Week-to-Week Activity

This page provides a week-to-week breakdown of the class, with links to all related lessons, labs, and readings.

Week 1

Tuesday 09/02/25

In-Class Activity

Fantasy Device – As a class, we’ll make a list of fantasy devices; things that don’t exist, but that we wish did. For today, we’ll ignore technical feasibility and concentrate on how you’d operate these devices if they did exist. You’ll be divided into groups of 3. Pick a fantasy device from the list. Design a control interface for this device and demonstrate it in­ class.

Think about what a person has to see, hear, touch, etc. while operating the device. Think about what cues they need to understand the interface. Think about what parts of their body they need to have free, what gestures are best for triggering the device’s behaviors, and so forth. Build a mock­up of the controls from anything you can find nearby. At the end of class, one or two of you will act out the use of the device using your mock­up while the third person narrates.

Assignments for next class

You’ll get your parts kit in class today. This week, your main goal is to understand what those parts are, and to build your first circuits. The lessons and labs below will help with that.

Set up your Physical Computing Comp blog and e-mail the URL to your instructor.

Lessons

These two lessons give you background material for the labs you’ll do, which are linked below.

Related videos. These cover the same material as the lessons above:

Labs

These labs will give you a chance to practice what’s in the lessons. Try the labs below as soon as you have parts. Come to next class with questions:

Readings

The following readings provide some context for thinking about physical interaction design. You won’t be tested on whether you’ve read these, but your instructor may refer to these ideas in future class discussions.

Week 2

Tuesday 09/09/25

In-Class Activity

Since last week, you’ve built built some simple circuits and learned some of the terminology of electronics. We’ll discuss how it went for you, and answer any questions that came up.

We’ll also talk about documenting:

  • System diagrams (block diagrams of components in the system)
  • Circuit Drawings (Fritzing, circuits.io, Eagle, SVG, etc.)
  • Schematics (Fritzing, circuits.io, Eagle, SVG, etc.)

Assignments for next class

Go over the Electronics review questions. This self-graded quiz covers intro to electronics material. You should be able to answer all the questions in it by now. If there are any you’re not sure of, set up office hours with your instructor to discuss your understanding the electronics concepts.

Lessons

These lessons give you background material for the labs you’ll do, which are linked below. There are several, but they are all short and they build on each other.

Introduction to Microcontrollers:

Introduction to Programming Microcontrollers:

Related videos. These cover the same material as the lessons above:

Labs

These labs will give you a chance to practice what’s in the lessons. Try the labs below and come to next class with questions:

Readings

The following reading provides some context for thinking about physical interaction design. You won’t be quizzed on whether you’ve read this, but your instructor may refer to these ideas in future class discussions.

Week 3

Tuesday 09/16/25

In-Class Activity

Since last week, you’ve built your first microcontroller circuits and you’ve written programs to sense the physical world. We’ll discuss how it went for you, and answer any questions that came up.

Assignments for next class

  • Go over the Digital I/O review questions. This self-graded quiz covers the intro to microcontrollers and digital in and out. You should be able to answer all the questions in it by now. If there are any you’re not sure of, set up office hours with your instructor to discuss your understanding the electronics concepts.

Lessons

This lesson will give you background material for the labs you’ll do, which are linked below.

Analog Output: Pulse width modulation vs. frequency modulation

Related videos. These cover the same material as the lessons above:

Labs

These labs will give you a chance to practice what’s in the lessons. Try the labs below and come to next class with questions:

Readings

The following readings provide some context for thinking about physical interaction design. You won’t be quizzed on whether you’ve read these, but your instructor may refer to these ideas in future class discussions.

Week 4

Tuesday 09/23/25

In-Class Activity

Since last week, you’ve experimented with output from a microcontroller controlling light, sound, and movement. We’ll discuss how it went for you, and answer any questions that came up.

Assignments for Next Class

Go over the Analog In and Out review questions. This self-graded quiz covers the analog in and out labs. You should be able to answer all the questions in it by now. If there are any you’re not sure of, set up office hours with your instructor to discuss your understanding the electronics concepts.

Lessons

This week’s lesson is to go into more detail on learning about components. Review the following videos and data sheets and come to next class with questions:

Labs

This lab will give you a chance to practice working with sensors more.

Lab: Sensor Change Detection

Readings

There are no readings this week other than the videos and data sheets above.

Midterm

Come up with a concept for your midterm project. It’s due in week 7.

