From Banglab

Electronics for Art : The Body and Technology :: Technologies of Transformation

Overview

Our bodies are being reimagined and recreated through technology at an increasing rate. This class will introduce students to the basics of electronics for art using analog circuits, programmable microcontrollers and software interfaces, using the body / machine interface as a case study. Projects will explore questions of prosthesics, new senses, body extension, body augmentation and wearable electronics. In order to make interesting art with electronics, we will focus on finding intrenesting intersections of thought which can be explored and developed through physical computing projects. Issues to be considered include gender and sexuality, ecological impacts of electronics, alternative somatic architecture, access to technology, social technologies and more. We will consider the body in the broadest context, including robot bodies, virtual bodies, digital bodies, surrogate bodies, data bodies, yet always from a deep consideration of our own experiences of what it means to inhabit a physical, flesh and blood body, and how that body is being decentered, multiplied, enfolded, amplified by contemporary technologies.

A list of necessary equipment will be provided, which students will have to purchase. Learning to shop for electronics components is an important part of the course. STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES TO COMPLETE ALL LABS AND ASSIGNMENTS. Late orders and shipping problems are not an acceptable excuse for lack of completion of labs or assignments. Order your parts immediately. You should expect to spend up to $150 on parts for this class

Beauracracy

Class Information

Lecturer: Micha Cárdenas, mcardenas 4+ ucsd d()+ edu

Always include vis147a in your email subject line, it allows us to filter.

Lectures in Sequoia Hall, Marshall College, Thursdays 5:00p - 6:50p

All lab sections meet in VAF 106 (the electronics lab next to the graduate student machine shop).

Grading

Participation, attendance, discussion: 20%

Labs: 10%

Midterm Project: 35%

Final Project: 35%

Assignments

Midterm Assignment

Midterm Student Projects

Final Assignment

Final Student Projects

Attendance and Late Work

If you miss the first class you will be asked to do a make up reading and writing assignment. Attendance will be taken by your TA's and contributes to your participation grade. You are permitted one, and only one, unexcused absence from lecture or lab. Beyond that, you are required to provide a doctor's note or other acceptable third party written excuse. If you don't provide such documentation, your grade for this course will be reduced by one letter grade. Late work will be marked down one third of a letter grade every day it is late. Be on time to class and to lab, as we don't like repeating ourselves and you may miss essential information. Lateness will negatively affect your participation grade as well.

Books

Getting Started with Arduino

Programming Interactivity

Available at the Price Center bookstore.

More readings online at eReserves and there is a reader at Soft Reserves.

You cannot pass this class without doing the reading. Expect to read at least 50 pages a week, in detail, with highlighting, looking up things you're not familiar with.

Every week you must write a one paragraph response to the readings, with 2 quotes and 2 questions, and email it to your TA. This is part of your participation grade. Email as a pdf to your TA, with 'vis147a reading response week X', by lecture time.

You need to configure the proxy in your web browser preferences to access Ereserves off campus. Instructions to do so are here:

http://blink.ucsd.edu/technology/network/connections/off-campus/proxy/index.html

There are also lots of online resources, such as these:

http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/

http://itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/sensors/

Necessary Supplies

A list of necessary equipment will be provided, which students will have to purchase. Learning to shop for electronics components is an important part of the course. STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES TO COMPLETE ALL LABS AND ASSIGNMENTS. Late orders and shipping problems are not an acceptable excuse for lack of completion of labs or assignments. Order your parts immediately. You should expect to spend up to $150 on parts for this class

Freeduino, http://www.nkcelectronics.com/freeduino-arduino-diecimila-compatible-board-complete-kit.html
Mini USB Cable, http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_2081481_-1
Soldering iron, http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_224602_-1
Solder Lead Free, http://www.elexp.com/sdr_0710.htm
Wire cutters, http://www.elexp.com/tol_ms01.htm
Wire stripper, http://www.elexp.com/tol_0220.htm
Needlenose pliers, http://www.elexp.com/tol_0210.htm
Jumper wire kit, http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=124
Rolls of solid (not threaded) wire, red and black, http://www.elexp.com/cbl_22bk.htm
Piezo disc, http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_1956784_-1
Photo resistor, http://www.elexp.com/opt_5516.htm
Speaker, http://www.elexp.com/buz_sp04.htm
Simple motor, http://www.elexp.com/ele_dmc1.htm
Alligator Clips, http://www.elexp.com/tld_als1.htm
Proto Circuit Board, http://www.elexp.com/pro_pb18.htm
Assortment of LEDs, http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_18041_-1
Assortment of resistors, http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_10720_-1
Transistor, TIP 120, http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=TIP120-ND
Breadboard, (6.5" x 2.1" is common) http://www.elexp.com/bb_101.htm
9v Battery Snap, http://www.elexp.com/bat_1bsi.htm
9v batteries
Battery sheath, 5.5 x 2.1mm, http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/27-130&CAWELAID=220315447
9v to arduino cable, http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9518
Plastic container (shoe box sized, can get from big lots)
Linear Potentiometer, 1K, 5K, 10K, 100K, http://www.elexp.com/cmp_pma5.htm
Wall power adapter, http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=298

