Playful Communication of Serious Research

I created a poem from my journal entries with python and Markov chains in a Jupyter Notebook. For the predictive text piece, I transcribed my journal entries around my birthday for the following ages: 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, and 23. In the output, the majority of the lines ...
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I created a timer application in which coins represent numbers in SwiftUI. The large coins represent minutes while the smaller coins represent seconds. I implemented a play and reset button. Code on Github: https://github.com/nickgran321/Nick-Grant/blob/master/TimerApp ...
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Did the outbreak of the coronavirus reinvigorate the virtual reality industry? How may computer-generated simulations combat issues that stem from social distancing? You scan the dimly lit dive bar. The brick walls, neon clicking bottles of beer, and old-school posters encapsulate you. A few feet away, a very familiar figure ...
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When you open Instagram or WhatsApp, you might have noticed the “from Facebook” tag on the bottom of your screen. The all-encompassing tech giant dominates our daily interactions with our smartphones, whether we’re are posting vacation pictures or exchanging ideas in workspace group chats. I’ve lost track of the amount ...
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What is the current state of AR? How will innovative WebAR transform personal shopping? Do you remember your first experience with augmented reality? Perhaps you added dog ears to your face with a Snapchat Filter. Or you caught Eevee in Pokémon Go. While the majority of smartphone users are familiar ...
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The coronavirus rocked the world, shattering institutions that have remained unquestioned for decades. With university standards reduced to rubble, students are looking towards Fall 2020 with extreme anxiety and skepticism. How do schools prepare for a second wave? Is the trust between college students and their education permanently broken? The ...
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Why are Zoom meetings so tiring? How do we invigorate ourselves during remote work? The end of the global pandemic is nowhere in sight. Students and workers alike have been thrusted into uncharted telecommuting territory. Gallery view and screen share are household terms, but Zoom meetings are still difficult to ...
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Do you believe that you have the power to attract success by changing your mindset? Are you creating every day and reaching your fullest potential? Published in 1910, some of the tenets of The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles are still relevant today. While the descriptions of ...
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With the telecommuting wave as a result of the global pandemic, workers have struggled with staying motivated. How can workers stay productive at home? What life hacks allow you to become more attune with both your surroundings and goals? Natural light is a free boost We have all experienced eye ...
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As tasks are performed remotely due to the coronavirus outbreak, will the workplace ever be the same again? If workers do not need to commute to their offices in the city, do they still crave urban living? The remote work trial run has begun. Telecommuting trends have dramatically increased over ...
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In Spring 2020, a team of researchers at New York University partnered with a client in the accessible gaming community to develop an Xbox video game controller. The team consisted of Nick Grant, Zane Sicadsicad, Saki Asakawa, and Jose Hernandez. In my role, I served as the lead designer and ...
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Problem Statement People like visually impaired users have difficulty with basic Pokémon GO functionality, such as utilizing the visual map, capturing Pokémon, and reading information. This can be resolved by adding text-to-speech functionality, lists of locations with distances, greater audio cues, and a voice command system. We know we’re right ...
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In Spring 2020, a team of researchers at New York University partnered with Microsoft to improve the Live Share feature in Visual Studio Code. The team consisted of me, Amy Hu, Ellen Shiu, and Muhan Guo. Microsoft Live Share helps users to quickly collaborate on the same codebase without the ...
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For my final for Reading and Writing Electronic Text, I created a poem from my journal entries. I transcribed my journal entries around my birthday for the following ages: 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, and 23. I first experimented with my journal entries for another assignment. In that assignment, ...
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I reworked one of my existing poems, which is a villanelle about a person losing a winning lottery ticket. A Losing Lottery Game Losing my ticket’s worse than the mark of Cain, Being struck by lightning is more realistic. Tap water cannot compare to champagne. My drawers are torn apart ...
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For this week in Reading and Writing Electronic Text, I generated text with a Markov chain. The text is written by me. Since I was very little, I've written in a journal. I'm on my fourth one now. For me to process events in my life, I need to write ...
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Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zJjaZrn7tJg4xFA1OUakOWx1IpupizEsco1rq4TReXU/edit?usp=sharing I am excited for thesis! Reviewing my past work in my presentation helped me see parallels. I studied political science, English, and journalism in undergrad. I often blend my past experiences through the use of educational applications, a connection I am only now realizing. The other day, I ...
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For this week in Reading and Writing Electronic Text, I created a digital cut-up from scratch. I incorporated outside information based on syntax and semantics. I replaced parts of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S Eliot with parts of Hamlet. I utilized only the lines spoken by ...
