Project Round 2

The name of the game is an RSSIV data feed.

Focus Of This Project- Simon

•Bringing real world data into your work

•Focus on non-linear playback of media

•No coding required (but you can if you want)

Knowledge is Power

The foundation of Knowledge is Data

   For this project we have to create a chunk of media to fit an RSSIV feed that Simon has created. RSSVI's is a processing sketch that acts as a client, pulling data from the Eco-OS server. As a group we can focus on audio or visual, probably do both, a lot more fun that way. We can also use a controller for the feed, or to create one ourselves, this allows some control over the data feed.

Ecoid- Information taken from i-DAT.org

Eco-OS explores ecologies. Eco-OS further develops the sensor model embedded in the Arch-OS system through the manufacture and distribution of networked environmental sensor devices. Intended as an enhancement of the Arch-OS system Eco-OS provides a new networked architecture for internal and external environments. Networked and location aware data gathered from within an environment can be transmitted within the system or to the Eco-OS server for processing.

Eco-OS collects data from an environment through the network of ecoids and provides the public, artists, engineers and scientists with a real time model of the environment. Eco-OS provides a range of networked environmental sensors (ecoids) for rural, urban, work and domestic environments. They extend the concept developed through the Arch-OS and i-500 projects by implementing specific sensors that transmit data to the Operating Systems Core Database. Eco-OS also enables the transmission of data back to the Eco-OS ecoids to support interaction with the environment (such as light shows and the transmission of audio/music in response to the network activity).

Eco-OS Core Database: is an extension of the established Arch-OS Core database. The Eco-OS Core collects the data transmitted to it by the ecoids. The data is parsed up and published through a range of flexible tools (flash, Max MSP, Processing, Java, etc), feeds (xml, rss) and web 2.0 streams, such as Twitter and Facebook, which allow artists, engineers and scientists to develop visualisations, sonifications (music) and interactive projects. Eco-OS can operate in passive mode, simply collecting data from the environment or interactive mode, feeding back recursively through the environment.

Ecoids: are sensor devices (small pods) that can be distributed through an environment (work place, domestic, urban or rural). The sensors allow environmental data to be collected from the immediate vicinity. The sensors can be connected together through the formation of Wireless Sensor Networks (WNS) that enable the coverage of an extensive territory (several kilometres). Each ecoid has a unique id and its location within a network can be triangulated giving its exact location. Consequently locative content can be tailored to a specific geographical area.

Ecoids consist of programmable (Processing, Java, etc) embedded technologies (Arduino, etc) and network technologies (Zigbee/Xbee, GPRS and Bluetooth). Designed to be attached to objects (architecture, trees, rocks, etc), free form (water-based, balloons, free standing) or as mobile sensors. They can be powered or draw power from the environment (solar).

Ecoids can also be used to produce content be receiving instructions from Eco-OS. Distributed performance can then be orchestrated across a large territory through light displays or acoustic renditions.

The Operating Systems project explores data: as an abstract and invisible material our potential to perceive our reality through data marks an evolution in human consciousness, the evolution of human perception through the emergence of senses more finely attuned to data!

Data generates a dynamic mirror image of our world, reflecting, in sharp contrast and high resolution, our biological, ecological and social activities. Reluctantly, we are becoming aware of the data shadows that cloud the periphery of our existence, as if through a glass darkly. The reluctance is, to some extent, the result of the fear we feel when we catch a glimpse of this data/mirror world out of the corner of our eye. Somewhere there is an attic, and in that attic stands a large ugly data portrait of our world. Reified its metaphorical and haptic potential are powerful tools for transformation. Operating Systems proposes a range of tools and initiatives that have the potential to enhance our ability to perceive and orchestrate this mirror world.

Concept to Design to Implement

Inspiration
I had a very interesting drive home with a friend the other night, she was drunk but we couldn't decide if she was sober enough. If we had some sort of hand held breathalyzer on us then we could of tested her, need less to say we didn't and she drove us both home what seemed like quite drunk. But me being quite drunk as well, didn't mind too much, just looking back on it, it was a really bad idea. 

Other uses
Could use this for a drinking game for students


The Code






The Finished Product and Testing



How it works

The code first tells the Arduino board what sensor is attached (gas sensor). The sensor returns a value (in our case we are looking for the gas value of alcohol) when the program detects this value, when the user has blown into the sensor, it runs another mechanism o trigger power to something that is attached. What we originally wanted was to allow a connection with the battery, what we have now decided is a connection with the 5 LED's (3 green 1 amber and 1 red) we had attached. 

So it should now allow electricity from the battery to the LED'S. Yet another program would run, different values would light up different light sequences. Green for legally allowed to drive, amber for warning and red for illegal to drive. 

