UPDATE + REFLECTION 28.2

Tis the eve of the presentation.

I'm pretty happy with how the project has panned out. I was excited with my initial idea and I'm very pleased to have brought it to life with a working prototype.

There are some things I've not succeeded in though. I haven't been able to put it directly into context onto a kerbside to test people's reaction to it - I can only presume from the verbal feedback I've received and from other examples already demonstrated by The Fun Theory (with whom this all started) that it would have fulfilled my wish. That is, to occupy pedestrians during the Red light to encourage them to wait for the Green Man before crossing.

I'm most disappointed that I was unable to perfect the animation how I wanted to (as I laid out in this older post). I ventured into the code to try and improve the two details, but I unfortunately could not figure it out. The most frustrating thing is that I know it can be done! Arduino wins this time. Also, one more element I might have added, is a countdown bar down the side or something similar, to indicate when the light would turn Green. It's a whole different instruction (in terms of coding function) so I chose not to approach it, but as far as product development goes, this would be my next step.

Having said all this though, I am pleased by my learning of the software, having been able to grasp a decent understanding from zero within these few weeks. The magnitude of its potentials are still pretty cool I'd say. And I am indeed satisfied with what I have developed with it. There may still be room for development and even actual instalment!

Now I just have to convince the class. Presentation tomorrow!

PRESENTATION MOVIE REVISED

It's just been edited to fit the music better, cut snappier and look better.

DEMONSTRATION MOVIE

Unlike the LEGO presentation movie, this simply demonstrates how my project will physically be used. Very simple: step to shoot. Yes.

And again, I may not own the rights to the music used. Credit to M83.

PRESSURE PADS MADE PRETTIER

GRAPHICS IN APPLICATION

I had first imagined the Red Man graphic to be on the other side of the road as are normally. This could work, but maybe the animation would be difficult to see, or certainly difficult to notice. So if it was on the same side as the pedestrian, fixed with the WAIT button, it would be more effective. Like my mock up illustration demonstrates. Of course the second screen of black would be where the Green Man appears.

PRESENTATION MOVIE DRAFT

Compiled earlier today is my project movie.

I chose not to film the real object for several reasons, which I hope are of benefit. The real pads are most fun when used by you, so I have decided to save that entertainment for first hand experience during the presentation, for you to try it rather than just see it. It's also much clearer to see the connection between visuals and pad action that way. Perhaps most importantly, considering the movie's main purpose is to show it in context, I found it a lot easier to do it on my table top rather than facing the difficulties of actually taking this to the streets, what with the wiring and logistics etc. Plus, I wanted to try using LEGO stop motion, having just had a class last week in stop motion. I've not used a digital SLR which unfortunately downgrades the image quality (Tomás would not be happy!) but it was fun to cut nonetheless. I hope it shows how I envisage it to be used. Would be great if crowds formed for it huh.

THE CAST

CHEEKY CCTV

So here's some footage I shot on that epic Tuesday this week with Pete. We struggled to get it all working (as seen in the footage) but in the 10 minutes I managed to shoot (without informing Mr Rodgers) we actually find some success, progressing from a sticky patch of not-working. It's unedited so probably very boring. In fact, I'm not sure it adds anything at all, but it does show our work first hand. And it captures glimpses of progress as I mentioned so that's maybe nice to see.

SOFTWARE IMPROVEMENTS 10.2

1. Bullets rectangular not round.

2. Red Man brighter.

3. Fill square black not white.

4. Bullet to stop upon contact with Red Man.

5. Layer order: background, Red Man, block fill, bullet.

THE CODING

This connects Processing with the Arduino Duemilanove board (which is attached to the pressure pads via Digital pins). It also loads the Red Man graphic which has been saved in the corresponding "data" folder as a png file.

a, b, c and d refer to the vertical levels from top to bottom, indicating each of the four levels at which a shot can be fired.

Finally, this is the code for the firing of the shots, repeated for each of the afore mentioned a, b, c and d. It states the bullet to be a rectangle of size 50 x 20 px. It states the background be black (fill 255). The rest breaks down the animation process as the pressure pad is activated. Quite complicated but I think I understand most of it.

(Note: I also need the Arduino programme running simultaneously in order to recognise my board output.)

Here's my take of it. This helped me get my head around it.

ARDUINO CODE 09.2

So after the good bulk of work this week, the software is running quite nicely now. Connecting the Arduino board through Arduino, and the Red Man visuals through Processing, I've got a piece of code that allows for shots to be fired at the Red Man upon pressing the pressure pads. Joy.

