Technology and Realization
Perry the Penguin
Circuit built within the Perry
Interaction showcase of Perry
For the course Creative Electronics we were assigned to make a robot show emotion. In addition it should be able to react to both the environment and people, so we made Perry the Penguin. This robot is able to react to two main stimuli, being touch and light, each resulting in a different reaction. With these interactions we showed fear and happiness, hence fulfilling the design brief. This project taught me the basics of circuitry from the ground up, alongside the programming language of C++. Two important elements to understand given one what to create an interactive product.
Demonstration video of Challenge 2 for Creative Programming
A Game Based Off Light
Interactions between the digital and physical world opens up the possibilities to a handful of new solutions. Such interactions are very common nowadays, like typing on your computer. For this project I wanted to develop a game which would interact with the light levels outside. In a perfect world the game would only allow you to progress once it is a certain period of the day, sort of a way to time mental breaks throughout the day. The deliverable is a game that has two unique states, namely Day and Night, where certain tiles will act differently (see the video for further explanation). This allowed me to understand how to connect physical inputs to digital outputs, and is something I will definitely explore more in upcoming projects.
3D Printed Chair
3D printed result of the Chair
Being able to 3D print your prototypes is very useful in the design process, since it allows for quick testing and improvements. For my first time 3D printed, I tried to make a chair based on the preliminary information I was given during a lecture. The result is poorly printed and nothing special, but this was a fundamental learning point in learning this tool. What had occurred is that the model wasn’t completely flat on the printing plate, and hence made the outcome look like it does. I draw this mistake down to inexperience with the procedure, though it hasn’t stopped me from wanting to try once again.