DXARTS 471 A: Mechatronic Art, Design, and Fabrication I

MW 09:30AM - 12:20PM DXARTS Electronics Area at McMahon Hall

CLASS MIRO BOARD:
https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVP1vAO_A=/
password: electronics

CLASS DISCORD SERVER:
https://discord.gg/SJrSMdwenq

This is a living document. Please check back at the beginning of each week for changes!

Instructor
Afroditi Psarra (apsarra@uw.edu)

Office hours via Zoom: https://washington.zoom.us/my/afroditipsarra or in-person at ART 333

(email for an appointment)

Teaching Assistant
Esteban Agosin (eagosin@uw.edu)

Office hours via Zoom, or in person at McMahon Hall (email for an appointment)

Description
Part one of a two-quarter sequence exploring the world of physical computing, creative coding and digital fabrication for art and design projects. Provides hands-on prototyping with digital/analog electronics, experimenting with interface design and programming with Arduino, Processing and PureData for the creation and control of interactive objects. The students will engage with the use of smart materials and learn to create their own sensors and actuators through digital crafting tools (such as laser cutters, cnc routers and 3d printers), as well as learn to conceptualize and fabricate responsive environments. Emphasis will be made in the use of mechanics and real-time interaction for multimedia installations and performances that explore surrounding space, movement and the role of the viewer/user in the creation of immersive experiences in the physical world.

Download the syllabus here: DXARTS 471 syllabus-1.docx 

Software to install

Arduino: https://www.arduino.cc/en/software

Fritzing: https://fritzing.org/ or Fritzing on Canvas

Software to simulate circuits online

TinkerCAD: http://www.tinkercad.com

Student Responsibilities
• Attend all classes
• Participate in class discussions and workshops
• Complete three mini-assignments
• Complete a final project and do a live demo

Essential Bibliography

$WIKI_REFERENCE$/pages/essential-bibliography

Policies
• Late work is not accepted.
• If you are experiencing hardness, or if you have a disability that you think may impact your participation in this class, please contact your instructors and/or Disabled Student Services. Every effort will be made to accommodate your needs.

GRADING (100 points possible)
• 45 - Assignments (3 assignments, 15 points each)
• 30 - Final Project
• 25 - Participation (in class discussions + studio activities)

Student Conduct Code

The University of Washington's Student Conduct Code applies to all students. Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic responsibility. Plagiarism and other kinds of academic misconduct are considered serious offenses at the UW. Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas without proper citation. It can range from failure to credit a single sentence or paragraph to passing off an entire article, speech or another student’s paper as one’s own.

Respect for Diversity Statement

The diversity students bring to this class (including gender identity, sexuality, dis/ability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, and culture) should be honored as a resource, strength and benefit. We will do our best to create an online environment in which each class member is able to hear and respect others. If something is said or done in the virtual classroom, or in a discussion, or in the group project process, by one of the instructors or other students, that is particularly troubling or causes discomfort or offense, we would like to know about it. While our intention may not be to cause discomfort or offense, the impact is something that we consider to be very important and deserving of attention.

Academic Accommodations

Your experience in this class is important to us. It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please activate your accommodations via myDRS so we can discuss how they will be implemented in this course.

If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), contact DRS directly to set up an Access Plan. DRS facilitates the interactive process that establishes reasonable accommodations. Contact DRS at disability.uw.edu

Pandemic Accommodations

These are difficult times, and we want to accommodate students as best we can. The university has resources or health and wellness, please take advantage of them if you want or need to. https://wellbeing.uw.edu/

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with remote classes, please alert your instructors to discuss accommodations. Most importantly, please take your self-care seriously.

The UW Food Pantry

A student should never have to make the choice between buying food or textbooks. The UW Food Pantry helps mitigate the social and academic effects of campus food insecurity. We aim to lessen the financial burden of purchasing food by providing students with access to food and hygiene products at no-cost. Students can expect to receive 4 to 5 days’ worth of supplemental food support when they visit the Pantry. For information including operating hours, location, and additional food support resources visit https://www.washington.edu/anyhungryhusky/the-uw-food-pantry/

Academic Honesty

Students at the University of Washington are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic conduct. Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct are considered serious offenses and could result in a variety of disciplinary actions, including suspension or permanent dismissal from the University.

For more information on Academic Honesty (Cheating and Plagiarism) see:

http://depts.washington.edu/grading/pdf/AcademicResponsibility.pdf

For information on Student Standards of Conduct see:

https://www.washington.edu/cssc/for-students/student-code-of-conduct/

http://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/WAC/478-121TOC.html

For information on UW COVID-19 Face Covering Policy see:

https://www.ehs.washington.edu/system/files/resources/COVID-19-face-cover-policy.pdf

Religious Accommodations

Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/).

Disability Resource Services

Your experience in this class is important to us. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course.

If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at 206-543-8924 or uwdrs@uw.edu or disability.uw.edu. DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and DRS.  It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.

Safety

Safe Campus:  https://www.washington.edu/safecampus/

Call SafeCampus at 206-685-7233 anytime – no matter where you work or study – to anonymously discuss safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others. SafeCampus’s team of caring professionals will provide individualized support, while discussing short- and long-term solutions and connecting you with additional resources when requested.