Branded Experiences

• GUILD http://guildisgood.com
  I like to think we’re the most fun to work for – we specialize in doing things others don’t know how to execute. We also fabricate in-house. We have a really diverse team, which makes us pretty unique (engineers, technologists, sculptors, painters, agency folks, designers, theater and film set designers, architects). Dabblers love us, and people who thrive in an environment of constant challenge and problem-solving. Check out some recent projects that integrate technology on gizmodo and digiday
• Outform http://outform.com/
  I know of these guys because they do a lot of work globally for Apple retail – objects for window displays with integrated / programmed LEDs. Usually they are producing in higher volumes than us, so they have some manufacturing muscle to leverage.
• Arktura http://arktura.com/
  This is a very cool company, founded by SciArc grads. They do digital fab in-house – mostly metal work for permanent architectural installations around the globe. Very cool that they have all these tools under their roof.
• SET http://setcreative.com/
  More traditional agency – a lot of Nike work, etc. In-house Creative, Project Management. No in-house fabrication – all vendor work. HQ in PDX, studios in NY and LA, expanding globally – was just bought by a large conglomerate.
• Optimist http://optimistinc.com/
  Also more of a traditional agency – differs from Guild and SET in that they also do content-creation in-house. No fabrication in-house.
• Deep Local http://www.deeplocal.com/ (in pgh!)
• Ion Tank http://www.iontank.com/ (in pgh!)
• Local Projects http://localprojects.net/ (Led by one of Ali’s heros, Jake Barton)

Complex Hardware Prototyping

• Lime Labs
• Logic PD
• KS Technologies
• Synapse
• Think2Build

Creative product design firms: 

• Ideo
• Frog
• Smart Design
• Ziba
• Design Concepts
• Minimal
• Native
• Fuze Project
• Artifact

Companies like PTD clients: 

• Thync
• Bactrack
• Mark One
• Popslate

THE CHALLENGE: This week’s challenge is to great a set of instructions and a 1-minute-or-less demonstration video that shows how you can use a a wireless ESP8266 node.  Our test case will be to create a network of 3 or more ESP8266, each connected to a sensor (analog or I2C) that can sense human activity around it, and report this activity to a server located in a different place.  A completed challenge will include:

• 1-minute video of a working demo
• a Fritzing diagram for the hardware setup of each node and the server
• the necessary ESP8266 code and server code.
• per-unit-code of each node should be less than $10
• each unit should function for at least 1-week, unattended

HINTS: Here are two related project on GitHub and a relevant discussion thread

• https://github.com/aderhgawen/ESP8266-Webserver
• https://learn.adafruit.com/esp8266-temperature-slash-humidity-webserver

Check here for all the sensors.

Smokey has constructed multiple sensors using this website as a guide, including a button sensor (conductive fabric and neopreme), a pressure sensor (using velostat and conductive thread), a tilt sensor (conductive fabric, thread, and a ‘bead’ made out of a nut). He has also constructed a linear encoder using 2 limit switches and an encoding pattern cut into cardboard.

More info here.

THE CHALLENGE: This week’s challenge is to great a set of instructions and a 1-minute-or-less demonstration video that shows how you can use an ESP8266 to send sensor information from an iOS or Android smartphone, to an Arduino Uno, in order to control a physical computing an actuator, using the OpenSoundControl protocol.  More specifically:

• Research and make reference to available iOS and Android apps (ideally free ones) that allow one to send the phone’s sensor values to another machine, using OpenSoundControl over wireless.  A quick google search reveals many options.
• Prototype a circuit made up of an Arduino UNO, an ESP8266 and whatever else is necessary, that allows the Arduino to fade and LED based on sensor information from the phone.  Document this circuit diagram using Fritzing; create a circuit schematic using Fritzing or Eagle.
• Create a 1-minute-or-less video that demonstrates this visually
• Create a set of instructions in the form of a post on this blog that contains all of the above, give this post the “Weekly Challenge” category.

HINTS: Here are two related project on GitHub and a relevant discussion thread

• https://github.com/ameisso/OSCLib-for-ESP8266
• https://github.com/sandeepmistry/esp8266-OSC
• http://www.esp8266.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1883

Just paste the URL to the video and it will auto-convert to the embed!

• Pittsburgh Foundation Creative Development Grant
• Spark Fund
• Awesome Foundation
• Studio for Creative Inquiry Small and Big Grants
• CMU SURF Grant

Another list of grants form the School of Art:

• Here

Things to understand about the call for proposals:

• How do you apply? (what to submit, in what format, how and when)
• What are the criteria? (are some criteria more important than others)
• What projects have been funded before? (previous winners)
• Who reviews the applications? (is there a jury? is it public?)

Things to make crystal clear in your proposal:

• Why this? (what are you going to do?)
• Why you? (why are you the right person to do this?)
• Why us? (why are you asking for support from this particular organization/person?)
• Why now? (why is your project crucial/critical/relevant now?)