Course Description
This course offers in introduction into the fundamentals of physical computing and interactive art. The course will lay the foundations for understanding basic circuit design (both analog and digital), utilizing various inputs and outputs including sensors, screen based visualizers, synthesizers, and motors. Mostly technical, the class will provide a backdrop into the contemporary and historical landscape of electronic and interactive art.
Learning Outcomes
- Create engaging and critically relevant interactive projects
- Demonstrate the ability to bring a creative electronics project from concept to completion through researching tools, sourcing hardware, building circuits, and writing software
- Understand the basic principles and techniques necessary to create interactive systems using a microcontroller, sensors, actuators, and javascript
General Course Structure
- Discussion/Crits: Presentation of weekly assignments, Q/A from the labs
- Lecture: Technical concepts as well as thematic review of existing art/artists
- Lab: In class workshop of technical material
Course Expections + Grading Rhubric
- Lab Reports (Blog Posts): Labs are weekly skillbuilding assignments. They may include, readings, circuit building, and/or programming. Lab reports are simultaneously documentation as well as an assessment of your understanding and what questions you may have. Requirements for each lab report will be posted with each lab assignment. Lab reports are submitted in the form of a blog post. Students can either submit a link of a list of tagged posts or can create a blog devoted entirely to the class. It is up to each student on what service they prefer (github, tumblr, wordpress, squarespace, cargo, etc.).
All class projects as well as labs need to be documented with videos, photos, and if applicable, circuit diagrams. Documentation is important not only for archiving your work, but serves as an important resource for the open source community.
Weight: 40%
- Midterm Project: The midterm is an opportunity to create a technically robust and conceptually sound project utilizing the skills they've learned in the first half of the semester.
Weight: 20%
- Final Project: The final is an opportunity to create a more advanced interactive project that fits within the students body of work or area of inquiry. Students will submit proposals containing a brief project statment, diagrams, timeline, and any necessary supporting material. Students will present in class to outside guests.
Weight: 30%
- Participation + Preparation: This is based on class attendance, arriving on time, being prepared and having the necessary tools, and participation in class dicussion.
Weight: 10%
- Lateness: Turning in assignments late will result in an automatic half letter grade reduction for the assignment.
- Unexcused Absences: Two (2) or more unexcused abscences is grounds for failure
- Electronic Devices: Laptops will be an essential part of the course and may be used in class during workshops and for taking notes in lecture. Laptops must be closed during class discussions and student presentations. Phone use in class is strictly prohibited unless directly related to a presentation of your own work or if you are asked to do so as part of the curriculum.