Trouble with Sensor

As i build the sensor using a very cheap phototransistor, I had a bit of probem debugging the whole thing. The infra red emitter is working but the sensor dont seem to be responding..
I am still debugging it...

Putting all together.

After downloading the arduino software to commuicate with the arduino board, i programme the board as follow:


int value = 0; // variable to keep the actual value

int fan = 8;
int value1 = 0; // variable to keep value to pass in to red led
int value2 = 0; // variable to keep value to pass in to green led
int value3 = 0; // variable to keep value to pass in to blue led
int ledRed = 9; // red light connected to digital pin 9
int ledGreen = 10; // green light connected to digital pin 8
int ledBlue = 11; // blue light connected to digital pin 7
int IR = 12;
int sensor = 13;
int sense = 0;

int senseSignal = 7;

//int sensor = 0;
void setup()
{
pinMode(fan,OUTPUT);
pinMode(ledRed,OUTPUT);
pinMode(ledGreen,OUTPUT);
pinMode(ledBlue,OUTPUT);

pinMode(senseSignal,OUTPUT);
pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
pinMode(sensor,INPUT);


}
void loop()
{



digitalWrite(IR,HIGH);
//digitalWrite(sensor,HIGH);

sense = digitalRead(sensor);




if(sense == LOW){

for(value = 0 ; value <= 425; value+=5) // fade in (from min to max)
{
if (value <= 255){
if(value1 != 255){
value1+=5;}
}
//if(value > 255){
// value1-=5;
//}
if(value >= 85 && value <= 340 )
{
if(value2 != 255){
value2+=5;}
}
//if(value > 340){
// value2 -= 5;
//}
if(value >= 170){
if(value3 != 255){
value3+=5;}
}
analogWrite(ledRed, value1);
delay(30);
analogWrite(ledGreen, value2);
delay(30);
analogWrite(ledBlue, value3);
analogWrite(fan,value3);
delay(30);
}

for(value = 425; value >=0; value-=5) // fade out (from max to min)
{
if(value >= 170){
if(value1 != 0){
value1-=5;}
}
//if(value < 170){
// value1 += 1;
//}
if(value <= 340 && value >= 85)
{if(value2 !=0){
value2-=5; }
}
//if(value >340 value < 85){
// value2 +=5;
// }

if(value <= 255){
if(value3 !=0){
value3-=5;}
}

//if(value >255){
// value3 += 5;
//}

analogWrite(ledRed, value1);
delay(30);
analogWrite(ledGreen, value2);
delay(30);
analogWrite(ledBlue, value3);
analogWrite(fan,value3);
delay(30);

}
}
else
{
digitalWrite(ledRed, LOW);
digitalWrite(ledGreen, LOW);
digitalWrite(ledBlue, LOW);
digitalWrite(fan, LOW);
}
}
************************************************************************************
The fan turns following the blue light.
The mood lamp changes colour by the mixing effect of the 3 light.
The sensor stops all motions upon detecting someone nearby.
Once u have the program, compile it and upload onto the arduino mini.
After which, Sit back and relax!

Building The Shy Materials

LAMPSHADE
Materials:
1 white sheet of paper
a base from the core of the scotchtape

Cutting the paper into length as you like.
Stick two of the edges of the paper together so that it forms a pole with an empty core.
Stick this hollow pole to the base of the scotchtape.

Completed! Here u go with a simple recycled lampshade for your changing mood lamp.

Fan
Materials:
Motor from the toy
Wooden Stick as the stem
Coka cola Can

Make the fan spade using the can. Cut the can into half horizontally. Divide the body of the can into equal strips and cut till about an inch from the base. File the edges such that the blades are not too sharp to cause injury. Twist the open end of the blade such that they are behind the blades on its left. Repeat for all other blades.

When you complete, drill a small hole in the centre of the base of the can. Stick it onto the motor.
I use the used wires from the laboratory to tie the motor to the wooden stick such that it stands.

Here, a complete simple recycled fan is ready for display!

FINAL THEME: The Shy Materails

Introducing technology as the new friend to these waste materials, this project aims to bring out how the project can "gang up" and go against the human needs. Having being at the back and call of man kind, now the electricity and the waste materials that had lost confidence now come together and "ostracise" the man kind instead.



The lamp and fan will both run...displaying their happiness, the interaction between the electricity and the mood paper lamp. This normal running of the project aims to show the happy times the materials and the electricity tried to have at the absence of human. once the sensor senses someone nearby, all the interaction between the materials and the electrocity then stop. The materials then ignore the "exhibit" viewing them and shows their dislike for the mankind.

