This week we continue with some programming fundamentals namely:

• arrays and array lists
• “for” loops
• functions and scope
• classes
• libraries

Aims and Objectives

This session is once again designed to be as “ground up” as possible within the restraints of time. We will focus more on the tricky bits that are likely to trip people up when working alone. Although it’s really tempting to jump straight in and start working with images, text, movies or libraries my intention is to try and get people towards the stage where they will be better equipped to use processing more creatively/independently.

Arrays and array lists

//ArrayExample

Arrays are a way of storing sets or lists of data of any type. They have a finite size which you can find by adding .length to the end of your variable like this:

println(myArray.length);

The reference number which tells you which part of the array (element) we are looking at is the index which you can find between square brackets:

in myArray[5] the “5″ refers to the 6th element in the array because arrays start at zero which can be confusing!

For loops – (iteration) Details »

Housekeeping

• Results from your sensor walk assignments
• Questions from Arduino assignments – anything you’d like to show us, talk about?  You should have…

Rationale

Today will be a quite practical session – looking at the input and output options for your Arduino systems.  We’ll also go through some tips and trips for programming with Arduino.

From Last Week

• Go through the Arduino_SecondExamples.zip – what’s going on in there…
• We’ll develop a few more practical examples in class

Details »

Housekeeping

• Results from your technology analysis assignments
• Questions from Arduino assignments – anything you’d like to show us, talk about?  You should have…
  • Tried examples on the Arduino site of…
    • Blking an LED
    • Reading in a sensor and reading it to the serial port
    • Having the sensor input change the brightness of the LED
    • EXAMPLES FROM CLASS: Arduino_FirstExamples.zip
  • Read:
    • Paul Verilio @ Vice Magazine
      • “The invention of the ship was also the invention of the shipwreck.”
      • Robustness / delicateness of systems: “So you go from the plane that can go really fast to the plane that can’t fly at all.”
      • “I believe that you must appreciate technology just like art.”
      • On valuing perhaps subtly different forms of innovation – 4chan founder
      • Speed and evolutions – swift animals usually have large eyes
    • McLuhan Understanding Media (Chapter 4 – The Gadget Lover)

Rationale

Today we’ll look at what is happening underneath the hood of the Arduino a little – how it represents and processes “the world.”

As well, we’ll look at some further elements you should know about for control of and measurement in your projects.

From Last Week

• What is happening when we ask the Arduino to ‘blink’?
• Analog = Analogous
  • Hold hands!
  • The squeezing of a hand… –> Drawing on the board
  • What are the characteristics of this (instantaneous/atemporal, subjective)?
• More than one link in the chain…
  • Transferring a signal between more than one person
  • What about long distances (or even short distances accurately)?
  • What would be a better way to do this?What are the characteristics of this (synchronous, memory based, objective)?

Details »

Housekeeping

• Meet n’ Greet tonight at the Trent House
• Main schedule is here
• Go over the module handbook – dms8002_handbook_doing_051011.pdf
• Talk about expectations/goals (Richard, Brigitta, Culture Lab researchers)
• Delivery style and pace
• This blog – Your blog (Richard Bate)
• Our extensive use of Wikipedia on these notes is emphatically intentional – you are the best people to be engaging with a new shared conception of knowledge and fact (correct mistakes! help generate our posteriori reality! join the conversation!)

Rationale

So. This class iis about creative reflections on technology, and using technology. We’re not necessarily always interested in the ‘right way’ to do things, in terms of commercial production, or how the manual tells you to use software, etc. We are, however, interested in looking critically at tools, their use, and the assumptions and values they embody.

Most generally – the approach we’ll take in this class is about establishing a playful relationship with technology. Something akin to playing with physical materials – an outlook that speaks of having some understanding of the fact that there is no technical difference between the ‘digital’ and ‘analog’… It’s all the same damn world, the same “reality.”

Details »