Conceptual Information Arts (CIA)
Links: Physical Computing, Electronics, Alternative Interfaces, GPS

Stephen Wilson, Professor, Art, Conceptual/Information Arts Program, San Francisco State University
Information about the Conceptual/Information Arts program     swilson@sfsu.edu    Wilson web page

Alternative Interfaces

• Wilson.Artlinks list of artists working with alternative interfaces
• Links to Artists working with physical interfaces to the web
• Links to Artists workgin with robotics/kinetics
• Links to researchers working in haptics, motion detection, gesture recognition, activated objects

 

 

• Chapter - Art exploring alternative interfaces and device control - motion, gesture, activated objects  (Chapter 7.4 from Stephen Wilson book Information Arts:Intersections of Art, Science and Technology - MIT Press, 2002)
• Chapter - Research Themes in alternative interfaces - Chapter 7.1 Information Arts
• Chapter - Theorists reflecting on digital culture - Chapter 7.2 Intormation Arts
• Chapter- Art exploring integration of physical world and the web - Chapter 6.4 Intormation Arts

Interface Box Resources

• EZIO interface box (serial rs-232)
• I-Cube interface box (MIDI)
• Arduino Board  (open source usb interface board)
  

 Electronics Tutorials & Resources

• Electronics Launcher - tutorial and component guide (recommended)**
• Think Quest - Introduction to Electronics
• Introduction to Analog Electronics
• Alex's Library - EDUCATIONAL TUTORIALS
• Basic Electronics.COM - Theories of Electronics
• ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
• Electricity and Electronics: Teaching and Learning Resources
• Electronics Links - Tutorials etc
• Theremin - Build your own

• Instant Soup
  
• HackaDay
• Make Magazine
• see also Wilson list of science sources at end of Organizations link pages
  

• Tom Igoe's sournces  (NYU Physical Computing Course)
  
• Spark Fun
  
• Jameco Electronic parts & kits
• American Science.Catalog Index
• Electronics Links - Supply sources etc.
• Supercircuits Inc - Alternative Video, spy video, etc.
• Listo' Catalogs and Sources
• Edmund Scientific
• Audio Related Internet World Wide Web & FTP Sites
• HSC Electronic Supply - Home Page
• HKBU hobbyist robotics resources
• H&R. surplus electronicsClose Outs
• All Electronics (parts,surplus)
• Live Wire (electroluminescent wire)

• Nuts & Volts Magazine
• Circuit Cellar - Articles on electronic construction projects
• Circuit Cellar - Article on $30 web server
• DonTronics - Basic Stamp Page.
• Parallax, Inc.-STAMP

• EE Design Center - QuestLink Technology
• Chip directory
• Electronics Links - Chip specifications etc.

•  ADI Products-unusual sensors
•  Allegro MicroSystems powersink arrays
•  The QProx -make things proximity
•  MicroStamp RF Development Kit
•  Uniax-flexible flat electroluminescence
•  Information Storage Devices-ISD: VOICE SOLUTIONS IN SILICON
•  Adding Speech Recognition with VoiceDirect is a Snap!

Electronics-how to books
 
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Building Robots by Gareth Branwyn (Solarbotics.com, $19)
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Building Robots Parts Bundles (Solarbotics.com, $32 for Walker, $21 for Mousey)
 

Courses in Physical Computing and the Arts
 
 

Interface boxes of defunct companies - out of business - no longer supported

• Wilson How-to-Guide for using ADB-IO interface in Director
• Wilson How-to-Guide for using CommonSense CNX cotroller in Director
• Beehive Technologies Main Page (source of the ADB-IO Interface)
• ADBIO Manual (table of contents on page 3 - document also available in PDF)

GPS

• Wilson Artlinks - Artists working with GPS
• Article - Art and GPS (Chapter 3.5 from Information Arts - sorry, restricted to CIA students only)

 

• Wilson How-to-Guide Using GPS information in Director
• GPSy Software home pageGetting Started Documentation Download Page
• GPSy GPS resource page includes FAQ and list of links
• Garmin 12xl users manual (Pdf format - 465k)
• ZScript Xtra for Director for sending and receiving appleScript

• Wilson Emerging Technologies Site - GPS tutorials and Research links

What is electricity, voltage, amperage, resistance, watts, power, ohm's law?
What is alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC)?
How does one work safely with electricity?
How do batteries , transformers, rectifiers, voltage regulators work?
How do power supplies work?

What are analog electronics?  How do tubes work?
How do transistors work?  What are emitters, collectors, bases, gain, bias?
What is the difference between a NPN and PNP transistors?

How do switches work?  What kinds are available?
How do relays work?  What so relay ratings mean?
What is an optoisolator?  How does it work?
What is a triac?

How do digital electronics work?
What is a truth table?
How does an AND, OR, NAND, and NOR gate work?
What is the difference between TTL and CMOS chips?
How does a multiplexer work?
What kind of other digital chips are available?

How does one work with breadboards?  How does one solder?
What is a multitester?

How do motors work?  What kinds of lights are available?
What is an LED?

How does one interface with a computer?
What special considerations must one be aware of?
 
 
 
 
  rev 7/30/06