CSCI 11: eTextiles

Description

Digital data is being infused throughout the entire physical world, escaping the computer monitor and spreading to other devices and appliances, including the human body. Electronic textiles, or eTextiles, is one of the next steps toward making everything interactive and this course aims to introduce learners to the first steps of developing their own wearable technology devices. After completing a series of introductory eTextiles projects to gain practice in necessary skills, students will propose and design their own eTextiles projects, eventually implementing them with Lilypad Arduino components, and other found electronic components as needed. The scope of the project will depend on the individual’s prior background, but can include everything from a sweatshirt with light-up turn signals for bicycling, to a wall banner that displays the current air quality of the room, to a stuffed animal that plays a tune when the lights go on, to whatever project you can conceivably accomplish with Lilypad Arduino inputs, outputs, and development board in a two-week time period. People with little computer programming experience will learn to edit snippets of Arduino code for their purposes. People with considerable computer programming background will learn some of the idiosyncrasies of programming for Lilypad Arduino which should be transferable to other Arduino platforms.

Method of evaluation/requirements: final project

Prerequisites: CSCI 134 is encouraged but not required

Enrollment limit: 19

Selection process: preference to Computer Science Majors

Cost to student: $95