ABOUT THIS PROJECT
The purpose of this project was to program a microprocessor controller to control different devices in the room.
I modeled my project after the first book that I read on programming called “why’s (poignant) Guide to Ruby”; where it follows a cat through the process of learning Ruby.
I wanted my project to be a project for a middle or high school student wanting to learn how to program and build smart devices.
I chose to use images from the book because of how artistic the book is. Ruby is an easy language to learn (but has limited application), while C++ is a difficult language wide a verity amount of applications.
Around the middle and high school age range is when life can get dark very quickly for teens. I wish that I was able to create a physical manifestation of my code when I was younger and going through a difficult time myself.
If my nephews can do some coding and can artistically express themselves then I believe that my project is successful.
The different items I created are used to teach my nephews (and teens) how to use tools and designs to gain control over their lives and the environment through the use of 3D printing
Laser cutting and microcontroller programming are valuable skills to learn and I believe that those skills will allow them to manifest their desires positively.
How does this concept work?
The encoder and potentiometer move electrically through different states/cases and “mental rooms”. Some of these rooms are paired with cat images to demonstrate the concept of the programmer controlling the mental, physical, and emotional rooms around them. The NeoPixel color is blue to demonstrate the ability for teens to control their mental, spiritual, electrical methods of expression. I believe these concepts are important to develop during this point in their lives. Each switch case is labeled to allow them to easily understand basic programming and electrical concepts.
Each concept is labeled in the code and on the LED to easily tie together difficult concepts.
The 3D print was designed to show how to connect the ideas that bring my nephew’s interests to the physical world through a simple form of physical manifestation.
The cats were placed as a continuation of the Ruby concepts and implemented as bosses for conquering programming levels. I believe that this concept will help them to tie previous concepts in with new programming concepts.
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