Carnegie Mellon University, Fall 2007

In this hands-on design-build class you will learn the skills to embed sensors and actuators (light, sound, touch, motion, etc.) into everyday furniture (tables, chairs, etc.) and to program the interactive behavior of this furniture with a microcontroller. Through weekly exercises the class will introduce simple analog electronics and programming, as well as exploration into using kinetics and materials to make the furniture you design perform. No experience is required but please note that the class demands that you master technical material. Emphasis will be on creating innovative experiences using simple robotic technologies. (Participants will provide their own supplies and materials.)