Daniels BCT blog

Picture

2009-10-26T17:09:00.001-07:00

Reflective statement

2009-10-26T16:11:00.000-07:00

This was the first project that I have chosen to work in a group for. The last project which I worked in a group for was during the start of the year and it was compulsary to work in group for that project. This time around it was more workable and less problematic, in the pervious group project there were problems due to the large number of people within the group
leading to problems with task management. This time is was smoother possibly because of 3 person group making task management easier and also that we knew each other strengths. Contributing in these areas when ever possible.

My main contribution was developing the project conceptually and finding a location that would fit in conceptually with the laser projector i also did some initial experimentation and construction however most of the input in this area was done by other group members. In some parts of the project we worked separately as it was necessary too. This was extremely helpful because we could complete more by multitasking even multitasking on the same task. For example in construction we each worked in different parts of the projector and because of this we were able to get it completed within 2 days.

Other benefits of working in a group included a larger budget since their were 3 people in the group we could all input a larger proportion of money enabling more opportunities this helped buy another laser. The main benefit i gain from working in a group would be the fact that you can share ideas and thoughts with other members helping the development of the project. I think these benefits have convinced me to work in more group projects in the future .

Concepetual statement

2009-10-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

Concept wise i think that this assignment has developed the most compared to all the other project that I have done this year. This is due to lecturers highlighting that my pervious projects had lacked conceptual depth, thus focusing my attention into developing this project more conceptually.
Initially as a group we didn't have a concept but were interested in non-conventional types of projection methods. In the early stages of the project we had decided that the standard screen displayed wasn't appealing to us so we research and found DIY laser projection. Since we had enthusiasm for this kind style of projection we settled with this idea and started planning then
later constructing it.Its only during the construction where I thought about what to display that I realized that we could somehow incorporate the DIY message into our projection. I thought that
this would be fitting since we constructed the laser projector. I also realized that we could make the laser projector part of the projection and then could placed in an urban environment which supports this message, this turned out to be a electronic hobbyist shop. I thought this was unique since most of the groups had kept the screen and projection method separate from what their were projecting; the screen and what created the screen was just a means to get the message across but not part of the message. I thought that because we had incorporated our projection method into the message it became part of the message.

Areas which we could develop the concept were highlighted during presentation day. This included making our projection look more aesthetically electronic, since our laser projector had little electronic parts on it. It was suggested that we could of incorporated more electronic bits into it to reinforced the message. We could of used more readily available materials and methods of construction that are readily available to the general community re-enforcing the DIY message; most of the materials and building techniques that we used to create this projector is not readily available to the public such as a laser cutter to create the slides. Despite this I think I had developed the concept well in this project.

The slides

2009-10-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

We have finished making making the slides, it took longer then expected due to so many people using the laser cutter. The slides have printed on it a circuit board with the words DIY written on the centre of IC chip. This is the slide that we will be projecting on the wall. We have chosen this image to project because it conveys the message of DIY electronics. And because the projection of the image will be inverted where you can only see the image but not the clear slide, it will work well with our style of projection. I will upload pictures of the projection at the site when we do it this Thursday.

Laser diode

2009-10-21T17:46:00.000-07:00

I wasn't able to find another dvd burner to take apart to make a stronger laser diode. So instead we are sticking to using the 50mw laser. I have thought of a way to improve the quality by making the image of the slide smaller this in turn should make the image projected smaller but the quality of the projection better since it is more concentrated. Besides cutting out the slide we will also use the reminder of the of the plastic to cut out letters to decorate the projection slide. This should all be done by tomorrow or on the day we do the projection.

Location, Still tweaking.

2009-10-20T00:17:00.000-07:00

Found a location and a wall to project on. The eletronics hobby shop which i mention in one of the recent post is where we will be projecting. The size of the wall is decent enough for our projection and the location fits perfectly with the message of the projection; the DIY electronic enthusists. We are still tweaking out some issues with the projector and have started work on what image to project. This should be sorted out by tommrow. Right now we are working on the vectors for the image and should have it completed and cut out using the laser cutter sometime tommrow. I am still working on trying to create a stronger laser for our projection, However its not looking hopefull at the moment; One of the diodes which i pulled from a dvd burner is weaker then 50mw. I can hopefully find another burner to take apart tommrow, however if it does fall through we will have to use the 50mw laser with a smaller image. I will post an update with the results of the laser cutting and laser tommrow.

The style of the shop fits in well with the message.

