Project Two | Exercise Three | Ani-Hack

KEYBOARD HACKING TIME

Project Two | Exercise Two | Ani-Remote

Today we started working with a new software called MaxMSP, a graphic programming software that can be used to write programs for virtually any purpose, our new micro project for this evening is to create a more detailed and advanced animation using animate.. then modfy a patch for MaxMSP that was given to use by james which allows uses to control the movements of our animation via an apple remote..

more to write shortly

Project Two | Exercise One | Animata

Today we learnt how to uses a new open source real-time animation software called Animata. I think there is an advantage to not having a received my macbook pro yet.. It seems that because I was not trying to follow along 'live' with what james was showing us but rather just listening, watching and taking notes on my iphone, I actually took in more information than the others.. as afterward I walked around and taught about 10 people how to use it (as they were to busy trying to do it and missed things that he said).. even though I hadn't used it myself..... I will continue to test this theory as I think it is pretty solid..

Any waaayyyy.. MORE TO WRITE SHORTLY

Intro to Creative Technologies | Lecture Three

More to write shortly

Project One | Lego Mindstorm NXT | Drawing Bot

Intro to Creative Technologies | Lecture Two

tooooo be written.... I have notes on my iphone that i need to transfer into here

Lego Mindstorm NXT - The Assassin | Development

Character Bot:
Next step.. make a robot that will makes its way from the front door,down the hall to the BCT office and knock on the door.. or ask pat a question...
We could now design and program the robot anyway we wanted.
complete the course but do it in a way that is consistent with your chess pieces character..
'We are after an elegant solution'
After winning the previous challenge we were pretty excited to start this one.. Our initial concept once given the brief was to

Below are the pictures of our finished bot.

Project One | Exercise One | Lego Mindstorm NXT | The Assassin

Today we started our first Project for the year, we got to play with Toys (rated 10+), Lego Mindstorm NXT as I suspected.. after a few minutes of playing all I had to say was, 'Wow! I wanna see the 10 year old child that can use this'.. the level on construction required was of medium complexity but the programing took a good while to get my head around.

Step One:
My team of four.. Zoe, Leo, Oli and I created a new chess piece character we dubbed 'The Assassin'. We were originally thinking along the lines of spy or ninja, but decided that an Assassin was more logically in keeping with the royal formalness of chess. The Assassin is simple (minimalist) and immaculate in appearance, fast and accurate in action, cold, leaving no room for mistake in his purpose; and execution of orders (protocols). The Protocol we developed for our character.. after much serious debate regarding a functional strategy that would set it apart, yet be new and legitimate, developing upon the games current rules; we all agreed on this: The Assassin can only move Diagonally (symbolizing back allys as opposed to streets which I think lean more toward right angles - usual grid pattern of roads), he moves three new spaces per move and must turn twice (allowing for incredable flexibly of movement - 12 possible finishing points, which we felt linked the sneaky and striking notions that acompany our characters persona). Below is the Diagram we created to visually convey the movements of 'The Assassin':

Step Two:
after designing our caracter the prject was expanded.. we know ad to build a robot

Intro to Creative Technologies | Lecture One

tooooo be written.... I have notes from the lecture on my iPhone which I still need to copy into here

Situational Shuffle

The Situational Shuffle was today's Micro Project.. Working as an expansion on our introduction to Data Visualization over the last couple of days, while it seems; is simultaneously setting up the transition to our next project - Robotics? my assumption is based on the fact that each member of our 4 person team was assigned a job acting as parts of a machine, actuator, controller, sensor etc.. which I assume will be using the Lego Mindstorm NXT..
Reflective Statement:
My assumption was that each person in the group was meant to represent parts of a machine, to start teaching us the basic concepts of interdependent systems working in unicin to complete a singular task, which could not be completed without all parts. However our team machine was like no machine that has come before, as we all had a little go at each others rolls over the course of the exercise. As directed by James we set out with a desire to push the boundaries, which definitely lead us into situations we would normally never have experienced… following random people, one woman in particular into an elevator and up to the secured level of a building where we were denied entrance. We were also harassed by two men claiming to work for the Auckland city council who threatened us, grabbing a female team member by the arm to stop here taking photos. Over all it was extremely enjoyable and I look forward to discussing everyone else’s to come to an better understanding of the wider meaning of the exercise.