lara's itp blog

Thesis

***SOFT SENSORS***

Four sensors I have designed within the last 2-3 months:

*Dual Pressure Sensor*

This sphere has 2 built-in variable resistors. The separate sensors do not get power until pressure is applied. The green dot shows you where to squeeze for one set of values, to get the other set, keep hands in place, rotate sphere 90 degrees and squeeze.
The more you squeeze towards to the middle, the less resistance you get.

Readings of Resistance
sensor 1 (green dot): ~870 – 300Ω
sensor 2: ~750 – 280Ω

When connected in series: ~1450 – 630Ω

dual pressure sensor – user from lara grant on Vimeo.

dual pressure sensor data graph from lara grant on Vimeo.

dual pressure in series – data graph from lara grant on Vimeo.

model: Lindsey Marcelle Case

*Stretch Sensor*

This sensor has 3 built-in stretch sensors made of wool yarn, elastic and conductive thread. Use them individually, or connect them in series to achieve one stretch sensor with a greater range of values. The more you stretch, the less resistance you get.

Readings of Resistance
sensor 1 (purple to green wire): ~50 – 18Ω
sensor 2 (yellow to brown wire): ~50- 18Ω
sensor 3 (orange to blue wire): ~60 – 18Ω

When all three are connected in series:
~170 -60Ω

One stretch sensor – user from lara grant on Vimeo.

Watch this video with the One Stretch Sensor Data Graph video below. Hit play on the one below first, then immediately hit the play on the user video above, they should play in sync from the sec difference… a split screen video is soon to come.

One stretch sensor data graph from lara grant on Vimeo.

Tri_stretch sensor data graph from lara grant on Vimeo.

model: Lindsey Marcelle Case

*History Eraser Button*

This sensor has 3 built-in switches, 2 digital (pressed straight from the top and squeezed at the pink dot) and 1 analog (once rotated 90 degrees from pink dot). There is no data graph for this sensor at the moment, but it has been hooked up to Max/MSP. The range of the analog switch is a bit hard to hear, this can be fixed by simply changing the range in the Max patch. The resistance lessens the more the analog switch is squeezed.

Reading of Resistance
analog switch: ~470 – 200Ω

Red button with Max/MSP from lara grant on Vimeo.

*Pinch and Stroke Sensor*

This stroke sensor is made up of 5 smaller sensors that work a bit like linear potentiometers. These smaller sensors are made of resistive and conductive thread zig-zagged on felt and put together with netting in between to help lessen sensitivity. This swatch is the first step to perfecting these smaller touch sensors, two of the five spikes are currently operable. Starting at the base, you pinch and slide your fingers up towards the tip. Greater at the base, the resistance lessens, ending up at almost zero once you get closer to the top of each spike.

Readings of Resistance
spike 1: 8.96 KΩ – 75Ω
spike 2: 5.23 KΩ – 24Ω

Two user videos that also record the data graphs are below, but for a closer look at the graphs, check out the separate videos made by screen recordings.