When we were given this assignment, I was conflicted with how I was supposed to go about it. I knew I wanted to create something simple, not overly complex due to the fact that I was still getting used to using the different elements of physical computing we learned in class. After days of brainstorming, I came up with the idea of a “magical” book switch, in which the LED lights up when the book is shut and turns off when opened. This idea came about when I was reading a book called Klara and the Sun, which prompted me to reminisce about similar books and movies that I used read and watch growing up. A concept that kept reoccurring in all these books and movies is the glowing book, which you can see below:
This concept is the main inspiration behind my switch assignment. It is through allowing the closed book to light the LED up and turn it off when it is opened that this assignment resembles the concept I initially Imagine.
Progress and Assembly
I created a circuit using a yellow LED, wire, a book and aluminium foil, all of which are interconnected with one another. I first started off by connecting the red wire to the 5v pin (I will elaborate on its significance in a bit) and the black wire to the ground pin on the arduino board. I then connected the black wire to the positive part of the breadboard, which is the same part where the LED’s negative pole sits. The LED’s positive pole is on the terminal strip of the breadboard. On the same line as the LED’s positive pole, I placed a 330-ohm resistor to help reduce the flow of the circuit as a whole to ensure that the current passing through does so in safe limits. On the other end of the resistor, I placed another wire to be attached to the book. However, to ensure that the LED actually lights up, I needed conductive material. In the case of this assignment, I used aluminium foil. I created 2 rectangle with my foil and made sure that there was space to attach the wires. I made each wire have their own individual piece of foil. I then taped the foil covered wires to corresponding pages of books.
You can see this below:
The primary goal of this setup was to make the LED light up when both wires touch one another when the book is closed.
In the image below, you can see the full circuit in action:
Video of Circuit:
https://youtube.com/shorts/PoatHJr2I3I
Reflections
I really enjoyed the process of building and putting this assignment together. I genuinely believe that it helped me get more practice in using the concepts we learned this past week. It allowed me to see how I can take the things we learned and apply it to something from my imagination. I definitely feel more comfortable using the arduino board and its different elements. In terms of improvements, I would have loved to add some element of interactivity. Maybe something that would allow the user to engage with the circuit in order to make the LED light up. Other than that, I actually am happy with the final result and cannot wait to use the board to create more elaborative and complex circuits!