Biennale 2008

I was greeted by these at the Biennale 2008!

This piece of work has got many leeches crawling on the floor, greeting you from the stairs and into the first hall. From far, i thought they were caterpillars. The artist made this piece of visual art engaging in a sense that they gave me the creeps. Every leech has got their own facial expression and body contour that simulates the movement of different motions of a live leech. These leeches were not just put along the side of the walkway but placed all over even in the middle of the walkway.

This is a very interesting piece. The whole scooter and the toucan was actually knitted with wool! Never had i expect anyone to think of such a usage for wool! This piece of art work took up the whole room. The lamp is also knitted with wool. These are the two main subject of this work.

The creeping plants that twined itself around these two subjects were also woven from wool. the extended from the subjects to the ceiling, creating a picturous view of an old alley.

When the doors of these closets are closed, they look just like any other ordinary closet at home. When opened, they revealed an image of the nature when looked at from a distance, looking just like a forest with ife. In actual fact, they are patches of colour that was taken from pieces of coloured skin that was used to stick as the outer layer of a slab of woodchips. Patches of different colour was cut and stick together to form this image. It is interesting with an image of the world outside the home appearing in a common closet in our home. This artwork reminds me of the show Narnia as i thought it also portrays another realm inside the cupboard.

Reading Response 3 - Simulacra and Simulation

Firstly, i have some deep felt feelings to share for having done the reading .



This reading is a tough one. Although we were told this could be done as a simple reading while travelling, it really wasnt as easy as i thought. Up and foremost reason is i have motion sickness. The most important reason being the reading contains far too many abstract thoughts, elaborated and told of further with multiple analogies. I must admit the author's perspectives did draw my attention. Every new thought about simlation and simulacra did not have just one view. It shows a very balance view of both ends which leave me a little lost at times. It makes me ponder what was really going through the author's mind that made him see all these. Having trying to adjust my mindset to see his point each time he shifts his perspective, this reading is really tiring and almost indigestible.

I am greatly impressed at the way the writer relates simulation with our lifes and historical events. The kind of meaning the author devour from the word simulation is marvellous.

"To dissimulate is to pretend not to have what one has. To simulate is to feign to have what one doesnt have."

There was a section about museum which sets me thinking, that the museum portray a dimension of life during an era. There are very descriptive events regarding how we are the living specimens. The way the author mentioned about how science and technology failed to conserve the mummy seems hilarious to me. How much effort had mankind put in to prove how science and technology is the "foolproof" answer to everything even if they fail us? No wonder the author mentioned that ethnology gave us the lesson about the secret that kills it.

"the vengence of the dead"

Talking about hyperreal and the imaginery, the writer speaks of the themeparks and playland as a play of illusions and phantasms.
"Disneyland is a perfect model of all the entangled orders of simulacra."

I must admit it never onced occured to me as a space of regeneration of the imaginery as waste-treatment plants. Creating of hyperreal civilization it is . To me, all these play grounds are just lands for time to relax and indulge in the fairy tales which were seen as the utopia land of our childhood memories. I thought these play lands also serve as a reminder that playing is leaving your soul to enjoy the best of the unreal, feeling good without working out the brain, and reality being harsh is about working, thinking and living with the brain as the generator and not the feelings from the heart.

I never thought how the political aspect could have been so much of a simulation. The way the writer speaks of how to preserve power, death is the way.

"Formerly, the king had to die, therein lay his power. Today, he is miserably forced to feign death, in order to preserve the blessing of his power."

This thought is interesting. Power seems to be the thing man kind seeks. So much so that words of denial is the forced truth spoken.

Lastly, the TV was very brilliantly demonstrated as the subject of simulation. How the actors "pretend as if we were not there" and how this phrase can equate to "as if you were there". A very interesting point of view indeed. We were made to watch a show in front a black box, watching the story flow of a show as if we were there...yet the actors/actresses were acting as if we were not there. I never stood away from the first point of view and though of watching a show being so much of a mirror image for thoughts.

I was rather lost on the content relating to nuclear. So i couldnt squeeze any part of the brain juice for any thoughts.

The writer is like a mirror. He sees not just what he sees, but also what seems to be the reflection of what he sees. His perspectives are interesting as they drew me to a new horizon of thoughts. But i must say, it is a little confusing understanding him initially. His scale of a balance thoughts is unqie and that thrown me off the stool.

Talented artist of thoughts indeeds.