The wall

Tweaking

2009-10-18T01:34:00.000-07:00

Have a few minor issues with the rig most are problems with optics and size of objects. Once these issues are sorted out the projector should project better. One of our lasers doesn't seem to be working so were down to 50mw of power (from one laser) this is however enough for static projections at medium range. If i have time this week i might also build a powerful laser using a spare dvd burner diode, following a guide i found on the internet. This new laser should be 100mw+ in power (power depends in diode) This new laser should make up for broken laser.

Rig built

2009-10-16T01:33:00.000-07:00

Finished building the rig today took us 2 days to build, it was rather quick to build since we have 3 people working on it we were able to complete it within 2 days . We need to tune the optics and experiment with distances so we can get the best quality projection with the rig, it is rather unorthodox to use laser as the light for the projection, and maybe not very effective but the laser fit well with the message which we are trying to get across, it also look very aesthetically pleasing.

Building

2009-10-14T01:31:00.000-07:00

We have started building the stand which will be holding all the parts. We should be done with the stand in a few days its rather simple design. As far as the lcd display goes i am having problems getting rid of the polarized cover on the lcd on the key chain picture viewer. With the polarized cover still on too much light is reflected back to project a clear sharp image even with the power of two lasers. Even if we are not able to use the lcd projection method, we can still move back onto projecting on static ohp paper.

Concept

2009-10-13T16:54:00.000-07:00

Since this is an urban screening what we display should link up with the urban environment. I have thought about how we could do this an a good idea which i came up with was to have the display be viewed at an electronic shop, where DIY electronic enthusiast usually go to buy parts to create things, like the projector we are making. The projection will link up well with the location and the projector will become part of the screening. The message which are trying to get across is this DIY attitude which electronic enthusiasts have, which we also have. I think that is the perfect fit for our style of projection.
I have found a few shops which fit conceptually well with his message, All i need to do now is get permission from the shop owners.

Source

Devlopments

2009-10-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

Will be getting another laser pointer soon, this should boost our lighting power too 100-mw. This is more then enough for static projections, with this much power laminating static images though ohp paper at a distance shouldn't be a problem. This much power also opens up the possibility to project through more active medium such as lcd screens. This is what i am experimenting with at the moment. I have taken apart a small 1.5inch lcd, the ones that you usually come in keychain picture viewers and am waiting on the new laser to arrive(which should be sometime today). Once is arrives i find out if two lasers are strong enough to project at a reasonable distance the image on the lcd screen. With one laser (50mw) the projection is fairly weak. I post another update when i have some reasonable results.

The guide

2009-10-07T21:01:00.000-07:00

Image source

I am following this guide loosely, It a reference for me since the person who build had some good results. Picture above is one of his projections.

Laser project update

2009-10-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

Did some research and found out that i wont have enough time to make x y scanner style projector. This is largely because i need to learn how to use the micro controller arduino and because i need to learn how to program (using the arduino software) to project images. On top of that i also need to find someplace which sells high speed galvos and study for the exams!. So its easy to conclude that i will only be able to make the static laser projector which is simpler and almost as cool. I did a cardboard mock up today and refracted some lights using disposable camera lens onto a clear piece of plastic with vivid markings on it. It did work and projected the image on the plastic from a distance of 15-20 meters. This is a starting point, the projection is rough and there is still some tweaking to do to it.

Urban Projection

2009-10-05T14:51:00.000-07:00

The last and final project for this year is urban projection.
Urban Projection is the idea of using a existing screen, or creating a screen which projects a message about the area that it is projected in. At the moment im working in a group of 3 people and we are planning to project something onto a wall. An idea at the moment is to create a lazer projector to project a static image, we have look on the net and it is possible to make a simple lazer projector. We reasearching this posiiablity at the moment.

Here a cool examples of other urban porjections which i found on the net.

555 KUBIK | facade projection | from urbanscreen on Vimeo.

Self interveiw.

2009-08-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

Interviewing myself.