I've sussed out for myself too what parts of the code refer to what and have thus been able to complete it without the aid of Pete, by altering each pad to the position of shots fired. Feeling pretty satisfied. There's still some perfecting that can be done, but the concept is now real and that's very cool. I can finally see my idea (evolved from a pre-idea of course!) as a working physical form. And it is indeed fun.

RED MAN GETTING SHOT

TESTING THE WIRES

In order to see if the pressure pads actually work or not, this is a handy little test. Just to make sure there is indeed electrical stuff going on when the pads are pressed.

We use this device by touching the ends of the black and red to the ends of my two wires attached to each pad. A working pad causes the a number to show on screen, together with a resounding beep noise to confirm.

Test result - all four are good to go.

PRESSURE PAD + ARDUINO

It's still Tuesday. With four real-size pressure pads completed, I next had to wire them up to the Arduino. The above image connects one digital component to the Arduino, passing through the resistor and into a digital pin on the board. I need four of these.

...like this.

That's pressure pads into Digital pins 2, 3, 4, 5 (yellow).
And the breadboard itself into the Power pins 5V (red) and Gnd (white).
Yeahhhh.

MAKING THE PRESSURE PAD. FOR REAL.

First thing was to get MDF boards ready. I used cardboard for the mock, but since I need to step on the pads, MDF would be more stable and suitable. So I went down to the workshop and we cut 8 pieces of 30x30cm boards using 3mm thick wood.

Following the same method as the mock, aluminium foil was laid onto the boards top and bottom, elastic bands and polystyrene too. Then, I attached two wires onto each pad (one on each board) for connecting to the Arduino. Black and blue were the colours of my choice. And what.

PLAN 07.2

So this was today's plan, or more precisely, my plan to finish the project. Impressively, I've made some good progress today. That mock pressure pad was completed and turned out a success. Big versions were made and wired. Happiness.

The next step is to connect it onto the computer with Pete's help and take it from there.

The following posts will cover my progress for the pressure pads..

MAKING A PRESSURE PAD.. ALMOST.

If you've got eight minutes to spare...
Do watch it in full if you are going to watch it at all.

(Here's the link I refer to again: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~RAS/Docs/space/pads.html)

PLAN 06.2

So that grand plan, remember that?

The Red man graphic is ready to go, I think. Yet to check with Pete. Now (it's Monday alrady, I know!) I'm going to attempt making the pressure pad, or a mock up at least. Designing through making. Right?? All them skills from Technical Workshop studies and Methods & Processes. Yes yes.

Here's a link sent by Pete on how to make homemade pressure pads.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~RAS/Docs/space/pads.html
Apparently these materials (plus one or two others) will suffice. Let's try it.

PLAN 02.2

With just over a week to go, here is the grand plan.

Complete the traffic light display graphic.
Make my pressure sensors.
Find out how to hook them up.
Do it.

Easy. Here's how the Red Man is looking so far. Illustrator.

AND THERE IT IS

We had 'the talk' today to really push on with our projects and finalise our ideas. And I think I've got it.

I knew my idea had to use the element of play and fun in order to engage the user in the activity of waiting for the light to turn green. Here's my master plan.

Pressure sensors on the kerbside would be linked with the LED display of the traffic lights, meaning that by arriving at the crossing, the pressure sensors are activated by the user's steps, thus automatically activating my game. One step of the pressure sensor will trigger one 'bullet' to hit the Red Man, which would essentially bite a chunk off the figure. Like an apple. The idea is to have a couple of sensors at the kerbside which would each trigger a hit from a different angle to the Red Man. By repeatedly shooting at the Red Man, he can be eliminated, and if this can be achieved before the Green Man appears the user is the winner.

So it's like a pedestrian crossing version of the space invaders game. Your feet are the controller. The Red Man is the enemy. The Green Man is the reward.

I think the subtlety is nice, whereby the user only realises it until he/she approaches the crossing. By using pressure sensors instead of the wait button for example, it accounts for those who would not press the button at all and cross anyway - ie. the primary target. The surprise of the new concept will for sure help entice the user into trying to figure out how it works, whilst it is straightforward enough to be understood simply. Another advantage of the pressure sensor is that it utilises the user's full body, which can contribute to engaging other users and open collaboration as well as the enjoyment of bouncing and moving alone. This has been proven with the advances in video games using motion (the Wii, PlayStation Move, XBOX Kinect). And finally, as with any good game, there's an added pressure of time, with the game lasting only while the Red Man is on of course. That means that the user is playing against the clock, that is until the Green Man appears, right? Yes John.

Right then. Let's make it.