LoveNest
| For pComp this week we explored analog inputs. IF you don’t know what that is, they are sensors that can detect light levels, force, pressure, flexing, etc… Physical Computing has become much more exciting now because sensors open up a whole world of possibilities for people to interact with computers. For our third lab in pComp, we were assigned to make a Love-O-Meter. You know, the thing that used to be at carnivals and such that told you how in love you are. Pretty much something that ‘measured’ love. Kacie, who is also in pComp, and I got to talking and decided, hey, we are in love, we should make a Love-O-Meter together-that would be cute. We got to brainstorming and decided we should make a game that emulates the moment when the Emperor Penguins pass the egg from one to another. If they don’t pass it fast enough then the egg dies and everyone is sad. In only kind of a weird way is the game we made a Love-O-Meter; but those penguins would probably have to be in love to get all of that walking/standing/huddling done. The game works like this: Each player, or ‘penguin,’ has a nest that they wear around their waist. One player starts with the egg in their nest, and has to pass it, without use of their hands, to the other player-Seem easy enough; but wait, the egg is sensitive to light. The longer it stays out in the open, the ‘colder’ it gets. The penguin couple has to pass the egg quickly before the egg gets too ‘cold’ (is in the light too long). Players know how ‘cold’ the egg is by a thermometer on screen that reacts to how much light the egg is receiving. If the egg is passed without getting to ‘cold’ then HOORAH, the couple is successful. If anyone is interested, heres how the whole thing works: The egg has two photo (light) sensors embedded in it along with resistors and stuff) that send serial signals to the computer (through the Ardurino). These signals are saying ‘the egg is receiving X amount of light right now.’ A program is running on the computer that adds up the total light the egg as seen and displays the information on screen via a thermometer graphic. If the egg sees its limit light before the egg is successfully passed, then the game is over, and a graphic of two sad penguins is displayed. The game is quite tricky, but really fun (and a little awkward) to play. See video for demonstration. |
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