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For the next assignment in Reading and Writing Electronic Text, I created a fairy tale generator. The generator is based on tutorials from tracery and natural language processing. Fairy tales share common themes, such as religion, justice, humility, and cleverness. I sought to explore how generative text may shift the ...
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For my second assignment in Reading and Writing Electronic Text, I repurposed my poem Local News and American Democracy. When I studied poetry, I specialized in imitations. My piece is originally based on By Chance the Cycladic People by Anne Carson. The assignment of numeric values without order is a ...
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For my first assignment, I plugged one of my old poems inside a poem generator. I analyzed how the meaning of my poem may differ with each run, but also remain the same. Link to my notebook: Nick_Grant_First_AssignmentDownload I wrote a poem "The In Between." The observant and energetic piece ...
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During the summer of 2020, I interned at NewpathVR as a software engineer. NewpathVR creates personal development and emotional intelligence applications in virtual reality. The company uses research-based methods to develop wellness applications for VR with the goal of evoking positive change through transformative technology. I performed in a small ...
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Background For my course "Live Image Processing and Performance," my class focused on streaming software as an art form when classes went remote. I enrolled in the course with an interest in exploring the negativity of social media and internet culture in a performative environment. I found that the restructured ...
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Interactive Website "Swirling Fluids" is an educational exhibit that explains the mechanics of fluid dynamics that are invisible to the naked eye. The project is based on the research of Leif Ristroph who is a Professor of Mathematics in the Courant Institue. Please visit here. Exhibit: p5.js 2020 Showcase Role: ...
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Description: Gain points by clicking the correct portrait and level up! Check out the time period sections, read the extensive list, and check out the special augmented reality gallery to learn more. Tools: SwiftUI, Reality Composer The app is available for download on the App Store. Screenshots Features Do you ...
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Description: In Inside Starry Night, you have the ability to surround yourself in the famous painting! Watch the curling swirling lines of the hills, mountains, and sparkling sky. The thickly layered brushstrokes and contrasting blue and yellow colors encapsulate you. Tools: Unity, XCode Clips from the piece Inspiration How can ...
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Privacy Policy Nicholas Grant built the President Portraits Quiz app as a Free app. This SERVICE is provided by Nicholas Grant at no cost and is intended for use as is. This page is used to inform visitors regarding my policies with the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information ...
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User Feedback:Create a separate info page rather than combining that with the presidents information list (I implemented this change)The font of the alerts and presidents list does not match the font of the game portionSome presidents descriptions are too longFont hard to readAR gallery is creepyCorrect and wrong sound effects ...
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Privacy Policy Nicholas Grant built the Inside Starry Night app as a Free app. This SERVICE is provided by Nicholas Grant at no cost and is intended for use as is. This page is used to inform visitors regarding my policies with the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information ...
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For this week in Mobile Lab, I continued with my presidents app. I created a rough prototype, but I have a few bugs. I altered my navigation in order to make room for the AR component. The presidents are split into three time periods rather than four. They consist of ...
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I continued with my augmented reality experience that explores fluid dynamics. Since my phone is too outdated to turn humans into bags of fluid, I decided to place the user in Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. There is a lot of research about how Van Gogh captured turbulent fluid ...
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For my final, I considered the possibilities and limitations of augmented reality. I decided that I would prefer not to create an AR game in which the user guesses the correct president. I believe that my midterm app contains an adequate game structure and mixing that component with AR will ...
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For my live image processing midterm, I created numerous skits that were streamed on Twitch. The performance is inspired by "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," which is one of Aesop's Fables from ancient Greece. My performance sought to showcase the toxic environment of social media. The viewers witnessed Steve McQueen ...
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For my final project, I am developing an augmented reality experience with AR Foundation that will allow users to draw swirls in the air. In doing so, I will attempt to demonstrate fluid dynamic mechanics. The final will be combined with my course Playful Communication of Serious Research. For that ...
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For my final in mobile lab, I am continuing with my presidents trivia app. I would like to learn more about Reality Composer and create a fun interactive game. Currently I'm stuck with how I should proceed. Initially, I imagined adding an AR component to my midterm. I envisioned the ...
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For this week in Mobile Lab, I created three augmented reality prototypes using Reality Composer. I designed the app concepts for the health, entertainment, and education areas. For the first prototype, I experimented with image scanning. I envision a face mask that activates information when scanned. The information may include ...
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For the midterm, I updated one of my previous apps. The user may choose one of five time periods. The first four time periods contain about eleven presidents. A correct answer is 30 points. An incorrect answer is 15 points. The level increases every 300 points. The correct answer will ...
