Networked Devices

Course description

This course will explore the use of sensors, motors, and other electronics to create web interfaces that interact with the physical world. We will hack, modify, and create systems which detect analog data and transmit it across the internet to our custom web applications or mobile devices and then back again. This course is designed for artists, designers, and programmers who wish to create culturally-relevant and technically-sophisticated electronics projects which are both utilitarian and artistic at once.

Course objectives

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

• Design and implement simple electronic circuits
• Write software for the Arduino development environment
• Use common input devices to detect light, motion, temperature, pressure, and sound
• Write programs using open source languages which transfer data across the Internet based on occurrences in the real world
• Create complex projects that enable web applications to react to physical environments

Prerequisites

• Course(s): Web2 or other programming course (with permission of instructor)
• Skills: Willingness to experiment, self-motivated

NOTE: There are 11 slots in this course for art and/or design students, with 4 additional slots for Studio Art MFAs or computer science undergraduates.

Assessment

Students will be assessed based on their participation in class discussion, visual and written responses to readings on the class blog, a number of simple exercises, and a midterm and ambitious final project.

Projects

There are two projects for this class. One is due at mid-term and the other at the end of the semester. They are (in no particular order):

1. Make something with utility
2. Make something with no utility

Required reading

There is one required technical text for the course:

Margolis, Michael, Arduino Cookbook: Recipes to Begin, Expand, and Enhance Your Projects, O’Reilly, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-596-80247-9

Course content will also consist of films and articles which I will distribute in class.

How to prepare for class with assigned readings*

1. Print or download the readings if they are distributed online.
2. Underline and take notes as you read.
3. For each reading come to class prepared with...
   1. the reading and be prepared to quote from it during discussion.
   2. at least one written question about the reading
   3. a one paragraph summary of the entire or portion of each reading (post on blog beforehand) with key terms and definitions.
   4. a brief outline of the author(s) and other major players involved in the area.
   5. one or more visual responses, which could be a brainstorm for a larger project.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory and directly related to your class participation grade.

• If you are absent due to an illness or other reason please bring a doctor’s note or other official excuse within one week of the absence.
• You are allowed three (3) unexcused absences after which your final grade will be lowered by one-half letter grade for each additional unexcused absence.
• If you miss a class you are responsible for finding out what work you missed.
• Being late for class or leaving early without permission will affect your grade. Three late arrivals or three times leaving early equal one unexcused absence.

Evaluation

Projects will be evaluated based on their originality, their aesthetic and conceptual qualities. Assignments are only considered complete if they are on the class web server and linked from your profile page.

A = excellent. Work of the highest caliber in quality and thought, carefully executed and presented. B = good. C = average. If you do the bare minimum to complete the assignment and you attend class regularly. D = below average work, simplistic and/or misunderstood, poorly executed and a lack of interest in learning or improving. F = is given for 7 unexcused absences, projects not completed and/or a total disregard for the class.

All exercises must be completed in order to pass the course. Late assignments lose a letter grade for one class late, and 50% for two or more late days. Exercises are only considered as complete when they are accessible from the course website and linked from your profile page.