Media Interface Technology

MAT 594O Spring 2006
Dan Overholt (dano@create.ucsb.edu)
TA: Alex Norman (alex@neisis.net)
University of California, Santa Barbara

Introduction Syllabus Schedule Lectures Wiki CUI

Introduction

Media Interface Technology is a course designed to explore the use of sensor technologies for interactive environments/installations and responsive art/music/performance systems. Students will get an in-depth analysis of current technologies, and acquire experience that will allow them to research and develop custom sensor systems in their own work. It will introduce the principles and operation of many sensor techniques and discuss applications in gestural human-computer interfaces, new musical instruments, the visual and spatial arts, engineering, science, and other areas of interest. It covers the design of computer interface systems including analog/digital electronics and human factors/interaction styles. This is an applied theory course with laboratories and student projects which can potentially continue as independent research in following terms. For more information see the course syllabus.

Course Syllabus

Syllabus (PDF)
Class mailing list: sensors@mat.ucsb.edu
(go here to subscribe, or view the archives of previous messages)
Media Interface Technology Course Wiki: Sensors Wiki

Schedule

Time: Tuesday, Thursday 4:00pm - 6:50pm
Place: 4431 South Hall (MAT common area)

Lectures

Week	Topics	Handouts and Readings
Week 1
Tuesday	Introduction to electronics. Photocell demo...	Slides from class 1a AllAboutCircuits.com Interaction Design by Bill Verplank Physical Interfaces in the Electronic Arts by Bert Bongers Read chapters 1-4 in Designing Embedded Hardware
Thursday	Basic electronics continued. Interaction in Media Art...	Slides from class 1b - Assignment #1 Electronics Review by Perry Cook Sensor Research Ideas Procuring Electronic Components (for free!)
Week 2
Tuesday	Semiconductor electronics. "Hacking" skills...	"Hello World" USB circuit for PIC18F4550 Full details in the CREATE USB Interface webpage How to Prototype: Soldering basics, wiring it up The Digital Multimeter, the Oscilloscope and how to use them
Thursday	Introduction to Microcontrollers. Build lab kits...	Slides from class 2b Less is more (more or less) by Bill Buxton Bill Buxton's Encyclopedia on Input Sources Online movie examples from Bill Verplank's controllers courses
Week 3
Tuesday	Digital and Analog I/O circuits...	Slides from class 3a Build CREATE USB Interface lab kits Read chapters 5-8 in Designing Embedded Hardware
Thursday	Basic Microcontroller programming...	Build CREATE USB Interface lab kits Chris Ziegler - interactive performance systems Some recent projects from NYU's physical computing - highlights
Week 4
Tuesday	Basic Microcontroller programming (cont)...	Assignment: Final Project Proposal due Tuesday 5/2 Build CREATE USB Interface lab kits Electronic Music Interfaces by Joe Paradiso at the MIT Media Lab
Thursday	Basic Microcontroller programming (cont)...	Fabrication Facilities Overview (atrium, woodshop, machine shop) Build CREATE USB Interface lab kits Interactive Artworks links categorized by Stephen Wilson
Week 5
Tuesday	Final Project Ideas to be presented...	Final Project Proposal due Read chapters 9-12 in Designing Embedded Hardware
Thursday	USB Human Interface Device (HID) setup...	Example of how to add inputs to CUI code Discuss project implementation
Week 6
Tuesday	USB HID programming (cont)...	Individual discussions final projects Brooke's Sensors - huge list of sensors and links Off the Screen Electronic Installation Concepts, Issues, Tools, and Materials
Thursday	Realtime computing, Microcontrollers...	Individual discussions final projects Assignment #2 due Tuesday May 16 Realtime Computing For Human Computer Interfacing by Perry Cook
Week 7
Tuesday	Programming with sensors and actuators...	Discuss project implementation Artistic and Technical resources and inspirations from Ken Rinaldo
Thursday	Programming with sensors and actuators (cont)...	Discuss project implementation Guest lecture, Ami Wolf Two papers on electronic instruments byPerry Cook and David Wessel
Week 8
Tuesday	Work on Final Projects...	Discuss project implementation details
Thursday	Work on Final Projects...	Working Prototypes of Final Projects DUE! (May 25)
Week 9
Tuesday	Work on Final Projects...	Discuss project implementation details
Thursday	Work on Final Projects...	Discuss project implementation details
Week 10
Tuesday	Work on Final Projects...	Finalize projects for MAT end of quarter show
Thursday	Prepare for final presentations...	Opening / Final Presentations June 9th at 4:00pm Here are your projects!