Module 1 Activity Research

Weekly Activity Template

Yuqi Guo

Project 1

Module 1

This activity helped me understand the relationship between hardware (circuit wiring) and software (code logic). By successfully making the LED light up and react to input, I gained a foundational understanding of how sensors and outputs communicate — a key concept for building interactive prototypes in later modules.

Activity 1

Photo 1: The initial setup of the breadboard and Arduino UNO. The LED and resistor were inserted into the breadboard, and a red jumper wire connects the positive rail to digital pin. Once the USB was plugged into the computer, the board’s power LED turned on, confirming the system was powered correctly. <a href='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tgbNymZ7vqY' target='_blank'><p>Project Video Link</p></a> The LED lights up after uploading a basic “Blink” sketch through the Arduino IDE. The LED turned on and off in rhythm, proving successful communication between code and circuit. <div class='container'><iframe class='responsive-iframe' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tgbNymZ7vqY'></iframe></div> Adjustments were made to shorten jumper wires and secure the resistor connection for a cleaner layout. After re-arranging the components, the LED emitted steady light with no irregular flashes. Two LEDs were added and connected to separate digital pins to visualize multi-output control. Both LEDs blinked alternately based on the programmed sequence, simulating a simple light pattern. A push button was integrated into the circuit; pressing it completes the circuit and turns on the LED. When I pressed the button, the LED instantly illuminated; releasing it turned the light off.

Activity 2

The Arduino IDE displays live readings from the AHT20 temperature and humidity sensor. The serial monitor shows values updating in real time. The ProtoPie Connect interface shows messages from Arduino (COM4) with continuously updating “temp,” “humidity,” and “degree” values. Data from the Arduino appeared in the message log in real time, showing that both software systems were successfully connected. The Smart Home dashboard prototype was built in ProtoPie, featuring a circular temperature dial, humidity display, and control buttons. The dial and text fields were linked to variables receiving real-time sensor data from Arduino through ProtoPie Connect. A potentiometer was added and programmed in Arduino IDE to send analog readings that adjust the temperature dial in ProtoPie. Turning the potentiometer updated the value on the serial monitor and simultaneously affected the dial’s visual rotation in ProtoPie. The final connected interface displays live temperature (25 °C) and humidity (54 %) values within a refined UI design on the mobile device.

Activity 3

TouchDesigner’s operator (OP) creation panel is used to build a network that visualizes real-time serial data. Different operator categories such as COMP, CHOP, SOP, and DAT are explored to understand their roles. A Serial DAT node was added to receive live data from Arduino through COM5. The incoming data stream was converted to a readable table format for visual mapping. A 3D sphere was created using Geometry (GEO), Light, and Camera operators. The sphere’s parameters were linked to the sensor data stream via CHOP channels. Math CHOP was used to normalize sensor values (0–100) into a 0–1 range for smoother animation control. The visual environment background was adjusted to enhance contrast. This process taught me how important data calibration is in physical computing — clean, scaled data makes interactivity feel natural.

Research Activity

WGSN Consumer Trend Research

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WGSN Personas Research

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HMI Research

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Project Path

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Project 1 Concept

Project 1 Concept

EmoSphere is a desktop companion device designed to enhance emotional connection through sensor-based interaction and empathetic interface design.

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