Seminar in Physical Computing

As shown by the the iPhone and the Wii, there is huge demand for well-integrated hardware, software, and services that seamlessly couple people and environments. The designer who create such products are able to interface computers with real world inputs and outputs, create interactive surfaces and displays, and give people new ways of controlling and experiencing their devices and information. This seminar will provide a rapid and simple technical introduction to basic electronics (components, circuits, microcontrollers, etc.) as well as design concepts for building such interactive objects.

Prerequisites: Third year standing in CIAS or GCCIS and some programming experience.

Required Textbook and Supplies

• Making Things Talk: Practical Methods for Connecting Physical Objects.
  Tom Igoe. Make Books, 2007.
• (Recommended: Physical Computing: Sensing and Controlling the Physical World with Computers. Tom Igoe and Dan O'Sullivan. Course Technology PTR, 2004.)
• Sneakernet: You should purchase and bring a USB flash drive (thumb drive) to class to temporarily save your in-class work and take it somewhere more permanent.
• Arduino USB Board (1st floor, Art Department)
• Solderless breadboard (RIT Bookstore 1st floor, Art Department)
• USB A/B cable, same as for printers, scanners, etc. (RIT Bookstore 2st floor, Computer Department)