neuman or other.

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Lab exercises The main part of the course consists of lab-based tutorials where students get hands-on experience of physical computing by practicing working with electronics and materials of various kinds. Lab exercises are mainly scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays Additional workshops will complement the lab exercises

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Home assignments Participants are required to complete home assignments before each course day. These assignments consist of literature readings, individual research of information about certain topics, as well as test questions to hand-in prior to their corresponding lab/lecture. Assignments will be handed-in on paper or on the course wiki.

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Extra activities (1/2) The course also includes extra activities that will take place outside of the regular schedule and will not be graded. These include guest seminars, guest workshops or visits. Students are also required to attend the physical computing oriented meetings Dorkbot that take place in the city, as well as relevant seminars at other institutions. Optional: Pecha-Kucha + Third-Thursdays

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Extra activities (2/2) Seminars and workshops will mostly take place on Mondays or Wednesdays between 17-19, but other activities might happen at other times of the week, depending on events and disponibility of guest-teachers. All activities will be announced on the website and by in good time. Although not grade-oriented, these activities are obligatory unless otherwise specified.

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Self-study time If needed, one lab space is available for self-study time on Mondays and Wednesdays between During those times, the space is required to be kept reasonably silent in order to create a good study environment. The other lab space is available at the same time for finishing lab exercises, if necessary.

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Catch-up labs At two occasions, students who have not completed a lab exercise will get the opportunity to catch up on them. First catch-up: Friday 26th Sept. Second catch-up:Whole week 43 (20-24 Oct )

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Course website

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Course text book T. Igoe, D. O’Sullivan, Physical Computing: Sensing and Controlling the Physical World with Computers (2004), Thomson Course Technology, Boston, MA, USA. Compulsory chapters/pages to read are indicated in home assignments.

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Teachers Morten Fjeld (MF), course responsible Ph.D., Docent, Chalmers Lalya Gaye (LG) M.Sc.Eng. Physics, KTH Ph.D. student, Göteborg University Ole Ravnsborg (OR) B.Sc. Electrical Engineering Research Engineer Chalmers Lena Berglin (LB) Ph.D. student, Chalmers and Borås

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Teachers Morten Lalya Ole Lena

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Exercise acceptance Exercises are presented individually at the end of each day, Monday and Wedneday One of the teachers accepts the exercise result by giving accepted and a grade (3, 4, or 5)

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Assignments acceptance Home assignments are handed in before each lab exercises. They must be handed the following way: Before Monday exercises: Friday 16 PM Before Wednesday exercises: Tuesday 16 PM Assignments are done individually Place: In hand-in box in one of the studios and/or on course wiki, depending on assignement Home assignments must be accepted to take part in an exercise! (no electronic hand-in)

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Questions and course Please raise questions when you are at the IT-University in the course If really not possible, you may use the course e- mail: This goes to all teachers Answer follows on next course, if urgent per

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Student representatives Three to four student represenatives Two meetings during the study period and one after. Each student representative receives a small compensation You may address questions and feedback through the student representatives

/23 Dr. Andreas Kunz © 10/2004 inspire icvr Previous teaching in this area