Final Project - Wired Up
To create the project itself – these “Digital Wind Chimes” – we needed to design several things:

1) Wire flashlights to run from an outlet rather than from batteries (we couldn’t be changing batteries constantly now, could we?).
2) Configure the circuit to power the flashlights from an outlet without overloading them.
3) Wire the logochip to run the photocells.
4) Program the logochip to react to changes in photocell readings.
5) Select the sounds to play.
6) Rig the computer to automatically startup the program.

Step 1: We drilled a hole in the back of each flashlight. We soldered wires from the contact points near the bulb of the flashlights and ran them to adapter sockets placed in the hole we had drilled. Initially this worked fine, however when several bulbs did burn out we bypassed the sockets – it was easier to replace the flashlights without the sockets.

Step 2: You can view the circuit layout for the flashlights here.
This involves six flashlights designed to run from two ‘C’ batteries. After rewiring them they could all run from a single 9-volt adapter.

Step 3: To view Matt’s circuit for the logochip click here

Step 4: Matt’s logochip program can be seen by going to the site: artandsound.unkemptlogic.com and clicking the link: “This is the final version of the file.”

Step 5: The sounds we used can be downloaded at: http://unkemptlogic.com/files/sounds/

Step 6: You’ll need to visit this site for an explanation of this step, I am not well versed in this.

It should be noted that flashlights running from an adapter in this manner need special care. We have had several bulbs burn out on our flashlights. This is due to current passing through our adapter above the 9-volts it is meant to send. To remedy this problem either extra flashlights should be added to the circuit or resistors should be installed in the circuit to lower the voltage reaching the flashlights. A voltmeter or mulitmeter would be handy in measuring the current current.

In addition, fuses would be ideal because there are pairs of lights wired in parallel. Right now, if one light burns out it instantly overloads the partner light. Fuses would be much more convenient than our current process of replacing whole flashlights.

Final Project - Concept
In Art and Sound design my group was composed of Matt, Cheston, and myself (Steven).

Initially our project began as "Invisible Drums." The general Idea was to create a drum set with nothing in sight except for maybe a few spotlights. We planned to do this using photo sensors or infrared sensors.

We had one logochip rigged with photo sensors just to see if they would be sensitive enough. We had a small flashlight that we waved over the photocells. Low and behold... they worked great!

However, somewhere between the Drums and the waving flashlight, we concocted the idea of “Digital Wind Chimes.”

We planned to build an arch from rebar. From that we would hang flashlights aimed at photocells along the walls and floor. As people walked through, their shadows would trigger various sounds as the photocells were tripped.

For a few conceptual images of the arch go to: www.angelfire.com/planet/gu3d/chimes (sorry about the watermark).

Final Project Idea - Air Guitar
Mood:  on fire
I am considering making an Air Guitar.

Basically I need to construct a pair of sensor gloves, and then program them to recognize different finger positions.

The left hand will control the key (A, B, C, D, E, F, G), major/minor, and octave.

The right hand fingers will control the strings (four string guitar, so it will be more like a bass) and the thumb will control pitch and squeal.