Q1. What is your object
A. Its called a xylochime an instrument which is cross between a wind chime and a tube style xylophone.
Q2. Why did you choose to go with this kind of idea for your instrument?
A. Because i thought that the two sounds go well with each other, the wind chime sound gives a brighter texture to the bass sound of the xylophone.
Q3.What material is the tubing made of.
A. aluminum tubing.
Q4. Why did you choose this kind of material?
A. because i like the sound with it produced, it had alot of resonance and i liked it texture.
Q5. What kind of material is the wind chime tubing made off.
A. steel tubing, i would of liked to use aluminum tubing however i found this kind of tubing too expensive.
Q6. So did money put a limit on how much you could develop your instrument?
A. I would of liked to used longer tubing and have more notes, but because i had a budget of $50 on this particular project i was limited to how much tubing i could use. I also wanted to go with a steel frame instead of a wooden one, so yes it did put a limit on how i could develop my project.
Q7. What other ideas did you have?
A. a playable sound sculpture, which is made from metal bars of different lengths, as you hit the bars they should produce a unique tone, the structure will take a representative form in space. I also had an idea of making instrument which works by bouncing a tennis ball on a piece of wood.
Q8. Why did you go ahead with the xylochime idea over the ideas you previously mentioned?
A. Because i thought that those ideas where to risky to be attempted, i wasn't 100% sure that it will produce a nice sound, i found out in the early stages of the project that aluminum produce a nice sound so i decided to pursue that idea.
Q5. So risk was the main reason why u didn't attempt those projects.
A. Yes, in my pervious project i took a risk, because of this risk i wasnt able to complete my project on intended deadline and needed an extension to complete it. So i decided to play it safe for this project.
Q6. So do you usually play it safe on your projects?
A. No, i usually flip between the two extremes depending on how much faith i have on the project.
Q7. Did this project go well for you?
A. Yes i learnt a lot from this experience, i have learn how to use new machines in the workshop and have gotten a better understanding of how sound works and have also learnt the importance of aesthetics.
Q. What have you learnt about aesthetics?
A. i have learnt that if something look aesthetically pleasing to the viewer it puts a positive thought on the person viewing it, i however need to work on how i can put conceptual meaning onto the object through the way it looks.

semiotics part 3

2009-08-20T01:34:00.000-07:00

What are you?

A ribbon with a poped balloon end attached on the ribbon.

How old are you?

appear around 2-5 years old.

What colour is the ribbon?

pink.

How long is the ribbon?

less then a meter.

What could you been used for originally?

balloons for a party.

Why is that?

It is assumed that balloon with ribbons like me are used often at parties.

Does your owner value you alot?

yes.

Why?

i dont know.

Do you think other value as much as your owner?

no.

Does your colour or the materials you made of have any significance to your owner?

mostly not.

So your symbolistic value is what makes you special?

yes, the symbolism makes me special

What could be your symbolistic value?

Maybe a gift from someone special to the owner.

Are you put in view of other people?

not likely.

Where would you be kept?

in a special place.

Does your owner have more objects like you?

yes.

Just to add this was a strange assignment, im still not 100% what the purpose of this task was.

Semiotics part 2

2009-08-20T01:23:00.000-07:00

What are you?

A laptop

What is a laptop?

a portable computer

What is a computer?

a device made to process information.

What kind of information can u process?
anything that you can program into me.

Can you do things humans cant?

yes. i aid them and make things easier for them

Are you used often?

yes i am used very often as you can assume with all the marks on me.

therefore you are valued because of your usefulness to your owner?

yes.

Why are those hand marks not wiped off?

I assume that my owner is not bothered by it.

Does it bother you?

What makes you important to your owner?

My ability to access information.

What kind of information?

Information from the internet

What is the internet?

A place to access vast amount of knowledge.

Therefore the knowledge is important to your owner?

yes thats the assumption.

why?

because human need knowledge to function.

Does your portability make you more valued more to your owner?

yes this allow him to talk me with him where-ever he goes.

Semiotics

2009-08-19T23:54:00.000-07:00

An object which is significant to you, write down why.

We were told to do some strange things today.

My Object, MP3 Player

Function

The object allows me to access the music when ever i need to.

The music inside the object is what that is significant.

Significance to me.

Because i enjoy listening to music.

It helps me stay focused.

Listening/playing music relieves stress.

comforting when depressed.

Interview someone else object ask it 20 question.

The key

What is that key on you ?
Car key

Why could the car key be useful to you ?

allows access to his/her car.

Why could this be important?

Cars are important cause it allows you to get around.

What else is attached onto you?

house keys

led light

alarm remote

Swiss army knife

Why are their led lights and a swiss army knife attached onto the key-ring?

For decoration.

Is it as important as the house and car keys?

Since it is for decoration the user wont find it as useful as the house and car keys

Could their be the symbolistic values attached onto the item?

Led lights could be symbolistic to light being important to the owner

Survival knife could mean that survival is important to the person.

Therefore things attached onto keys are important?

Yes

Why exactly?

Keys are important because it allows excess to your most personal objects which no one else should have excess to unless you entrust it upon them. A way of protecting your goods when your not directly watching over it.

