A soft circuit interface designed for students to learn from using the LilyPad Arduino, 8 ohm piezo speaker, 2 soft momentary switches and a soft potentiometer. Programmed using the Tone() function and playing with the delay() function to achieve different tempos.
This was built for a 2 day workshop at Gray Area Foundation for the Arts “Soft Circuitry with LilyPad Arduino”
Class Outline:
Soft Circuitry will cover the basics of electricity, circuitry building and the techniques and materials used to make soft circuits. Workshop participants will be given a historical overview of wearables in the context of fashion, art, and technology. Students will be given project-based instruction on basic circuitry and will construct soft circuits using conductive thread and fabric. No prior experience with electronics or sewing required. Limited space available. Students will walk away with circuits made in the workshop, as well as a list of sources for materials and further online resources to further their education outside of the workshop.
Day One:
+ History of wearables and an overlook of contemporary projects
+ Introduction to electrical components and schematics
+ Intro to wearable conductive materials
Hands-on portion:
+ How to prototype a sound generating circuit on a breadboard
+ How to use a multimeter
+ Making of wearable switches and variable resistors
+ Integration of switches and resistors with breadboarded circuit
Assignment:
Download and install arduino software from arduino.cc
Reading of interface design and aesthetic theory
Day Two:
+ Introduction to the lilyPad Arduino
+ Introduction to available sensors and handmade options
+ Power management
+ Translating from the breadboard to a soft circuit
+ Overview of electrical concepts
+ Overview of resources for materials and further education outside of the workshop
Hands-on portion:
Fabrication of musical textile