Here's the finished product: 

Despite a well researched and implemented code, and a fully tested circuit, our home-made breathalyzer was not sensitive enough to detect even an "illegal" amount of alcohol. This was because of the gas sensor we were given was not powerful enough even when I drunk quite a bit and breathed on it for a good 2 minutes. This design would just be practical in any situation or design that we could create, we would need a more sensitive gas sensor. As described by one of the team members: Iain: "you would have to be completely smashed, for it to detect any alcohol on your breath" 

The Idea

The thought process was based on a gas detecting sensor that can detect and echo a value for alcohol.

Once the alcohol value was picked, the team decided to aim at young adults that enjoy going out drinking, or playing "drinking games" (example: drinking a shot every time a character says a specific word when watching a movie).
We also decided to target "punishment" for when someone has been drinking too much. Like the designated driver for example whom can't go over a certain level of alcohol.
The general idea, is to "remind" or "scare" the drinker as a harmless prank for the unsuspecting alcoholic. But it can be used to associate a certain level of drinking with shock.

Iain as the diabolical genius he is managed to find a simple way of shocking someone by reversing the charge, but this may be problematic as the drunker you get the less neurons are fired around your brain meaning you feel less pain. So to up the charge so the user would feel the shock would be too dangerous and very unethical. 

What happens is the gas sensor detects a certain value as well as carbon dioxide (to determine if its a human, or just a strong smell of alcohol) and then turn on the battery which was wired through the glass to send a current through the drink, and to the drinkers tongue to give them a very light shock.

First question: 

Is alcohol conductive? 

We tested it simply using a 9v battery and an LED light. 

Yes. The sugars in the drink allow conductivity. 

Second question

Is 9v enough?

No. There was no shock or even a static sensation from the drink. 

Third question

Health and safety

Unfortunately due to the rules that are part of the course, we are unable to add any more batteries or a higher voltage. 

The amps in electricity are dangerous, and it doesn't take a high amount to cause harm, even though we are working with low numbers, we are not authorized to carry out these experiments, and neither are our tutors. 

Fallback 

As this is a very short project, we are sticking with the alcohol detecting, with a result used to warn the user that they have had enough. Unfortunately this takes the fun out of the idea, as initially it was to be used for pranks or "whose the first to get the shock". Now it is simply "who gets the red light first". 

Testing and Designs

Testing and Designs

The Team

• Natalie Williams -Concept and Impact Research
• Christa Briggs - Concept
• Josh Lane - Tester/ Documenter
• Iain Van Gardingen - Programming

This a test using Tango in a little trough, showing that it conducts electricity. We found out that Tango is the same density and conductivity as alcohol.

This helped us in your project as now we can conduct alcohol sending an electric shock to the user by basically reversing a transformer (so says Iain).  

The Equipment

Designing and Constructing

The Gas Sensor 

The Project

THE PROJECT!

HARDWARE- Hardware

Lee taught us basic Arduino today, a kind of refresher course. He shows his past projects to us, one project working with sound and light sensors to detect bats and their natural habits. This seems like a really interesting idea as ‘the bat’ is a hard creature to study close up, so using technology to detect real time situations is a unique idea.

Our idea is to create an alcohol detector, making the process of there being a sensor for the alcohol and then it lighting up a bulb if there is too much alcohol on the users breath. If there is alcohol detected on the users breath, then the battery port will turn on, turning on the light bulb. more making it flash.

Iain has even found out a way of shocking someone reversing a transformer, not sure how practical this way in the shape of psychical pain but we’ll see.



Equipment we will use...

The MQ-3 is an alcohol gas sensor that is available for about £5 from Sparkfun, Seeed Studio, and others. It’s easy to use and has sparked the imagination of anyone who has dreamed of building their own breathalyzer device for measuring the amount of alcohol in the human body.

http://arduino.cc/blog/2010/09/23/arduino-breathalyzer-calibrating-the-mq-3-alcohol-sensor/

Alcohol Gas Sensor MQ-3

This alcohol sensor is suitable for detecting alcohol concentration on your breath, just like your common breathalyzer. It has a high sensitivity and fast response time. Sensor provides an analog resistive output based on alcohol concentration. The drive circuit is very simple, all it needs is one resistor. A simple interface could be a 0-3.3V ADC.
Features:

• 5V DC or AC circuit
• Requires heater voltage
• Operation Temperature: -10 to 70 degrees C
• Heater consumption: less than 750mW

Dimensions:

• 16.8mm diameter
• 9.3 mm height without the pins

http://dx.com/p/mq-3-alcohol-ethanol-sensor-module-for-arduino-brown-blue-148800


Youtube examples.

This is a kickstarter project looking for funding.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1342192419/pulse-sensor-an-open-source-heart-rate-sensor-that


Arduino – Using a Sharp IR Sensor for Distance Calculation

http://luckylarry.co.uk/arduino-projects/arduino-using-a-sharp-ir-sensor-for-distance-calculation/

Using a Sharp GP2Y0A02 series infrared distance sensor it’ll detect and measure anything within a 20-150cm range and it does this by triangulation from where it emits a beam of IR and from when it receives it.