Method

On Monday, we hosted a workshop at Etsy Labs in their DUMBO workshop on physical computing. Beginning with a quick introduction to what physical computing is and the platform of choice (Arduino), we quickly broke into small groups to start tinkering with the code, Arduino, and various outputs we provided: LEDs, Piezo buzzers, and motors.

Why Arduino? The open-source prototyping platform has its own simple processing language, has a huge community behind it (and many resources – including code) , and is widely being used currently by designers, technologists, artists, and people looking to prototype and create products for varying uses.

The Etsy community was incredibly enthusiastic about the project, which was to create a memory bracelet that would remind you at intervals if you needed to perform a certain action. For example, if you needed to take a medication every day, check your blood pressure hourly, or even remember to look away from the computer every 20 minutes, the bracelet could light up, buzz, or make a sound to remind you.

To give them a context to work with, we gave them a challenge to program and design a physical therapy bracelet that would alert you would need to perform a certain action – for example, take medication, exercise, or check your blood pressure. We provided the Arduino devices to perform basic outputs – such as a blinking light or a ringing buzzer – and asked the participants to customize the Arduino code to program the outputs to occur on schedule.

The participants took to the challenge with creativity, creating new contexts for the outputs. One group, using additional sensors that we brought to the workshop, programed the blinking lights to respond to motion. Another took a stab at making the technology wearable, creating a shirt that housed the Arduino and wiring so that the shirt could light up.

We are really excited to share a taste of what we have been tinkering with for Method PLAY with the public. View the presentation we shared for an introduction to physical computing and the project, watch a 10-minute demonstration I gave for their live-stream, and learn more from the links included below.

Additional Resources:

Where to buy
Arduino’s Website
Sparkfun for sensors and outputs
Books on Amazon