This course explores the possibilities and challenges of designing alternate physical network interfaces. In physical computing, we tackle the question of how to make devices that respond to a wide range of human physical actions. In this class, we tackle the question of how to integrate physical devices as interfaces to a larger network. On the physical interface side, students will work with a variety of network interface devices, for computers ranging from micro-controllers to web servers. On the network server side, basic server-side programming techniques in Java will be introduced. Students should be comfortable programming in Java or Processing, and with the basics of physical computing. Topics of investigation include: networking protocols and micro-controllers (doing a lot with a little); network time vs. physical time; coping with network unreliability; planning a network of objects (system design); mobile objects; and embedded wireless ethernet.
Syllabus ( pdf )
Class Extras
Student Journals
Example Code
Tools
Murmur IDE
UDP Tool
TCP Tool
XPort Ping Reader
Week 1 - Introduction & General Themes (pdf | html)
An introduction to the topics of the class, and an overview of the themes and principles of networked communication.
Week 2 - Calm Technology (pdf | html)
The theory of Calm Technology and it’s impact on daily life. Exploration of the OSI Networking model, and an introduction to the XPort network co-processor.
Week 3 - Context Awareness (pdf | html)
Questions on how we interact and understand the context of our devices; the variations of context awareness in the physical and virtual worlds. Introduction to the Murmur environment.
Week 4 - Circuit Boards and Device Construction
Build day for our XPort to PIC Circuit boards:
Board Images - pdf
Board Schematic - pdf
Week 5 - XPort Meets PIC (pdf | html)
Interfacing the PIC 18F252 and the XPort. Introduction to Cell phones as ubiquitous network device.
Student IP Addresses: pdf
Pair Assignment - Playing Games (pdf | html)
The first class project; student pairs create a “networked” game, where the controllers are networked devices, and the games screen is a
webpage or applet that can be viewed by the class.
Week 7 - Space Annotation & Smart Home (pdf | html)
Creating experience and context with spatial annotation, and the role and ethics of devices in the home and in our lives.
WiPort Workshop - Setup and Configuration (pdf | html)
Configuring and testing the WiPort WiFi module from Lantronix.
Week 8 - Location & Identification (pdf | html)
Exploring technologies for absolute location and entity identification; ramifications of pervasive identification devices.