Added late:

Rectifier Diode, 1N4004, http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_35991_-1

if you are interested in making wearable electronics projects:

Lilypad arduino, http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9266
FTDI breakout, http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8772
Conductive fabric
Conductive Thread
E-sewing kit has lots of good stuff bundled together: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8797
Sewing Needles

How Discussions Will Work

My approach to teaching is horizontal, based on the pedagogical model from Paolo Friere. My main goal is for everyone to be empowered as both learners and teachers. That means, do not only rely only on me, but also on each other and on yourself! That means, do not submit to me, the text or each other, instead, always feel empowered to ask questions. Your task here is to learn to ask better questions, to learn to think critically about electronics and technology and their interplay and intersections.

Participation in class discussions is critical to passing this class. The minimum amount of work to do in this class to get a C is to do all of the assignments, all the reading and attend every class. In order to participate in discussion, you must have completed all of the reading, highlighted or underlined important parts and have questions. You are expected to be engaging with the material in class, finding intersections, differences, problems, productive points. You are expected to be putting in, at very least, as much of your own time out of class on as we spend in class.

A few guidelines for discussions are useful to create a more horizontal learning environment where everyone is empowered instead of a few people.

1. Don't interrupt when someone is speaking! If you want to say something and someone else is talking, raise your hand. Interrupting and talking over people is a common tool of privileged groups to dominate others.

2. Step up, step back. Make space for others. Make an effort to not be shy if you are. Be aware of how many people have talked and allow space for everyone to participate.

3. Treat each other with respect. When someone is presenting, pay attention. Listen actively and respond to what others have said. If you're on your laptop, you should be taking notes or looking up things we're discussing in class, not chatting on Facebook or Gchat or Twitter.

Grading Criteria

This is the criteria for grading the projects. In order of importance.

1. The concept behind your piece, how well it engages with the material, brings the concepts to life, responds to the concepts in the readings and discussions, finds productive or problematic intersections, asks good questions and brings those questions to life.

2. Effort! How much time went into both the thinking about the piece and the construction of it.

3. Functionality, does it work? Is it feasible? Can you explain how it should work and what went wrong if it doesn't?

People

Directory of Professor, TA and student pages: Vis147a-people

Timeline

September 23rd - Week 1 - The Body and Technology

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein, silly hollywood clip

Lygia Clark

Adrian Piper

Marina Abramovic and Ulay, Rest Energy, Imponderabilia, Rhythm 0,

Rececca Horn, Finger Gloves, Pencil Mask, Unicorn, Cornucopia

Barbara Kruger, Your Body is a Battleground, 1989

Different views of cyborgization:

Droid Commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQRu-kVzJIE

Atari Teenage Riot, Revolution Action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkb3r9filcM

Lady Gaga, Paparazzi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2smz_1L2_0&ob=av2e

Intro to electronics: Ohms law, resistors, wires, voltage, led's, breadboards, Multimeters, soldering

Hydraulic Analogy: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/watcir2.html

Proper use of ohm's law: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_5/6.html

Lab: using a breadboard, simple circuits and learn to solder

http://www.robotroom.com/Pumpkin/LED1.gif

For reference: How to use a Multimeter, Multimeter with Breadboard measuring Current, Multimeter with Breadboard measuring voltage

Try two LEDs and resistors as a parallel circuit!

September 27 - October 1 - Week 2 - Social and Environmental Ethics of Electronics

Lecture: Reading due: The Silicon Valley of Dreams, David Pellow, ereserves

The Problem With I Don't See Color, pgs. 1, chart on 6 and 7

Contemporary Politics Glossary

Examples: Tantalum Memorial, More, video

Natalie Jeremijenko, Feral Robot Dogs

Dream Addictive, Open Solar Circuits

Sabrina Raaf, Video @ Calit2

senseable city lab, MIT, The Copenhagen Wheel and Trash Track

Critiques of Greenwashing, Zizek and Annina Rust's Thighmaster project

Stephanie: Intro to Arduino

Watch: Maquilapolis

Lab: Reading due: Getting Started with Arduino, Massimo Banzi, Chapter 1 and 2, Appendix A and B

Solder your Freeduino

October 4-8 - Week 3

Lecture on October 7th is optional and we will be meeting downtown at the rally for educational justice. Meet at Pantoja Park on Colombia and G Street downtown at 5pm.

Details here and UCSD Actions here

Lab: Reading due: Solder your freeduino!

Create your own page in the wiki here: vis147a-people