University of Southern California - School of Architecture
Faculty: Kyle Konis, Ph.D
Prerequisite: None
Fall 2014
ARCH 599
ARCH 599: Physical Computing: Linking Architectural Computing with the Physical
World
Constructing and examining responsive surfaces, objects, and environments with physical
computing tools.
Elective, interdisciplinary course (3 units)
Course Synopsis
This course is as a seminar and workshop exploring physical interaction with computational
media in real time. The widespread diffusion of sensing, computational, and communicative
media into the physical realm presents an opportunity for exploring and constructing intelligent
objects understood through dynamic and complex relationships of adaptation and improvisation
to the environment, the site, and the human body. The course will chart and explore a range of
approaches for integrating computation into the physical realm through a series of projects using
physical computing prototyping tools.
This course is focused on self-directed, project-based learning within and experimental and
collaborative setting. Students will design and develop projects that use sensors and
microcontrollers to translate sensory input to control electro-mechanical devices such as motors,
servos, lighting or other hardware in real time. There are no prerequisites for the class. While no
experience working with electronics is required, basic knowledge and willingness to learn
programming and physical prototyping is assumed.
Course Format
The class meets 3 hours per week, XX:00am - XX:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On
Tuesdays, there will be lectures, student presentations and discussions based on assigned readings
and projects. Thursdays will serve as a lab session where we will do hands-on physical
computing exercises using physical computing prototyping platforms such as the Arduino.
Student completion of lab exercises is encouraged but lab work will not be graded. The course
will rely heavily on online materials, technical forums, and the sharing of knowledge within the
class. The course projects will be loosely divided into making responsive objects, the use of
sensing to enhance experience and understanding of the physical world, and the construction of
physical prototypes that augment understanding of digital environments.
Evaluation Criteria
The grade shall be determined by student performance on three assignments and a substantial
self-directed final project.
Assignment/Presentation/Exam
Assignment 1: Case study
Assignment 2: Elegant motion
Assignment 3: Environmental sensing and articulation
Final project proposal
Final project mid-review
Final project demonstration
Total
Points Possible
10
10
10
10
20
40
100
Equipment
Students will be required to purchase a kit of basic parts and tools for this class as well as supply
the materials for their final project.
Weekly Schedule
Week 1 When Not to Inhale
Lecture topics: Class introduction and overview, getting started with Arduino, joining the
collaborative world of physical computing, developing a prototyping workflow.
Assignment 1 handed out
Lab topics: Overview of lab tools and safety (e.g. soldering), installing the Arduino programing
environment and interfacing with basic components through the completion of a series of
exercises.
Week 2 Elegant Movement
Lecture topics: Actuation, elegant and not-so-elegant approaches, presentation of Assignment 1
Assignment 2 handed out
Lab topics: Actuating a simple servo, exploring other modes of actuation
Week 3 Basic Interactivity
Lecture topics: Basic interactivity
Final project description handed out
Lab topics: The simple network (2-way communication)
Week 4 The Sensor Rodeo
Lecture topics: Overview of low-cost devices for environmental sensing.
Lab topics: Reading data streams from a range of sensor inputs, basic data visualization
Week 5 Augmented Environments
Lecture topics: Digital overlays on the physical world, physical data into the virtual world
Assignment 3 handed out
Lab topics: Presentation and review of Assignment 2.
Week 6 Bridging the Gap Between Digital and Physical
Lecture topics: Introduction to Firefly
Lab topics: Final project proposal presentation and review.
Week 7 Kinetic Structures and Systems
Lecture topics: Simple and complex mechanical systems for movement
Lab topics: Presentation and review of Assignment 3.
Week 8 Kinetic Structures and Systems 2
Lecture topics: Linking actuation with fabricated forms and systems
Lab topics: Simple actuated
Week 9 Final Project Midterm Presentations
Lecture topics: Final project midterm evaluations
Lab topics: Final project midterm evaluations
Week 10 An Introduction to Data Visualization
Lecture topics: Processing, data storage and visualization
Lab topics: Introduction to Processing.
Week 11 Going Wireless
Lecture topics: Simple forms of wireless communication, wireless mesh networks
Lab topics: Simple wireless communication exercise
Week 12 Supervised Work on Final Project
Lecture topics: Project updates and expert feedback on final projects
Lab topics: Final project work session
Week 13 Supervised Work on Final Project
Lecture topics: Project updates and expert feedback on final projects
Lab topics: Final project work session
Week 14 Supervised Work on Final Project
Lecture topics: Project updates and expert feedback on final projects
Lab topics: Final project work session
Week 15 Final Project Presentation
Lecture topics: Final project presentation and review
Lab topics: Final project presentation and review
Week 16 No class
Complete projects and documentation due to instructor and uploaded to course website
Recommended Books / Resources
There is no required text that must be purchased for this course. The books below are available
for free online viewing from USC.
1. Tom Igoe, 2011. Making Things Talk [2nd Edition]: Using Sensors, Networks, and
Arduino to See, Hear, and Feel Your World.
2. Massimo Banzi, 2011. Getting Started with Arduino, 2nd Edition.
A growing list of supporting resources will be distributed on the course website:
www.performance-and-form.com
Recommended Materials / Parts
This course will require you to have basic prototyping tools and purchase the course materials /
parts kit. Students must carefully consider the budget for their final project. A comprehensive list
of resources will be provided.
Course Website
To broaden available knowledge, the course will operate using a course website where students
can post project updates, questions, and code snippets. Students will upload videos of work to a
Vimeo channel to document and demonstrate project status.
www.performance-and-form.com
Statement for Students with Disabilities
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register
with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved
accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to my
TA) as early in the semester as possible. DPS is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30AM-5PM,
Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.
Statement on Academic Integrity
USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty
include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that
individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations
both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using
another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these
principles. Scampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section
11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/SCAMPUS/gov/
Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for
further review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can
be found at:
http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS/
Attendance and Late Work
Attending classes is a basic responsibility of every USC student who is enrolled in courses at the
School of Architecture. Although any student should be evaluated primarily on their
demonstrated knowledge through project development, papers, quizzes, and exams, the School
believes important skills such as verbal presentation, design discussion and articulation of critical
issues within each course are equal additional measures of demonstrated knowledge, particularly
for our professional degree programs.
More than two unexcused absences may result in a failing grade. More than two instances of
unexcused tardiness will be counted as an absence. Work turned in late will not be accepted.
Any student not in class within the first 10 minutes is considered tardy, and any student absent (in
any form including sleep, technological distraction, or by leaving mid class for a long
bathroom/water break) for more than 1/3 of the class time can be considered fully absent. If
arriving late, a student must be respectful of a class in session and do everything possible to
minimize the disruption caused by a late arrival. It is always the student’s responsibility to seek
means (if possible) to make up work missed due to absences, not the instructor’s, although such
recourse is not always an option due to the nature of the material covered.