Arduino: Everyone can invent now!

Arduino is an open-source microcontroller board that bridges the digital world and the physical world. According to the official website, “Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, students, hobbyists and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.” (Arduino.cc, 2014)

Arduino is a very popular programmable circuit board, which is generally suitable for users of all ages and all kind of interactive projects. It provides a great open source platform for learning programming and setting up the circuit boards. (Freetronics, 2014) 

Video 1: Massimo Banzi: How Arduino is open-sourcing imagination (2014)

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoBUXOOdLXY&channel=TEDtalksDirector>

Massimo Banzi, one of the founders of Arduino claims that Arduino has the potential of changing the world by making the technology more accessible. Everyone has the opportunity to get involved and build something new as the tutorials and instructions can be found easily on the Internet. (Banzi, M, 2014)

Quin Ethnyre, a thirteen-year-old CEO of Qtechknow has already become a successful Maker that inspires the world. (Atmel Staff, 2014) He is a self-taught developer who found his passion for science and technology. Quin is now a speaker and teacher who makes starter kits and began teaching people who are interested in electronic programming. (Haze, 2013) Thus, Arduino has developed an open-source electronic platform that encourages everyone to explore the knowledge of electronics, regardless of age, background or skill level.

Figure 1 : A 12-YEAR-OLD'S QUEST TO REMAKE EDUCATION, ONE ARDUINO AT A TIME. [image] 
Available at: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-08/short-circuit

Arduino provides a crowdsourcing platform where everyone can access the open-source programming and electronic circuit designs. Users can download the open source software and the hardware design files through the Arduino libraries, which allow them to express creativity by innovating their own interactive project. In addition, Arduino Playground creates an environment where all the Arduino users worldwide to teach and learn from the Makers community. This is a place where the makers can share their code, circuit diagrams, tutorials, DIY instructions, tips and tricks and inspiration. (Playground.arduino.cc, 2014)

This microcontroller creates a vision of the future of technologies that interact the digital interfaces to the physical objects by using sensors, buttons, LEDs, motors, and so on. Arduino is the ideal open hardware platform for discovering the fundamental concepts and features of the Internet of Things. (Doukas, 2012) Arduino is a great tool that makes computers connect to the physical world by using both software and hardware, leading the growth in Internet of Things. Humans can even make a connection to the plant based on the Arduino technology, developing a system that allows plants to call for human help. We can communicate with the plant by updating the online Twitter status. The thirsty plant will post to let you know on Twitter if it needs water, and send out a thank you if you water it. (Botanicalls.com, 2014)

Figure 2: HOW TO - Make plants talk! They'll Twitter you when they need to be watered (and more).... [online] MAKE. Available at: http://makezine.com/2008/02/25/how-to-make-plants-talk-t/

Figure 3: HOW TO - Make plants talk! They'll Twitter you when they need to be watered (and more).... [online] MAKE. Available at: http://makezine.com/2008/02/25/how-to-make-plants-talk-t/

Using an Arduino simplifies the amount of hardware and software development, which offers fast and easy prototyping. (Lo, 2014) As an interactive media design student, I believe that Arduino stimulates the creativity and innovation among the makers and design students through the culture of open source, which empower people to invent something with their valuable imagination and ideas.

REFERENCES: 

Images:

Moran, S. (2014). A 12-YEAR-OLD'S QUEST TO REMAKE EDUCATION, ONE ARDUINO AT A TIME. [image] Available at: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-08/short-circuit [Accessed 11 Dec. 2014].

Torrone, P. (2008). HOW TO - Make plants talk! They'll Twitter you when they need to be watered (and more).... [online] MAKE. Available at: http://makezine.com/2008/02/25/how-to-make-plants-talk-t/ [Accessed 12 Dec. 2014].

Video:

Massimo Banzi: How Arduino is open-sourcing imagination. (2014). [image] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoBUXOOdLXY [Accessed 11 Dec. 2014].

Information:

Freetronics, (2014). What Is Arduino? | Freetronics. [online] Available at: http://www.freetronics.com.au/pages/what-is-arduino#.VImAWYqsVCU [Accessed 11 Dec. 2014].

