Physical Computing for Beginners

About

GREETINGS FROM SCHOOL OF MACHINES, MAKING & MAKE-BELIEVE!

We are an independent school in Berlin hovering at the intersections of art, technology, design, & human connection. We are trying to be more responsive to the digital/socio-political climate, and design courses that we think are needed in the world.

INTRODUCING PHYSICAL COMPUTING FOR BEGINNERS:

1 JULY - 26 JULY 2019
ACUD (VETERANENSTRASSE 21, 10119 BERLIN)
FOUR WEEKS, FULL-TIME IN BERLIN, GERMANY
UP TO 18 PARTICIPANTS ACCEPTED

How can we create meaningful interactive experiences and tell stories through sound, light, and movement? What parts of the physical world around us can be turned into an interface through which we can express our creative ideas?

COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK 1: Introductions, concepts, world-building, narratives, play, and critical discourse, introduction to electronics, sensors, Arduino microcontrollers.
WEEK 2: Tools and Techniques for making interactive games, experiences, and artifacts with physical computing. Getting to grips with mechanics, including different types of motors and higher-power electronics.
WEEK 3: Advanced physical computing for creating experimental interactive projects in public spaces. Building our own hardware, including custom circuitry and PCB fabrication.
WEEK 4: Discussing education and career opportunities in the field of physical computing. Creating collective narrative and interactive experiences which will be open to the public for a showcase on the final day of the program.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM: http://schoolofma.org/physical-computing/
APPLY HERE: https://schoolofmachines.agilecrm.com/forms/4604692500447232

Course leader

Alice Stewart /ALICESTEWWWART.COM/ Alice Stewart (born 1992) is a creative technologist and designer based between London and Amsterdam. As an educator, she has established Hackspace workshops at Kingston University and the Royal College of Art in Lond

Target group

WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR?
Join the diverse movement of digital artists, creative coders, game-modders, art-games communities, experience designers, immersive theatre writers, personal-games advocates, story-tellers, performance artists, street game enthusiasts, and champions of the playful as we spend a month this summer combining technology, storytelling, and interaction.

This course approaches these topics from an introductory level. No prior experience is required.

Course aim

IN THIS COURSE, YOU WILL LEARN
- Tools for generating ideas, developing mechanics, building stories, completing an idea
- Tools for creating interactive artworks
- Toolkits and platforms such as Arduino, Processing and Raspberry Pi
- Electronics and simple circuitry
- Creative mechanics and basic engineering skills
- Inputs and outputs: Motors, steppers, servos, sensors, LED strips, etc.
- Printed circuit board making
- E-textiles, smart fabrics, and wearables
- Making things wireless with Bluetooth and WiFi
- Making projects portable with power supplies
- Introduction to hacking and repurposing older artworks and interfaces
- Challenges and conversations on a play from a variety of perspectives
- An amazing network and community of like-minded creative beings and potential future collaborators
**No previous experience necessary**

Fee info