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Project: Final presentation + blog

Now it’s time to share your project in class and on the blog. Presentation On April 26, 1:45p–4:45p, we will meet in the Kleinman Center. You will have 10 minutes for your presentation and 10 minutes for questions. Then, we will use the remaining class time for some post-project/last-day-of-classes celebrating with our OIT visitors! I […]

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Project: Presentation

You will present your first draft of your project in class on April 12 to me, your classmates, and a visitor from Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation and Technology (I think — this is still not totally confirmed). Your presentation will be 8 minutes long, followed by 10 minutes of questions/discussion. After, you will have chance […]

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Project: Tutorial

You are going to write a tutorial on how to do one little piece of your project. By writing the tutorial, you’ll get to know that part of your project really well (as they say, the best way to learn something is to teach someone else how to do it). You’ll also give back to […]

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Project: Diagram

Over the coming weeks, you will define your project, compile a list of the parts you need, and then order some of those parts. On 3/22, you will share your project idea with the class. 1. Create a 3 minute elevator pitch for your project. What is the problem that you see in the public […]

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Project: Overview

In your classes, studios and daily lives, you encounter problems and challenges in the urban and suburban environment. Your project will respond to one of these challenges by creating a digital (i.e., Arduino) intervention in the public realm in Philadelphia. This intervention will sense data in the urban environment and respond in real time (or, […]

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Lab 6. Air quality mapping

This week, we build on Labs 4 and 5 to map particulate matter concentrations in Philadelphia. Background Compared to many air pollutants, particulate matter do not travel far from sites of production—primarily combusting cars, trucks, and industrial facilities. Recent studies using microsensors to evaluate intraurban particulate matter concentrations show that far-away monitoring stations may not […]

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Lab 5. GPS logging

In this lab, you’re going to learn how to access GPS data, store it on a microSD card, and then map it. First, you’ll work through the GPS Logger tutorial on Adafruit. Then, you’ll change your SD output to a more user-friendly form (you’ll reuse this code in Lab 6). Finally, you’ll map your GPS […]

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Lab 4. Processing sensor data

You’ve worked with several sensors so far in this class. Now, in this lab, you’ll learn more about how to access and process sensor data. First, you’ll read about an Arduino-compatible air quality sensor. Then, you’ll use the serial monitor to view and save incoming data. Finally, you’ll plot your data in Excel (or you […]

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Lab 3. Circuits and motors

In this lab, you’re going to learn more about circuits and then you’re going to use that knowledge to help you power a motor. This lab is longer than the last labs, so leave so extra time. 1. Review what you learned in class. Read this primer on voltage, current and resistance at Sparkfun.  Read about […]

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Lab 2. Sensors

This lab has four parts. First, you’ll learn about libraries and how to open your serial monitor. Then, you’ll work with two new sensors: temperature/humidity and distance. Next, you’ll link sensing and response with the distance sensor and a buzzer. Lastly, you’ll look around the internet for other types of sensors—which sensors are you most […]