Banzi, M. (2014). Transcript of "How Arduino is open-sourcing imagination". [online] Ted.com. Available at: http://www.ted.com/talks/massimo_banzi_how_arduino_is_open_sourcing_imagination?language=en [Accessed 11 Dec. 2014].

Arduino.cc, (2014). Arduino - HomePage. [online] Available at: http://www.arduino.cc/en/pmwiki.php?n= [Accessed 11 Dec. 2014].

Doukas, C. (2012). Building internet of things with the Arduino. [North Charleston, S.C.]: [CreateSpace].

Playground.arduino.cc, (2014). Arduino Playground - HomePage. [online] Available at: http://playground.arduino.cc/ [Accessed 11 Dec. 2014].

Haze, L. (2013). A 13-Year-Old Is Teaching MIT Grad Students About Technology - RYOT News. [online] RYOT News. Available at: http://www.ryot.org/in-less-than-three-years-13-year-old-quin-etnyre-learned-to-program-electronics-created-his-own-company-and-began-teaching-mit-graduates-in-his-spare-time-photo-youtubebbc/474093 [Accessed 11 Dec. 2014].

Botanicalls.com, (2014). Botanicalls Twitter DIY. [online] Available at: http://www.botanicalls.com/archived_kits/twitter/ [Accessed 12 Dec. 2014].

Lo, D. (2014). What are the advantages of using an Arduino over just using the underlying microcontroller? - Quora. [online] Quora.com. Available at: http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-advantages-of-using-an-Arduino-over-just-using-the-underlying-microcontroller [Accessed 12 Dec. 2014].

Blog:

Quin Etnyre talks Makers at the White House. (2014). [Blog] atmel. Available at: http://blog.atmel.com/2014/06/18/quin-etnyre-talks-makers-at-the-white-house/ [Accessed 11 Dec. 2014].

A Tour of Elephant and Castle Mini Maker Faire

We had a real blast at the Elephant and Castle Mini Maker Faire 2014 on November 16th, which was hosted by London College of Communication. Maker Faire runs a series of fun, family-friendly activities and workshops that showcase the invention, creativity and resourcefulness, to celebrate the Maker Movement in the heart of London. It is a place that engages people to learn together by showing their invention and sharing knowledge. (MakerMedia, 2014)

These are the pictures I took in the Maker Faire.

Faberdashery is the place to come for materials and advice on 3D printing. - See more at: http://www.faberdashery.co.uk/about/about-faberdashery/#sthash.nMsGP0iT.dpuf

This is a scream-activated camera, TriggerTrap.
All you have to do is just download the app from app store and connect your camera to your mobile phone.

Say: "Cheese!!"

This is called "Ototo", an all-in-one musical invention kit that allows you to make music from anything.

There are a lot of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) technology projects and student exhibitions that inspire, unite and entertain a growing community of resourceful people who are of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. (MakerMedia, 2014) In addition, the faire is selling different kinds of electronics such as Raspberry, Arduino and more, which provides the opportunities for young people to learn by doing things that follow their own interests.

According to Ricarose Roque from the MIT Media Lab, the use of technology is ubiquitous in all aspects of life and young generation has grown up immersed in technology, which makes them think and act differently than older ones. (Reich, 2014) Maker Faire helps to build a community of learners, which inspires young people to express their creativity and imagination, leading them into the culture of computing. It helps the society to discover the science and technology of the future.

One of my favourite booths is a scream-activated camera, TriggerTrap. It is a very entertaining Arduino-based product developed together by Ziah Fogel and Haje Jan Kamps. (Gomba, 2011) TriggerTrap is a creative photo booth that takes a photo when the users scream, which captures their real facial expressions of emotions.

However, there is another interesting project created by Dentaku in London. Ototo is a music making kit that can make music from anything by using sensors to interact with music and electronics. (Ototo, 2014) Users can create a keyboard from fruits or vegetables by connecting conductive materials to the Ototo, making the objects react to touch. Ototo is based on capacitive sensor operation by measuring the capacitance of the objects attached to it. (Kickstarter, 2014) It helps to encourage young people to learn electronics and software programming, which allows them to have better understandings on both hardware and software.

