Supply List/Notes of 04/12/12

Supply List for Project
50 RGB LEDS: $20-50.
Motion Sensor $10-50.
Arduino: $17-50.
Canvas (size to be determined)/ 12x12 in, or 16x16, : $6-20.
OR FOAM board... (this may be cheaper and easier to puncture)

NOTES:
The challenges of distance sensing are this:
What you are doing when you are trying to distance sense you are getting some sense of analog.

Digital: there or not (that's pretty easy: motion sensor for yard lights are pretty standard and robust. passive infared sensors that anytime there is motion they go off

Light sensor ( casting a shadow)

Analog- range of something that is happening (distance sensing)
options for distance sensing
IR light which tends to be Sharp sensors
Ultra Sonic- standard Paralax PING  HC-SR04
Matbotix - 25 ft.

How these sensors work: Sending out something and trying to get a read off of that object.

Some sort of angle throw. It will do a better job at a certain distance rather than and people coming in from the side.
Solutions: tucking it into a corner so that viewers only come in from a certain angle/ mirroring the sensor angle
mulitiple sensors can help and cause dead spots.

ping sensor is $10 (3 m)
matbotix- $50. (25 ft)
sharp IR-long range iR ( 150 cm-5 ft)
Have traditionally been short range that are found in toilets and sinks

Using a hallway to create zones with different sensors. as people walk through and cast a shadow they
ir breakbeam;

Challenge of interactive work: how do you make an experience that is successful for one person but also for multiple people?
Programming for both SITUATIONS is often difficult. Both of these situations occur in gallery spaces.

counter: using a counter (ab) coming (ba) going

Defaulting to the closest person- as having the most control in a situation.

Arduino code on smoothing: analog sensor picking up information that is not necessary, collecting a certain amount of readings in a given time and averaging out readings

Code out (not too close)  to avoid sensor wigging, possible solution: another sensor or physical barrier that prevents viewers from getting too close and fretting the sensor.

Today: Soldered the analog knob wires back together.
Managed to create multiple colors using R, G, & B as each assigned knob.

Problems: Colors don't always combine depending on the angle in which you are looking at the LED... Even in the reflection we are getting multiple colors.

Possible solution: Using material to cover and disperse the light..
Turning LEDs on it's side? 

See video and code attached.