This page has a breakdown of the general content that we will cover in each class. Major project due dates are listed on this page, as are assignments, test and critique dates. This schedule is subject to change.

Assignments and readings are due on the day under which they are listed.

Week 1

Tuesday, August 23nd - Introductions, Fantasy Device, Syllabus, Expectations

Thursday, August 25th - Blogs, Basic Electronics, Identifying Components - SLIDES

Due: review course syllabus - bring any questions to class
Read: How to Use a Breadboard
Read: Bret Victor’s A Brief Rant on the Future of Interaction Design

Week 2

Tuesday, August 30th - Using a Multimeter, Switches, Materials, Schematics

Due: Lab 1
Read: What is Electricity

Thursday, September 1st - Series and Parallel Circuits, Power Supplies, Soldering, Project Planning

Watch: Ohm’s Law Part 1 and Part 2
Read: Tom Igoe on Physical Computing’s Greatest Hits (and misses)
Read: Chris Crawford What Exactly is Interactivity?
Blog: post a written reaction to Crawford and answer the questions at the end of the reading

Week 3

Tuesday, September 6th - BTU Orientation, Prototyping Enclosures, Laser Cutting, Project Check-in

Watch: Schematics: Intro, Basic Symbols, and Review
Due: Lab 2

Thursday, September 8th - Enclosures, Laser Cutting, Work Time

Due: Lab 3

Week 4

Tuesday, September 13th - Project Critique, Documentation

Due: Project 1

Thursday, September 15th - Introduction to Arduino, Microcontroller basics, Digital in/out - SLIDES

Read: Microcontrollers: The Basics
Read: Sensors: The Basics

Project 1 Documentation is due at 8pm on Friday, September 16th

Week 5

Tuesday, September 20th - Analog input, mapping values, Serial out: print and println, testing sensors

Due: Lab 4
Read: Analog vs Digital

Thursday, September 22nd - Analog out, PWM vs frequency modulation, libraries in Arduino

Due: Lab 5

Week 6

Tuesday, September 27th - Quiz 1

Thursday, September 29th - Introduce Project 2, Timelines & Bill of Materials, Datasheets, Motors

Due: Lab 6

Week 7

Tuesday, October 4th - Open Source Hardware, Idea Generator

Watch: What is Open Source Hardware
Read: Production Bits
Read: Open Source Hardware Checklist
Read: Open Source Lab Froward

Thursday, October 6th - Project Workshop, Reading Discussion, Motors

Due: Project 2 Proposal
Read: Chapter 9 in Make It So
Read: Chapter 1 in Speculative Everything (chapter 2 is optional but highly suggested)
Watch: Speculative Everything

Week 8

Tuesday, October 11th - Guest Lecture with Jiffer Harriman: Hardware + Sound

Due: Lab 7

Thursday, October 13th - Guest Lecture with Jiffer Harriman: Hardware + Sound, Project Check-in, Work Day

Week 9

Tuesday, October 18th - Project Checkin, Work day

Thursday, October 20th - Schematics, Fritzing, EagleCAD, PCBs, Work Day - SLIDES

Week 10

Tuesday, October 25th - Presentations, Upcoming Project Discussion

Due: Project 2

Thursday, October 27th - NO CLASS

Project 2 Documentation is due by the end of the day on Friday, October 28th

Week 11

Tuesday, November 1st - NO CLASS

Thursday, November 3rd - Introduction to Serial Communication

Extra Credit - Halloween Costume

Week 12

Tuesday, November 8th - Serial Communication: Arduino to P5

Thursday, November 10th - Serial Communication: sending bytes out and ASCII interpretation

Due: Project 3 Proposal

Week 13

Tuesday, November 15th - Quiz 2

Due: Lab 8

Thursday, November 17th - Playtesting, show progress on final projects

Week 14 - FALL BREAK

Tuesday, November 22nd - NO CLASS

Thursday, November 24th - NO CLASS

Week 15

Tuesday, November 29th - Playtesting

Thursday, December 1st - Work Day - class is optional if attending the Friday Sparkfun tour

Friday, December 2nd - SPARKFUN VISIT @ 3pm

Week 16

Tuesday, December 6th - Work Day, Documentation

Wednesday, December 7th - ATLAS EXPO at 5pm

Thursday, December 8th - Critique & Project Presentations

Due: Project 3

Project 3 Documentation is due by the end of the day on Sunday, December 11th