In addition, Maker Faire is another popular platform for DIY projects. (Makershed.com, 2014) Arduino is a microcontroller that can connect physical and digital world by combining the hardware and software, to interact with the world through electronic sensors, lights, and motors. Arduino software is open source and easy to learn as the hardware boards are cheaper compared to other microcontroller boards. (B_E_N, 2014) Bruce claims that, “Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It’s intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects and environments.” (Bruce, 2011)

After spent over 3 years studying in interactive media design, my passion lies in human-computer interaction and new media. Hence, participating in Maker Faire is my biggest gain that allows me to gain more knowledge on interactive medias before entering into the creative industries.

REFERENCES:

 

Information:

Faberdashery.co.uk, (2014). About Faberdashery - faberdashery. [online] Available at: http://www.faberdashery.co.uk/about/about-faberdashery/ [Accessed 5 Dec. 2014].

MakerMedia, (2014). About | Elephant & Castle Mini Maker Faire. [online] Available at: http://makerfaireelephantandcastle.com/about/ [Accessed 4 Dec. 2014].

Reich, J. (2014). Bringing coding to the whole family | DZone. [online] Dzone.com. Available at: http://www.dzone.com/articles/bringing-coding-whole-family [Accessed 5 Dec. 2014].

MakerMedia, (2014). About | Houston Mini Maker Faire. [online] Available at: http://www.houstonmakerfaire.com/about/ [Accessed 5 Dec. 2014].

Gomba, D. (2011). Arduino Blog » Blog Archive » TriggerTrap, The Universal Camera Trigger. [online] Blog.arduino.cc. Available at: http://blog.arduino.cc/2011/12/08/triggertrap-the-universal-camera-trigger/ [Accessed 5 Dec. 2014].

Ototo, (2014). Ototo. [online] Available at: http://www.ototo.fm/products [Accessed 6 Dec. 2014].

Kickstarter, (2014). Ototo: Make Music from Anything. [online] Available at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/905018498/ototo-make-music-from-anything [Accessed 6 Dec. 2014].

Makershed.com, (2014). Maker Shed: Arduino | Raspberry Pi | 3D Printers | Microcontroller Kit. [online] Available at: http://www.makershed.com/ [Accessed 7 Dec. 2014].

B_E_N, (2014). What is an Arduino? - learn.sparkfun.com. [online] Available at: https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/what-is-an-arduino/what-does-it-do [Accessed 7 Dec. 2014].

Bruce, J. (2011). What Is Arduino & What Can You Do With It? [Technology Explained]. [online] MakeUseOf. Available at: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/arduino-technology-explained/ [Accessed 7 Dec. 2014].

Virtual Reality Technology

How Virtual Reality technology affects our life?

Figure 1: Facebook to buy virtual reality gaming company Oculus VR. [online] BGR. Available at: http://bgr.com/2014/03/25/facebook-oculus-vr-acquisition/

Virtual reality technology has become one of the hot topics in the gaming industry, as it could be the next major device after smartphones.  According to Sharma, virtual reality is a new technology that makes users feel in a virtual world by using computer hardware and software. (Sharma, 2014) Users are able to interact with the digital information and objects with the help of computer stimulations. One of the examples is Oculus Rift, which is a virtual reality headset that takes the consumers into the games and virtual environment. It leads 3D gaming to the next level by delivering a completely new gaming experience to the players. Players can feel as a part of the game by looking around the virtual world through the eyes of the game character.

The line between physical and digital world has become blurry within the past decade. The development of virtual reality technology enables easy and fast interaction between consumers and the virtual world, which brings a lot of advantages to us. Roberta Fistenberg had a hard battle with cancer that had weakened her that going outside was no longer possible. She told her granddaughter, Priscilla that how she missed the outside world. So Priscilla decided to programme an Oculus rift to give her grandmother one more chance to see the outside world again. (Opam, 2014) 

Video 1: Grandmother Uses Oculus Rift as Therapy. (2013). [video] 

Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5eIHyFYFMM&channel=TheArtTavern

