Little Helpers incorporate an ultrasonic sensor and a motor with Arduino resulting in a simple way to make environments more interactive -
Bodies moving through a space trigger motors, sounding whatever object they are attached to. Movements acquire a resonant trace. The use of movement as a trigger is intended to initiate performative engagement, drawing passersby into interactive exchange and making audible the impact of their movements upon their immediate surroundings.
Check out the project page for video and source code - Little Helpers
Great idea (if a little pricey), but if the Boston police get all hot and bothered over circuit boards and people everywhere are getting their cameras lifted for taking "terrorist" snapshots, what's going to happen when you start leaving proximity fuses around?
Posted by: Will Schrimshaw on May 8, 2008 at 6:50 AM
yes, it is a bit pricey, I looked into building the ultrasound module myself, but it only saves a few quid and the time it would take makes up for what I'd save in cash. Using avr rather than a full arduino module saves space and cash, and makes them a bit more solid.
Luckily the police in Newcastle aren't quite as spooked about such things as those in NYC. Most people seem non plussed although builders, arty students and kids quite enjoy dancing around with them.
Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!
More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)
Behind the Scenes at MAKE and CRAFT
In January, many of the remote MAKE/CRAFT team members (myself included) convened at the Maker Media headquarters at O'Reilly Media in Sebastopol, California. Take a look behind the scenes of your favorite DIY publications as Goli Mohammadi gives us...
More...
Sign up for the Make: Newsletter
Our Make: Newsletter covers news from maker Media, has original columns, Shed deals, and more! You can also read the archives of past issues.
RSS
Great idea (if a little pricey), but if the Boston police get all hot and bothered over circuit boards and people everywhere are getting their cameras lifted for taking "terrorist" snapshots, what's going to happen when you start leaving proximity fuses around?
Reply to this comment
yes, it is a bit pricey, I looked into building the ultrasound module myself, but it only saves a few quid and the time it would take makes up for what I'd save in cash. Using avr rather than a full arduino module saves space and cash, and makes them a bit more solid.
Luckily the police in Newcastle aren't quite as spooked about such things as those in NYC. Most people seem non plussed although builders, arty students and kids quite enjoy dancing around with them.
Will.
Reply to this comment