What kind of material are you made off?

mainly steel and various other metals.

Has the Swiss army knife been used?

Not often.

Has the led light been used often?

yes the batteries are almost dead.

A material possessions important to you?

Yes, as a key i open things which are off materials significance.

Therefore materials possessions are of the most value to your owner?

that an assumptions made by you.

Does he have spares for these keys?

Most likely since it is his valuable possessions.

Creative Thought

2009-08-19T01:09:00.000-07:00

This week we have been looking at how creativity works within the head. We have been looking at all the conscious and sub-conscious things that happen within us when we undertake a creative process. During Tuesday we had a look at psychological model of creativity which broken down into 4 stages..

(i) preparation (preparatory work on a problem that focuses the individual's mind on the problem and explores the problem's dimensions),

(ii) incubation (where the problem is internalized into the unconscious mind and nothing appears externally to be happening),

(iii) intimation (the creative person gets a 'feeling' that a solution is on its way),

(iv) illumination or insight (where the creative idea bursts forth from its preconscious processing into conscious awareness); and

(v) verification (where the idea is consciously verified, elaborated, and then applied).

(Graham Wallas & Richard Smith, Art of Thought, published in 1926)

I personally find that this model holds true for me, as described above. I have noticed that i go through this process when i undertake new projects ive also noticed that my greatest ideas (the ideas which i have alot of confidence in)occurs to me when im not thinking about project.

Pictures

2009-08-16T22:13:00.000-07:00

Project complete, performance went well, here some pictures.

Performance

2009-08-12T02:11:00.000-07:00

Performance coming up tomorrow ive complete making the wind chimes all i need to do is attach it onto the the strings of the freely suspended xylophone tubes and arrange the instrument properly this which should make an hour to do. For the rest of the day i will play around with my instrument and get into a group with others for the performance later that day.

Almost complete

2009-08-11T00:39:00.001-07:00

I finished making the frame including putting the finishing touches on it I've also fine tuned and clean up the bars. The xylophone part of my instrument is complete, all that is left to do now is create the wind chimes that go below the tubes an work by the movement of the tubes(each tube is suspended freely in the air). The chimes loosely resemble what i wind chime looks like, the one that i am planning to create look slightly different but will work under the same principles.

Each tube of the xylophone will have 2 smaller steel tubes suspended underneath the it, these will be located at the nodes of xylophone tube, 1 for each node. I will figure out the finer details tonight such as lengths of tubes and material used to strike it with.

///A rough set up of the instrument, a neater one will be made once everything is complete.////

Frame complete

2009-08-09T01:54:00.000-07:00

Ive finished building the frame of my instrument and have roughly tuned the bars to the whole tone scale. I will try to fine tune it more tomorrow and start putting the tubes and frame together. On Tuesday i hope to start creating the wind chimes and by Wednesday i want have my instrument complete with the wind chimes and all working.

My biggest concern at the moment is the system that will make the wind chime work, i know that in paper it should work but haven't been able to test it out in real life ;which is something i am planning to do tomorrow. I also have some smaller problems with the wind chime, i am not 100% if i want to create it or buy it then modify it. i hope to have this figured out buy tomorrow as well. As a whole though both of these problems should be easy to solve, I will post and update with some pictures soon.

Update

2009-08-05T01:47:00.000-07:00

I finally design the frame of the instrument and im not planning to anymore major modifications to it. I have had a really good idea of attaching a string style instrument onto the frame of my of my xylochime however this is just an idea at the moment, which if i have time i will develop and integrate onto my instrument.

Like how the harp like instrument is attached to the body of the guitar. My harp will be attached onto the frame of my instrument, resonance is a major problem to solve if i go ahead with the idea.

Xylochime

2009-08-03T04:55:00.000-07:00

I have decided to stick with my pervious idea of creating an instrument made by combining a xylophone with a wind chime. This works by dangling the wind chime attached to a string connected to the bar(in my case a hallow aluminium tube); as the bar is struck the vibrations would work its way down to the wind chime produce and both the note of the tube and the chord created by the wind chime. I have been able to narrow down my rough sketches to two thought out designs which both are build-able with my budget and looks aesthetically. When i get down to building the frame of the instrument i will decided which two of the i want to use; the main difference between the two design is that one is made of wood while the other is made of steel tubing. I can however start building and tuning the hollow tubing which will make up the notes of my instrument; this is also good because if their are any major changes which i do too the hallow tubing (such as it being longer or shorted then expected to produce the tone) i can adjust the design of my frame to accommodate for it, instead of having to do it when its already being built physically