Furthermore, virtual reality gives us a chance to understand other individual identity and experiences by using digital world to participate into other people’s daily life. For example, a British artist, Mark Farid plans to give up 28 days of his life to virtual reality, by wearing a VR headset and a pair of noise-canceling headphones. He will experience the daily life of some strangers through videos and audios. (Robertson, 2014)

Virtual reality technology provides an interaction between people, objects and environment, which gives a better understanding of the space the users inhabit. However, virtual reality is not only benefits gamers but to the society. In the future, we can improve our task performance by changing the way of how we work as we gain more experience with virtual reality. (Stoakley, Conway & Pausch, 2014) According to Leather, there could also be virtual tour of the world by using virtual reality and the Google Streetview-like technology that could make the users feel like they were really there. (Leather, 2014)

Facebook is now owns Oculus VR after closing the $2 billion acquisition. (Dredge, 2014) According to Zuckerberg, he claims that virtual reality is a new communication platform for us to share unlimited spaces and experiences with the people in our life. Users can consult with doctor face-to-face, which is very convenient to those who are not able to move due to the sickness. With this technology, users can communicate with one another by just putting on the goggle at home. Besides that, virtual reality provides us a new platform to share the moment with friends but also their entire experiences and adventures. (Zuckerberg, 2014)

Figure 2: Reed, B. (2014). Facebook to buy virtual reality gaming company Oculus VR. [online] BGR. 
Available at: http://bgr.com/2014/03/25/facebook-oculus-vr-acquisition/ [Accessed 11 Dec. 2014].

Conclusion, this type of technology can bring a lot of advantages compared to traditional computer. We can combine virtual reality with E-learning to create interactive scenario that reflects real-life situations, which helps the users to learn without putting them into a costly or dangerous environment. (Skills2learn.com, 2014)

REFERENCES: 

Image:

Reed, B. (2014). Facebook to buy virtual reality gaming company Oculus VR. [online] BGR. Available at: http://bgr.com/2014/03/25/facebook-oculus-vr-acquisition/ [Accessed 11 Dec. 2014].

check, T. (2014). The rift with Oculus Rift revealed - why Facebook needs a reality check. [online] TechRadar. Available at: http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/the-rift-with-oculus-rift-revealed-why-facebook-needs-a-reality-check-1237963 [Accessed 11 Dec. 2014].

Video:

Grandmother Uses Oculus Rift as Therapy. (2013). [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5eIHyFYFMM&channel=TheArtTavern [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].

Information:

Skills2learn.com, (2014). The advantages of virtual reality simulation - Skills2Learn. [online] Available at: http://www.skills2learn.com/virtual-reality-benefits.html [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].

Sharma, A. (2014). What is Virtual Reality I Virtual Reality Technology | Virtual Reality Environments - EngineersGarage. [online] Engineersgarage.com. Available at: http://www.engineersgarage.com/articles/virtual-reality-environment [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].

Opam, K. (2014). Dying grandmother uses Oculus Rift to walk outside again. [online] The Verge. Available at: http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/19/5629778/dying-grandmother-uses-oculus-rift-to-walk-outside-again [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].

Robertson, A. (2014). What would it be like to spend a month in virtual reality?. [online] The Verge. Available at: http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/18/7235895/seeing-i-artist-to-spend-a-month-in-virtual-reality [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].

Stoakley, R., Conway, M. and Pausch, R. (2014). Virtual Reality on a WIM: Interactive Worlds in Miniature. [online] Cise.ufl.edu. Available at: http://www.cise.ufl.edu/research/lok/teaching/ve-s07/papers/wim.htm [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].

Leather, A. (2014). Why Oculus Rift And Virtual Reality Could Be Huge And Not Just For Gamers. [online] Forbes. Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/antonyleather/2014/04/14/why-oculus-rift-and-virtual-reality-could-be-huge-and-not-just-for-gamers/ [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].

Zuckerberg, M. (2014). Mark Zuckerberg - I'm excited to announce that we've... | Facebook. [online] Facebook.com. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10101319050523971 [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].

Dredge, S. (2014). Facebook closes its $2bn Oculus Rift acquisition. What next?. [online] the Guardian. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jul/22/facebook-oculus-rift-acquisition-virtual-reality [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].