This week is dedicated about coding, computing and processing. First of all, we saw a video about the beginning of the program for the beginning until today. Moritz gave to use some tips to learn how to code on the softwares Processing. After that we learnt to connect the code from the processing to the Arduino code of a electronic circuit. So the assignment of this week was to create an interface from a sensor. First of all, I learnt to create different shape, change their color, their place, their movement and how to change the background. (As we can see below.)

Part1 - I decided to work with the flex sensor. So first, I found some tips and tutorials to use this sensor, and to connect it in an Arduino board. I noticed that you have to used a big resistor to increase the sensibility of the sensor. I tried with 3 different but finally, the resistor of 100KΩ is the best one to create an interface. You can find below the schematic of my circuit with an Arduino.

First of all, I write an Arduino code to be able to use the data collected by the using of the flex sensor. I wrote to print the different values collected and after that I had map those values. After checking those values, I sent it to my processing code. Each value is read and send with a delay preset.

The second paragraph was for a second flex sensor. I tried to use 2 sensors, and use the array in my processing code to be able to read two different values, but finally I chose to use only one sensor for my first time. 

Finally, the interface is here! The question is "How confortable are you with programming?" To answer the question, we can bend the flex sensor, to see the ball go up on the scale. The more you bend the sensor the more you are confortable with the programming.

WHAT DID I LEARN? 

TECHNICS:
- Coding
- Electronics

MATERIALS:
- Flex sensor
- Arduino board
- Resistor 100Ω
- Wires

MACHINES/SOFTWARES:
- Fritzing
- Arduino
- Processing

 

Secondly, I uploaded the port name of the Arduino board. For the background I created a background in Illustrator, so I just uploaded my image. I also created a small white ellipse. I chose a size for this ellipse and for the position I used the dataInput, that means: datas/values collected with the sensor.

At the end, I decided to change the size of the image of the background, so I remapped all the datas for the ellipse to use the entire screen.

This week I had to do some research to find out which sensor I was going to use and which interface I was going to create. I decided to work with a flex sensor. I found several tutorials to use this component, with Arduino codes and processing codes.

We had to work alone on this project. Despite this, Kaj helped me a lot with the Arduino code. Moritz and Loes helped me with the processing code. I felt a little dependent on others on this project because I had never coded before. The others were able to teach me a lot.

I've never computed before. Moritz gave us a very interesting course with concrete examples to learn the basics. So this week I learned to use a processing code. Following on from last week, I also learned how to link an Arduino code to a processing code. To be able to visually show the data collected by the sensor.

Part 2 - Interface test -

Someone tested my interface. First of all, I didn't give any explanation. The sensor is quite simple to use and it is easy to understand how it works when the ball moves in the gauge on the screen. At first sight Asle who tested my interface thought it was necessary to slide his finger along the sensor. Then, he understood that it was necessary to bend the sensor to choose an answer.

The question and the answers were quite clear to him. I had a doubt about the answers at first because I wanted to translate an expression that is said in French. I used a color from red to yellow. Using red for what is bad is frequent, so easily understandable, and many have used it in their interfaces. I could have used green for the top of the gauge. The only problem I could improve on this interface is the lack of accuracy of the answers. Indeed, it is difficult to be able to focus on the solution we have chosen.

I appreciated the fact that I could combine the electronics week with the skills acquired during the processing week. It's interesting to be able to manage an interface using a sensor. It is necessary to think about the interface according to the functioning of the component in order to make it possible.