Week 5

Tuesday 09/30/25

In-Class Activity

Since last week, you’ve taken a look at a few electronic component data sheets and documentation. We’ll discuss, and answer any questions that came up. We’ll also talk some more about project planning and documents that are useful in making a project:

  • Project descriptions: how to describe your project for execution. How this differs from describing it conceptually
  • Drawings for project planning:
    • system diagrams
    • floor plans
    • elevations
  • Timelines
  • Bills of materials

Assignments for next class

Midterm

Start planning your midterm project. It’s due in week 7.

Lessons

These lessons will give you background material for the labs you’ll do, which are linked below.

Related Videos. These cover the same material as the notes above:

  • DC Motors (multiple videos)
  • The following videos cover additional material on stepper motors that we’ll cover next week, time permitting:
  • Stepper Motors (multiple videos)

Labs

These labs will give you a chance to practice working with motors and high-current loads.

Readings

The following reading provides some context for thinking about physical interaction design. You won’t be quizzed on whether you’ve read this, but your instructor may refer to these ideas in future class discussions.

Week 6

Tuesday 10/07/25

In-Class Activity

Since last week, you’ve learned about motors and high current loads. We’ll discuss the following, and answer any questions that came up.

Assignments For Next Class

Finish your midterm project. You will present it next week.

10/14/25. No Tuesday Classes

Monday classes meet on Tuesday this week. See the Fall ’25 Class Dates & Deadlines page on the ITP Help Site for details.

Week 7

Tuesday 10/21/25

Project Presentation: Midterm assignments

Present your midterm project. This will take the whole class period this week.

Assignments for next class

Lessons

These lessons will give you background material for the labs you’ll do, which are linked below.

Related Videos. These cover the same material as the notes above:

Labs

These labs will give you a chance to begin working with serial communication.

Reading

The following reading provides some context for thinking about physical interaction design. You won’t be quizzed on whether you’ve read this, but your instructor may refer to these ideas in future class discussions.

Sarah Hendren, All Technology is assistive 

Week 8

Tuesday 10/28/25

In-Class Activity

Since last week, you’ve learned about asynchronous serial communication between computers and microcontrollers. We’ll discuss, and answer any questions that came up.

Assignments for next class

Lessons

This week you’ll continue to practice serial communication in the lab exercise. The Serial Review Questions. This self-graded quiz covers the asynchronous serial labs. You should be able to answer all the questions in it by now. If there are any you’re not sure of, set up office hours with your instructor to discuss your understanding the electronics concepts.

Labs

This lab will introduce you to how to communicate using asynchronous serial communication in two directions.

Reading

The following reading provides some context for thinking about physical interaction design. You won’t be quizzed on whether you’ve read this, but your instructor may refer to these ideas in future class discussions.

Igoe, Making Interactive Art: Set the Stage, Then Shut Up and Listen

Week 9

Tuesday 11/04/25

In-Class Activity

Since last week, you’ve learned more about asynchronous serial communication between computers and microcontrollers. We’ll discuss, and answer any questions that came up.

Assignments for next class

Final Project

Come up with a concept for your final project.

Week 10

In-Class Activity

Tuesday 11/11/25

We’ll talk through everyone’s final project idea.

Lab Activities

Lessons

These lessons will give you background material for the labs you’ll do, which are linked below.

Related Videos. These cover the same material as the notes above:

Labs

These labs will give you practical experience with synchronous serial communication.

  • Synchronous serial labs – Try one of the SPI and one of the I2C labs. They all introduce I2C or SPI, just using different components.
  • Sensor labs (optional) – By now you’re ready to explore a wider range of sensors, many of which have I2C or SPI interfaces. The sensor labs section of this site offers more examples and information on how to use sensors. Read through them, and if you’re interested, see what sensors the shop has available to check out. Additionally, check out the sensor lesson notes.

Final Project

Continue working on your final project. Begin documenting the project if you haven’t already as well. Revisit the documentation page for more details on how to approach it. As a starting point, come up with a system diagram and a bill of materials.

Week 11

Tuesday 11/18/25

Since last week, you’ve learned about synchronous serial communication between computers and sensors and other electronic components. We’ll discuss, and answer any questions that came up.

Assignments for next class

Final Project

Prepare a playtest of your final project.

Week 12

Tuesday 11/25/25

In-Class Activity

In-class playtesting of final projects.

Assignments for next class

Final Project

Prepare an initial version of your final project.

Week 13

Tuesday 12/02/25

In-Class Activity

In-class final user testing of final projects.

Week 14

Tuesday 12/09/25

In-Class Activity

Final Presentations

You’ll present your final prototype in class, report on your test with participants, and if possible, and give some of your classmates the chance to interact with it. How long you have to present will depend on how many projects there are. We’ll divide the available class time such that each project gets equal time. In addition to the class critique, take written notes and hand them to your classmates after they present as well.