Professor C.E.B. Reas
Associate Professor C.E.B. Reas
Time: Monday & Wednesday 14:00 to 16:50
Location: Broad 4230
Content
This course is an introduction to computer programming and electronics within the context of the arts. Each student will build a foundation in basic programming (5 weeks) and electronics concepts (5 weeks) and will apply them to a series of exercises. This foundation serves as a platform for future learning within these areas during your graduate education. The class will be taught like a workshop, with demonstrations and time to work in the studio.
Week breakdown:
01: Form and Code. Creating images with code.
02: Media and Modularity. Working with images and typography; writing functions.
03: Interactivity. Mouse and keyboard input.
04: Motion and Multiplicity. Creating animation with code; using arrays.
05: Code extensions. Extending software beyond the screen.
06: Electrical components. Basic electricity; using resistors, capacitors, and diodes.
07: Microcontrollers. Code for small computers.
08: Sensors. Sensing the world (light, touch, distance, etc.)
09: Actuators. Acting on the world through motion.
10: Communication and Documentation. Sending data between machines; archiving and presentation.
Assignments
For the first half of the class, participants will complete many small programming exercises and a midterm project. The second half introduces basic electronics, including electrical components, sensors, and actuators. This portion of the class has two projects. All projects will be documented online.
Required texts (Available at the UCLA Bookstore)
Casey Reas and Ben Fry. Processing: A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists. MIT Press.
Dan O'Sullivan and Tom Igoe. Physical Computing: Sensing and Controlling the Physical World with Computers. Thomson Course Technology.
Evaluation
The grading is based on the three projects (60%), the quality and completion of the exercises (20%), class participation (10%) and documentation (10%). Feedback for projects will be primarily qualitative and verbal, but numeric scores will also be given. More than two absences without the professor's prior permission will lower the participants final grade by one unit (e.g. an A will become an B). With each additional unexcused absence, the grade will drop an additional unit. All exercises and projects must be completed to pass the course.
Materials List
1 Arduino USB board
2 Solderless breadboards
1 Transformer (12V, 1000mA, 2.1 mm female plug, center positive)
Additional components will be required depending on your projects. The Arduino board can be purchased at Sparkfun.com (they are currently out of stock!) and the others at either Jameco or take a trip to All Electronics.
