Networked Objects

Class Description

This course explores the possibilities and challenges of designing alternate physical network interfaces. In physical computing, students learn how to make devices that respond to the wide range of human physical actions. This class builds on that knowledge, covering methods for making interfaces talk to each other. On the physical interface side, students will learn about a variety of network interface devices, including microcontrollers, network radios, and serial-to-Ethernet converters. On the network server side, basic server-side programming techniques in PHP will be introduced. On the desktop computer, basic network techniques in will be covered in Processing. Students should be comfortable programming in at least one language (Processing or PHP preferred), and with the basics of physical computing. Topics of discussion include: networking protocols and network topologies; network time vs. physical time; coping with network unreliability; planning a network of objects (system design); mobile objects; and wireless networks of various sorts. Students undertake a series of short production assignments and final project, and keep an online journal documenting their work and reading. We will also do some reading and discussion of contemporary work in the field.

• Syllabus
• Assignments
• Parts
• Class Blog
• Announcement & Discussion List

Code

• Making Things Talk
• Arduino Ethernet Examples:
  • Web Client
  • Web Server
  • Chat Server
• Pong Client Example v1.08 (for Arduino Ethernet Shield or compatible Wiznet)
• Pong Server for Processing
• Espionage Sample Code v1.00 (initial version, beta testing needed)
• XBee Terminal Max for Processing (improved version 1.04)
• XBee_Terminal.pde older version for Processing
• XBee Analog Duplex Sender.pde for Arduino
• XBee I/O Reader Library (a work in progress) by Dan Shiffman & Rob Faludi

Resources

• WIZnet Shield

Lectures

• Lecture Archive