Lab+Seven

Physical Computing, Tangible Bits, and Different Prototype Methods for Authoring Devices
** Physical computing allows user to see feedback as well and provides them the ability to interact with the digital world from which they can control its outcome. Physical computing tends to have an interactive approach which includes the hands on feature as to the usage of physical tool such as a keyboard, mouse or so since physical computing is turning the real world objects into a digital form. It is leading to a virtual world where technology is available in our fingertips. Physical commuting helps humans communicate through computers hence humans are expressing themselves physically which transforms into a digital form.
 * Write four paragraphs to define the term 'physical computing'. (4 paragraphs) **
 * Physical computing is a term that defines either a collection of system or merely a system which includes its software and hardware that understands sensory input from the physical world hence making it interact with the analogue world. It describes a relationship between humans and the digital world. Physical computing is essentially the physical translation of motion that is performed by humans when they use a computer device which sends commands to the computer.

It is said that in physical computing, we take the human body as a given and the attempt to design within the limits of its expression. The process in physical computing starts with us learning how a computer converts the changes in energy given from our bodies in the form of sounds, touch, light and so forth into electronic signals which then can be read. Humans learn about the sensors which perform that task. They are called microcontrollers that read sensors and convert their data into readable data. One of the well know academic named Hiroshi Ishhi who specializes in the field of computer had conduced research which involves the relationship between individuals, the physical environment and digital information. He presented an example of physical computing, by the number of music bottles which play specific sounds regardless of whether the bottles are open or not. He gave physical form to computation and information about physical computing. ** Another example of physical commuting is Mistry’s invention of controlling movements for any activity he performs. He used his rubber fingers as a stylus to initiate movements on the screen. He called it a ‘//part of the sixth sense technology’//. He used the technology in many ways such as scanning a book and the Amazon site will appear which entails the ratings and reviews instantly. Another use is to look for flight information. Physical computig is essential in bringing the physical world to meet the digital world. ** //A similar technology called The talk table takes the particles that come out of your mouth and converts them into an electronic form on the talk table. Check the link out below://

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** Write two paragraphs each describing their prototyping methods, and describing what they are enabled to do. ** __**DTools**__ Dtools is the fist integrate support which offers designing, testing and analyzing prototyping. These are done at the early prototyping stage of physical user interfaces. An example given in the video included a navigation interface which is build for a hand held GPS device that works on orientation sensors. LCD screen and virtual counterparts are used which appear in the dTools environment. Visual representations are displayed by the usage of dTools, hence it includes motion sensors and accelerometers. By pressing buttons, one can zoom into a map hence the hardware input leads to virtual output. It also includes other features that other office colleagues test out by using the technology. It is used on a larger database. D Tools records all of the interactions of the user to make sure that all movements result into the desired output.

__**Exemplar**__

Exemplar is a manipulation and pattern recognition program tool that looks at interactions with the product via sensors. When compared to Dtools, Exemplar uses more sensors while, Dtools use more for physical interface. In addition, Exemplar can also be manipulated through data manipulation and help apply and refine filters. Unfortunately, Dtools can not support this. Exemplar software is a pattern recognition and manipulation tool which observes interaction with the product. It reviews and edits the visual representation of the action and tests its other behaviour by performing the action again. A prototype is used by automatic blinders. Exemplar uses sensors while dtools uses the physical interface. The required regions are highlights from the sensor signals. For example, it will try matching regions in two ways: where the food pedals are pressed (in the bike example) and where it is released in the form