Left a Mark

Wearable technology is a fantastic class - one of those classes where you get graded on your level of self motivation, since the professors pretty much let you do whatever you can think up.  After a couple of introductory classes to the Arduino platform, we started our first large scale project, in groups of two.

The whole goal for the project was to create anything, as long as it involved a system in which two arduinos were communicating, where a third party could come in and mess with the system.  We came up with this (click it):

The problem with that whole idea was the cost of the materials.  $500.  That is a bit much for a couple of college students on a two week project.  Back to the drawing board, and this time make it cheaper:

Ah, much better.  I don't really know how much it ended up costing us, but it certainly wasn't $500.  Now for the copy!

Concept:

This project aims to explore the connections between strangers through the act of leaving your mark in a public space.  By creating a system in which two areas share a finite quantity of light, a mechanic is established that lets a person's presence remain in the space even after they leave.  Others are forced to deal with this presence, and by interacting with the system, they deteriorate the impact of others while establishing their own lasting presence.  

Scenario:

Two chairs are connected in a system with a finite amount of light, and by sitting on the chairs, users alter placement the light in the system.  If both chairs are occupied the system is at a standstill, with no light transfer between chairs, but if one person leaves, the light from their chair will be drawn away to the other still occupied char.  If the person in that chair leaves, leaving both chairs unoccupied, the light will remain as a marker of their presence until another chair is occupied, in which case the pattern repeats itself.  This system creates the potential to establish a cooperative dialogue between the users of the chairs, and ultimately creates a mechanism which acknowledges the continuance of a person's presence to third parties observing the process.

To make a long story short, I have rarely been so excited about creating something.  I guess you can expect a lot more physical computing out of me.  Also expect some Processing very soon.