My Arduino Project Concept

A colour changing cubic display.

This cube will be made out of the white sheet of paper.
The colours emitting will come from the combination of coloured light driven by the Arduino mini. The brightness released by each LED will have to vary. The analog output ports on the Arduino Mini now comes in useful.

This is a simple display.
This project diverts a little away from the orginal concept of my recycled Coca-Cola can designed fan.
This Arduino mini can also help to drive this motor for my can designed fan! Therefore, coming up after the cubic display, I will expand the project to a display making use of the motor, my recycled Coca-Cola can.

Setting Up Arduino Mini

Step 1:

Mount Arduino Mini 04 and mini USB adapter onto the breadboard.

(*Note: Be sure you are aware of the wiring underneath the breadboard. )

Step 2:

Wire up the Arduino Mini with the mini USB adapter as follow :

- Wire the GND pin (ground) of the mini USB adapter to a common ground on the breadboard. [In the picture, the ground pins are wired up with black wires running from adapter]

-Wire the +5V pin to a common Vcc on the breadboard. [As show with red wire running from adapter]

-Wire the Tx pin(transmit) of the mini usb adapter to the Tx pin of the Arduino mini. Do the same thing for the Rx pin (receive). [As how with the green wires]

-Wire up the GND pin of the Arduino mini to the common ground used for the USB mini adapter.

[As shown with black wires running from the Arduino Mini]

-Wire up the +5V pin of the Arduino Mini to the common Vcc(voltage supply). [As shown with red wires running from Arduino Mini]

-Lastly, set the reset pin to HIGH by wiring it with the Vcc. Alternatively, a button can be set up here to for ease of resetting.

Step 3:

Download and install the Arduino software environment . Choose the one that works for your operating system.

Now, the basic set up is done.

Arduino Project Materials

Things Needed:








- Breadboard

-Wires







- Resistors









-LED (Red, Green, Blue)




Lastly,
- A piece of A4 size white paper

Mini USB Adapter Pin Layout

The is the adapter I was given. There are some with slight difference in the way the chips are mounted but the pin layout is generally similar.

Arduino Mini 04 Pin Layout

Arduino Mini

I was given an opportunity to work with Arduino Mini.

This is a fairly simple to code and use micro controller. It has basic functions like the digital and analog ports which is sufficient for usage for an interactive object.

Problem Faced

I spent quite a fair bit of time trying to allow my pc to communicate with the board. Limited information on the troubleshoot was available. The Arduino Mini did not respond despite repeated attempts to reset and uploading of instructions was made impossible.

I went through the list of similar problems faced by Arduino Users seeking for help.

Nothing helped till i meddled with the jumper switch on the Mini USB adapter.

Uploading was finally possible and i managed to get my codes uploaded. ^_^

References

Technology

Employment of simple technology is sufficient to bring art, unwanted materials a new life.

Simple technology and very basic circuits are more than sufficient.

Some of the materials and technology employed:

The Solar Panel

The motor

The unwanted material

If you recognise this, you would know it comes from the core of the toilet roll. :)

Abstract

Give waste materials a second chance to become useful again.

Putting simple basic technical skills together with some of the waste materials will be sufficient to bring these waste materials back to live!

Materials like drink cans, food cans, glass bottles etc can be put together to bring about usage.
Be it as a display to being another household appliance one can use.

Some of the examples of such thoughts include:

-Mini Fan powered by solar panel
-Spinning Lamp

Reading Response 1 - The Medium is the Message

The article evoke a lot of thoughts in me.

This piece of reading speaks a lot on how media is viewed, what media is made up of, the effects of the media in people's lives through the years.

I was particularly drawn to the following statements : "We are too prone to make technological instruments the scapegoats for the sins of those who wield them. The products of modern science are not in themselves good or bad; it is the way they are used that determines their value."

There is much truth in the statements above. And even though it appears as nakedly true that technologies have limitations in putting themselves into usage in our daily lives, it appears hilarious to me how the mankind had push the blame to technology for the problems that arises today and yet forgotten that they imposed the technology into their own life.

Some of the analogies used in the reading brings about refreshing concept of how i will view a media and how the same media could mean a different thing to another being. I thought this had really broadened my view on how a media can be viewed differently.

However, i would say i was a little annoyed at the intense connection that was made between media and grammar of typography. The indepth connection established by the author was not something that could be easily comprehand by me. It took me quite a few disturbing moments to make up the picture and linkage between the message the author wanted to send.

Learning: The value of technology is how we put it to use.