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For my midterm, I wanted to expand on a previous app that I created. In my "Guess the President" app, the user clicks on portraits that are either correct or incorrect. After the game is complete, the user's score is shown and then the user may play again. In my ...
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Nailah, Cy, and I plan to create a rendition of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" that expores the hyperactivity of social media. The story is one of Aesop’s Fables from ancient Greece. In the original story, a young shepherd tricks his fellow villagers by shouting for help and pretending that ...
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For this week's assignment, I created a visualizer and controller. The buttons are connected to a poem about ten monkeys, the slider is connected to the size of the monkey, and the toggle shows/hides the monkey's eyes. Link to code on Github: https://github.com/nickgran321/See-No-Evil-Monkey ...
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I created a "Guess the President" game. Users click one out of 45 political presidents. They are alerted as to whether or not their pick is correct. The game lasts ten rounds. When the game is finished, the user's score is shown and they are asked to play again. Design ...
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For my first performance, I downloaded about 150 clips from my Snapchat archive. They document my college experience and transition into adulthood. With each bang, a new clip appears. In text editor, I provide context for the clip and utilize the text to speech function as I move on the ...
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I created a "Which Sopranos character are you?" AR filter. After four seconds, a random main character is chosen ...
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I created a timer application in which coins represent numbers. The large coins represent minutes while the smaller coins represent seconds. I implemented a play and reset button. When a coin is pressed, the value is stored in a timeRemaining variable. This variable represents the duration of the circular progress ...
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I updated my video playback system a great deal this week. I experimented with a lot of different forms and fleshed out a concept for my first performance. I first began by experimenting with jit.rota. Jit.rota allows me to scale and rotate my window. I am able to change the ...
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For my second week in mobile lab, I developed an interactive poster for Jaws. Woman and shark animation When the swimmer is pressed, the swimmer disappears. When the shark is pressed, the shark eats the swimmer. I used a color gradient for the background. The sky is a white rectangle ...
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For this week in Live Image Processing and Performance, I began creating my first video playback system. For my first versions, I followed the tutorials that Matt Romein instructed online. I also watched Programming for People. I understand objects, messages, toggles, buttons, numbers, data types, and the order of operations ...
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For my first week in mobile lab, I created a visual representation of a famous haiku. “Lighting One Candle” by Yosa Buson The light of a candle Is transferred to another candle— Spring twilight I wrote poetry in undergrad and desired to create a visual representation of my interests in ...
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For my first week in Live Image Processing and Performance, I shot footage over a span of three days. In total, I shot 30 clips. They are highly serendipitous. I attempted to convey different lighting and texture based on contrasting environments. My house is next to a park and a ...
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For my first assignment, I created a simple beach scene. The scale of the plane is 0.09144 for X, Y, and Z, which I believe fits into a 3' by 3' cube. The ten objects are from Google Poly. Occasionally I would add an asset that appeared much larger than ...
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Description: In this four-player communication-based game, teams must work together in order to fix a defective spaceship and escape from an apocalyptic world. Phase One: Brainstorming List of potential interactions, system diagrams, and layouts My group began by identifying the overall structure of the game. We envisioned four consoles perpendicular ...
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Demonstration I created a spin art machine out of tossed cardboard that children painted on. I question how waste may be repurposed through the use of simple utilitarian designs. In my meditative device, the user is able to create unique artwork by applying different levels of pressure. Construction ...
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A rendition of a dinosaur house party in 360° video. Created with Adobe After Effects. Experience with the YouTube app on smartphones! Team members: Nicholas Grant, Tirta Rachman, Rae Huang Clips From the Piece Phase One: Filming My team desired to create a playful dinosaur house party. We blended 360° ...
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A scene we all hope we never find ourselves in: being stuck in the desert to the point where we start hallucinating. This was the experience captured in MIRAGE, a VR experience using 360° video. We also used audio anchors, so whenever looking at a water pool, a different water ...
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Link to the Github repository: https://github.com/nickgran321/death-is-imminent-but-have-fun When transforming our paper prototypes into the final version, we first tested all of our parts. Our project consisted of several different components, such as LCD screens, sliding potentiometers, rotary encoders, ultrasonic sensors, toggle switches, and arcade dome buttons, mono jacks, and mono cables ...
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Link to my sketch: https://editor.p5js.org/nickgran321/sketches/TRSkJH0fb Link to my code on Github: https://github.com/nickgran321/Nick-Grant/blob/master/Introduction%20to%20Computational%20Media%20Final The book For my computational media final, I created a visual representation of five pages from I Remember by Joe Brainard. I had this idea for quite some time. I studied English in undergrad and dabbled in video ...
