Final Year Studio - Development - Sensor Interaction

vinyl scratch breadboard, originally uploaded by Jimbo (Alan James Wellock).

As my idea is in its early development stage, I am thinking of using different means of data input and output. One alternative way to input data into the computer is to use sensors. There are two types of sensors, 3 pin resistors that the user can turn to widen the gap between the wire and thus narrow the current. The second are 2 pin sensors, such as light resistors (shown on the circuit above) and 'whisker resistors.' Both widen and narrow the current passing through them depending on a physical variable. All sensors work by sending data in the form of intergers to the Arduino board that is then processed using a previously installed program to send strings of numbers to a application such as Processing. Processing can use this data to then control onscreen and offscreen activities.

These alternative input methods will hopefully enhance my final dea and open up the 'associative bandwidth' of the medium being used, allowing the user to interact with my work through sensitivity rather than 'cold' buttons.