This first week in my personal adventure of studying the Fab Academy is to code a website as way for documenting my progress and research while I'm doing the assignments, share interesting information with peers and that can be recalled when I need it. Also I have to think which project I want to build when I finish this course.

Sections / Lesson and Review / Personal Web / Git / Project

Lesson

Academany Fab-2016.01.27D Lesson 01: Project Management from Fab Academy on Vimeo.

Review

Academany Fab-2016.02.03B Review 01: Project Management from Fab Academy on Vimeo.

Build a personal site in the class archive

As is usual we had the assignment of build our own personal site in the class archive describing ourselves and start planning and sketching our final project.

These previous weeks I started to look others years students pages as they are a valuable resource, where you can get ideas and identify potential advantages and avoid mistakes, I thing that sure I won't be able to achieve

I choose use a template for this first week, for saving same time and from that basic website start this Fab Academy web. This website will be a living place where I have to update several times each week, so I will take the chance to improve a little the website in each iteration

Update (25-3-2016). After 3 weeks I changed the template and update the design for a much complex and improved one

I use a GUI based program called Coda as is more easy with code completion, color highlights and so much other little tweaks.

Coda

Version control with Git

This year we don't have to fight with Mercurial, and the webs for students are now version controlled by Git in with the web Gitlab You have to generate ssh keys to make secure connections

Git

Also I use a program to make easy the use of git commands like commit. It's named Tower

The first weeks I was alone in my supernode, but later as Fab Asturias was shutdown I share my space with my classmate Luis Díaz so I also learnt better to be careful with heads and make before pull than push

You can see how we work at the final of Fabacademy

Git

I didn't use SourceTree a lot as I'm fine with Tower, but if you need a free good app this is nice an very similar. My classmate Marta Verde make a little tutorial.

Plan and sketch a potential semester project

One of the most pleasant things to view is how Fab lab managers introduce new people into the big possibilities that a fab lab brings. But doing this tours each time can be time consuming and repetitive even they do it with a smile in their faces.

So why don’t use the infinite possibilities of a Fab lab for improve this recurring situation and immerse new people in an interactive tour of the fab lab. Allowing people to choose their own route to the Fab Lab.

The proposal is create a device that with contactless technologies read the information within smart objects, created with the machines and fab lab techniques, triggering the display of audio, video and lights in each of the fab lab machines. briefing the users with valuable information.

Main Goal

  • Design, create and build using fab lab techniques, a device that read the information within smart objets with contactless technologies. The device will transmit orders using wireless technologies.
  • Design, create and build using fab lab techniques, devices that being nodes of the central device, that receive orders by wireless technologies and control lights o other systems. Protocols like DMX or Midi are strongly looked for.
  • Wireless technologies can be Bluetooth, RF, Wireless, XBee… Depending the feedback of instructors and community.
  • Make the system modular to allow being improve with other additional modules.
Project Proposal

Concrete Goals

  • The device will be enclosed in a totem style box, where each module will be stackable.
  • Hexagonal shape will be the most ideal shape in this stages of design
  • Each module will be build trying different joints for its parts and some of the faces will be engraved with laser cut.
  • Maybe be decorated with some objects printed in 3d or cut by laser.
  • Design and adapt an electronic board based in Arduino and with NFC capabilities that will be the main core of the system. Also will include wireless transmission.
  • Design and adapt an electronic board based in Arduino that receive data by wireless and change lights.
  • Code a program that react to the choices of users and play audio and video related.
  • Design and create smart objects with 3d printer, and laser cut techniques.

Optional Goals

  • Study magnetic levitation for make a module that power on the system.
  • Make the device module or any other additional module rotate to show which state is selected.
  • Study forms to create holographic structures with methacrylate.
  • Study forms to create projecting surfaces using modular shapes.
  • Add interactivity to smart objects (lights, movement).