If you’re looking for an Art and Technology studio course to take this Fall 2019 semester, Physical Computing: Outside the Box is open for enrollment! The course catalog number is 3218 (Class number 2314), and will be taught by me, Jenna Boyles on Thursdays, 9am-4pm in MC 423.
If you’re interested, please enroll no later than June 25.
Course description:
This hands-on course embraces and develops a radically wider concept of computation that includes responsive, purposeful behavior that may be embodied in many types of physical media, objects and environments. Artists from many disciplines explore answers to such questions as: How can the computer perceive and understand the environment outside its box? Can the computer be taught to respond astutely to human gestures and actions in its vicinity? How can previously inert materials be given life? Basic programming and interfacing techniques for sensory awareness, embedded intelligence, communications, and purposeful behaviors are applied to the creation of intelligent objects and responsive environments in this multidisciplinary course that investigates the body’s physical relationship to technology.
An intro to Processing as well as Arduino with an emphasis on how to send and receive data between the two programs will be covered. Students will create interactive artworks in the form of sculptures, installations, and/or wearables depending on their personal goals. A foundation of in-class workshops and exploratory assignments lead to a final project based on self-directed research and development. The semester will begin with a field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry to see the Wired to Wear exhibition.
What is physical computing exactly? NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program breaks it down nicely here: https://itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/. I modeled this course on the ITP curriculum along with Leah Buechley’s High Low Tech group http://highlowtech.org/. If these spark your interest, Physical Computing is for you. You can also visit the class source page https://padlet.com/jennamboyles/outsidethebox for documentation from Spring 2019. Currently there is a showcase of work from the Spring 2019 Physical Computing class on view over the summer in the ATS Department on the 4th floor of MacLean. Here is a link to the video showcasing student work: https://vimeo.com/341453937
If you have any questions about the course, contact jboyles@saic.edu