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For my sixth week in Introduction to Fabrication, I created a playful spin art machine. I desired to create a kiddish enclosure that contained all of the materials to draw fun art. My circuit Testing the circuit I purchased a 40x40x10 5V 2 Pin fan and a 4.5V battery holder ...
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For my third week in animation, I collaborated with Tundi to create a virtual reality experience. Storyboarding We first began by storyboarding. We desired to create a VR experience in which the setting is a 360 video. The user views objects, which activates them to perform interesting actions. In order ...
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For this week in Introduction to Fabrication, I created a hat with my logo. I desired to create something colorful and comical. Materials I first began by gathering my material. I ordered gold bullet cone spike and stud metal screws, a plain blue polyester hat, 2.0mm black brown leather, and ...
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Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgNl5JsqL0g&feature=youtu.be For the after effects animation project, I worked with Rae and Tito. Together we created a 360 video of a party with dinosaurs. Odd angle Filming with the 360 camera We began by checking out an ER camera. For some reason, the top of the ...
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During this week in physical computing, my group performed more user testing. Unlike last time, my group formed a set of instructions that the user follows. In doing so, we were able to detect which actions were performed correctly. Additionally, we filled out questionnaires with our users afterwards. We discovered ...
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For this week in Computational Media, I created an educational guide about animal sound facts. To develop the guide, I created a large number of functions. Throughout the assignment, I encountered some very challenging coding issues. Link to the correct p5.js sketch: https://editor.p5js.org/nickgran321/sketches/WlUrZLw9L Link to the correct p5.js sketch on ...
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For this week in Introduction to Fabrication, I went with my plan B and created an enclosure out of a salt shaker. My grandma's box Last weekend, I went home and visited my grandma. She has a box that is over 40 years old and from the Soviet Union. I ...
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For this week in physical computing, my group created a plan to user test our project. We first began by creating a mock-up of our consoles. Paulami and I created four interfaces. Each one contained elements that are similar to our final product. For example, the consoles contain pushbuttons and ...
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For this week in Introduction to Fabrication, I laser cut a gift for my mom. Her birthday is this Saturday. I created coasters in the shape of puzzle pieces. Scrap wood I visited the Makerspace to buy wood. Unfortunately they were out, but I found some spare wood in their ...
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Link to the video: https://vimeo.com/372485639 For my first assignment in Animation, I created a 30-second video with Lanni. Throughout the process, I learned a great deal about storytelling and stop motion animation. Our idea is based on one of my previous projects. For my third week in computational media, I ...
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For my final project, I am working with Tito, Paulami, and Mingxi. We are developing a game in which users must coordinate with each other to save a defective spaceship. The spaceship must leave Earth, which is cracking due to climate change. Each user will be in a separate booth, ...
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For my pixel artwork assignment, I created a human to digital converter. Throughout the process, I learned a great deal about pixelation and implementing elements outside of sketch.js. Finished sketch Link to p5.js sketch: https://editor.p5js.org/nickgran321/sketches/mtJeQxHj0 Link to code on Github: https://github.com/nickgran321/Nick-Grant/blob/master/Computational%20Media:%20Week%201%20Pixels First draft I first began by simply pixelating my ...
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For my second week in Introduction to Fabrication, I desired to create five coasters. After moving to NYC, I really needed them. They are a great project to show to my guests. Poplar wood I bought poplar wood from Midtown Lumber in Manhattan. The wood was eight inches high. All ...
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For this week in physical computing, I completed my cat button! I connected a pushbutton to one of my previous p5.js sketches. In my Arduino code, I created four if statements that track the state of the button. I serial printed "x," which is read in my function serialEvent in ...
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For my first week in Introduction to Fabrication, I created a flashlight out of an Altoids case. Throughout the process, I learned a great deal about the shop and the fabrication process. Altoids flashlight I chose an Altoids case because the wires are hidden well. I'm happy with the end ...
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Completed Ouija Board Filmon and I completed our midterm! After many long days on the floor, I can safely say that our project is finished. We created the cardboard box with glue. The words are made with stencils. The back side of the box is open in case we need ...
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On Monday Filmon and I completed our code and began our final fabrication. Debugging took a long time, but I learned a lot throughout the process. Our original Arduino code did not include arrays. We created questionsArray[], which contains all of the items for our pins. Then in our for ...
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The physical computing midterm project is going well so far. Filmon and I worked on the project Friday, Saturday, and today. Once we tested and completed our circuit, we moved onto soldering. Initially, my phototransistors did not detect a change of state because I incorrectly placed the wires that connect ...
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Filmon and I finalized the idea for our midterm. Before we desired to have an alphabet on our Ouija Board and have each letter appear on a monitor based on phototransistor activation, but the user may not be able to understand how the system works. Instead, we are going to ...
