为了设计师电子电路的制作和编程
“To design a smart product, the designer cannot be dumb”
“PCB for Designers” is an experimental class with the ambition of filling the gap between the ideation of electronic devices and their fabrication. Our expectation is that a designer who knows how complex electronic systems are made will be able to create more meaningful and intelligent devices.
The design process began with the observation of a bioregion, a region defined by its ecosystem characteristics rather than by man-made divisions. To unfold the complexity of such a system, we focused on cause-effect relationships, such as air pressure and the shape of clouds, the ph level of the soil and the colour of flowers. Could we design an electronic system that operates somewhere within this relationship, with input sensors and output actuators?
The Studio relies on the maker’s approach to teach highly technical topics in only nine weeks. The outcome is a collection of interactive devices whose electronic components have been entirely designed and fabricated by the students. All the projects explore an aspect of nature and attempt to codify it and express it in an interactive relationship.
You find the seven projects described below; the source files of the projects are available in the wikifactory repository, also open for comment and contributions.
Fungi lamp – 盏热衷于传播的灯
“Fungi don’t live or die, they just spread”
by Dong Zixuan
This lamp is inspired by the way fungi spread. In theory, fungi don’t die, they just spread. They spread the population through spores. Every time you shake it, the lamp itself will lose some light and sprinkle some spot of light on the ground. This action of transmission occurs in the fungal kingdom in numbers tens of thousands of times and in volumes of tens of thousands of parts.
Fire banquet – 火宴
“feel the charm of different flames”
by Cai Xudong
Humans have known nature through fire for a long time. Now we can also observe the “fire” carefully. The essence of fire is a kind of energy. “Fire Banquet” is an experience interactive device that uses PCB and sensors to simulate the flame characteristics of different substances burning. Observe a “fire banquet” by igniting the fire and flipping the cube to change the state of the contacts.
Wish Egg – 许愿蛋
“Incubate and Make a Wish”
by Chen Jing
Wish Egg is a natural science toy that reproduces the influence of temperature and the position of embryo on the sex of the turtle. You can touch it (temperature sensors), shake it (tilt sensor) and even blow on it. When the temperature is suitable, lights and vibrations will alert you that the egg starts to hatch and after a while, wish you the baby turtle you want.
The Call of the Moon – 月亮的召唤
“To shout, to celebrate, to sing, to be part of the wild”
by Guo Qingqing
“The Call of the Moon” ties you to the moon, allowing you to (delightfully) accept its influence during each full moon cycle, like a free coyote. The moon automatically lights up every day at moonrise and goes out again at moonset, a constant reminder of the moon’s presence, even if you cannot see it in the sky. It turns to an unsettling red colour at the full moon, which can only be made to fade by yelling while wearing the lampshade (helmet), allowing you to shout, celebrate, relieve, sing, to be part of the wild.
Lichtung – 林中空地
“Listen…and connect to your nature”
by Huang Chongge
“Lichtung”, a beautiful empty space in the forest, a perfect place for pacifying mind and soul… Through a moisture sensor, this device interprets the status of soil into a joyful but subtle rhythm. It invites everyone to rest in an empty space of “modernism forest”. Listen to and interact with soil, grass and a tree. Then, offer them some water kindly maybe 🙂
ElectroMata412
“Electromagnetic fields are all around us.”
by Zhu Ziyi
We live in a world that is filled with electromagnetic radiation. Although some studies have shown that they have some impact on the life cycle of some animals, few of their secrets have been revealed. This device uses an antenna to detect the intensity of the EMF and outputs it with sound, light and the activity of the living creatures as a hint for the mysterious aspect of the nature around us.
Root for Thought
“feel the connection”
by Song Yue
Inspired by the “mycorrhizal network”, in which trees get to talk to each other with their roots connected by fungi, the interactive installation puts us underground to see the world beneath. Let’s be the fungi! Try to touch two different roots to make the connection happen!
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