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For this week in physical computing, I completed the labs with Martin and Patrick from our class. While I have performed the previous labs on my own, I enjoyed working in a group. Whenever we had issues with debugging, we bounced off ideas from each other. Additionally, physically speaking to ...
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NOTE: My preview does not contain music or moving hands. I am still learning how to embed my p5.js sketches that include downloaded files. Link to the full version of my sketch: https://editor.p5js.org/nickgran321/sketches/oyYtKpG58 Link to the code on Github: https://github.com/nickgran321/Nick-Grant/blob/master/Computation%20Media%20Week%206:%20Objects%20and%20Arrays For my sixth week in Introduction to Computational Media, I ...
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For my fifth week in physical computing, I replicated the pushbutton demonstration from the previous class in which we experimented with the real time current state of the button. We created a unique button that records whether or not the button is actively pressed, which creates new opportunities for interactivity ...
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For this week in ICM, I experimented with using functions to compartmentalize my code in three sketches. I found the process to be a lot of fun! Since I always work with multiple objects in my sketches, creating functions that take parameters and return values opens up a lot of ...
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My logo For my fifth week in Visual Language, I created a logo for my name. I first began with writing down the attributes that I would describe myself with. My attributes I noticed that on one hand I am very organized and minimalist, but on the other hand I ...
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For the Week 4 labs, I first experimented with a flex sensor because I haven't done so in the past. In my demonstration, the flex sensor is connected to A1. The LED light is connected to pin 9 of my Arduino Nano. The bottom of my flex sensor is connected ...
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For this week in computational media, I created a non-interactive sketch that implements for loops. Link to my sketch: https://editor.p5js.org/nickgran321/sketches/Dx0tawWN2 Code on Github: https://github.com/nickgran321/Nick-Grant/blob/master/Computational%20Media%20Week%204:%20Compositions My first sketch I started small with squares and ellipses that change color each time the sketch is run. In my for loops I created an ...
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I designed a poster for the 2019 ITP Winter Show. I immediately knew what kind of story I wanted to tell about the program. My favorite part of ITP is the range of the backgrounds of the students. I am always amazed when I ask students about their paths that ...
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For my third week in physical computing, I connected a digital input circuit and output to a mictrocontroller. I first set up my breadboard as shown: My breadboard with a pushbutton connected to the Arduino I wrote a program in my Arduino Nano, which served as my 3.3V power source ...
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For my third week in ICM, I created a rule-based animation that incorporates motion, interaction, and a user interface element. The starting screen Link to the sketch: https://editor.p5js.org/nickgran321/sketches/u9Hl70WHe Link to the code: https://github.com/nickgran321/Nick-Grant/blob/master/Computational%20Media%20Week%203:%20Conditionals My partner Zach and I created a comical interactive game. The opening screen is a red button ...
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For this week in visual language, I created six square compositions from five colors that represent me. I chose the colors from my laptop wallpaper, which is an album cover from one of my favorite jazz artists Nujabes. Additionally, one of my favorite shirts has a similar color pattern. I ...
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For this week in physical computing, I experimented with using a breadboard. My breadboard, Arduino, multimeter, resistors, and LED lights In my multimeter, I inserted the Black probe into the "COM" jack, which represents ground. Then I inserted the Red probe into the "V" jack to measure for voltage. When ...
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Link: https://editor.p5js.org/nickgran321/sketches/dcMAZeHv3 For the second week of computational media, I created a few elements. The elements are either controlled by a mouse, change over time independently of the mouse, or are different each time the sketch is run. I chose to not create too many variables because I wanted to ...
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I redesigned an airline ticket by Delta. Existing Design New Design To redesign the ticket, I first grouped the information together. For example, the departure and boarding time are on the same line. Additionally, the origin and destination are on the same line. I aligned the type boxes on a ...
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Grid System The grid system for the "Taxi Driver" poster is highly organized. Vertically there are four lines and horizontally there are six. The sign on the left and the parking meter on the right are equidistant from the borders of the poster. The main character's head is in the ...
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Link: https://editor.p5js.org/nickgran321/present/ETqCGF-RV I am excited to experiment with p5.js! I am not familiar with computation, but I seek to apply the skills that I will acquire to my political projects. In undergrad, I majored in political science with a focus on conflict transformation. I seek to develop interactive technology that ...
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I'm Nick Grant. I'm attending the Interactive Telecommunications Program at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. The mission of ITP "is to explore the imaginative use of communications technologies — how they might augment, improve, and bring delight and art into people's lives." I graduated summa cum laude from ...
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