Flexible PCB circuits

I just purchase 5 x sheets of Cutronic Foil for Arts Council R&D PCB testing, as this sheet material is for use with the Vinyl cutters.

http://onlineshop.strath.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&modid=1&catid=160&prodid=1019

Could be use din wearable textiles or for making toy instrument circuits;

http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=1132

I'm wondering if we can use the hundreds of A4 project sheets stored at our Prestamax House R&D LAB. Cat Fletcher from Freegle has saved these from Landfill, and maybe this sheet plastic material could be suitable to provide a base for the Cutronic Foil PCB's to be inserted and sewn into textile fabric.

CommuniToy Kits

David Arnold: Park Cameras Photographic Courses with John Clements

As an aspiring photographer I spent two lovely Saturdays learning to take piccies with studio lights and how exposure and colour affects images.  The courses were run by John Clements at Park Cameras in Burgess Hill.

Studio Lighting Course

 I got to the venue nice and early and had chance to chat to the other people on the course who were all very friendly.  John introduced himself and before long we were fixing radio flash triggers onto our camera and taking pictures with each other with one or two studio lights.  We learnt how to expose each light and how they interact with each other.  We slowly added more lights for backgrounds and other effects while the model booked for the session posed for us.

At the end of the session John showed us to get dramatic effects with just one light.

Metering and Exposure

The second Saturday had two more courses, the first one being metering and exposure.  John explained about the exposure triangle in depth, how one element of the triangle effects one or both of the other elements.  John also used his real world experience to explain how to gain the correct exposure for you subject, not worry about the whole scene.  

Mastering in Camera Colour

The afternoon of the second Saturday was learning about colour in camera.  John explained about using the correct picture style and white balance.  We were shown how to get the correct white balance (to stop the picture looking to warm or cold).  John even explained what the colour histograms when toggling through the picture settings with the info button meant!

John was very enthusiastic and passionate about photography and I found him to be very knowledgeable and approachable. The staff at Park Cameras were also very friendly and helpful and served up a great lunch!

To infinity and beyond!

Well not quite!  The future looks bright for Exploring Senses images.  David and Louis have asked me to help design a miniature studio in which will enable us to take high quality pictures of the public’s creations at the toy hacks.  The principles are the same as a normal studio only on a smaller scale using speedlites (flashguns).  I already have a couple of speedlites and a variety of diffusers to use in the mini studio. 

All the other skills I have learnt will enable me ‘get it right in camera’ and not have to worry about post production, which will mean more natural looking pictures enable quicker transfer of images to the website.

Now which way is infinity??

Below are the images, dates and course notes of the workshops I attended at Park Cameras;

Bespoke CommuniToys

IdentiToy

Robotic CommuniToy

CommuniToy animations

CommuniToy Kits

CommuniToy Performances

The Screaming Chariot - Robotic Toy Hack

David Allistone made this motorised Robotic Toy Hack based upon the kit Christopher Willatt designed. It's a simple set up. The car body is constructed from recycled toys.

Bespoke CommuniToys
Robotic CommuniToy

The Wicker Man vs Davros - A Robotic Toy Hack

A bespoke vibrating motorised toy hack made from recycled toy parts with flashing LED eyes made by David Allistone.

Bespoke CommuniToys 

Robotic CommuniToy

Mascot x Exploring Senses Collaboration: David working with Bill: Robotic Toy Hack

This week Exploring Senses started our collaboration with fellow Prestamax House neighbours Mascot.

http://m.asc-mascot.com

Mascot is a help group organisation for people diagnosed on the Autistic Spectrum and their family members. The organisations focus is towards children and young people.

Exploring Senses plan to develop a partnership program with Mascot, and today's Robotic Tou Hack workshop with Bill is the start!

Bill is the son of Sam who runs Mascot. The Exploring Senses crew met Bill a couple of weeks ago. Bill approached us with a toy he wanted to donate to Exploring Senses for Toy Hacking.

The toy was a Spy Gear radio controlled car. The Spu Gear is a very neat devise as it's user centred design system of onboard web cam and head up display provide a fun augmented low cost DIY experience for the cars controller.

We thought it would be a good idea if Bill was involved in the Toy Hack so we asked him to think about some ideas for a hack.

Yesterday Bill suggested we fuse the Spy Gear with a giant teddy bear. We discussed how we could integrate the two toys, and how it might be cool to extend it reach of the cars onboard webcam.

Check out the images of the build process below;

The results are very exciting, and we can see a Bear Borg series in the making, possibly 7 of 9.....for any Trekkie Fans out there!

The bear robot is a symbol of robotic cuteness. Bear robots have stared in cartoons such as the Thundercats. The Burbuls staring in this series were cute robotic tinkerers who constructed, hacked and repaired technological devises and were allies to the supreme Thundercats. Check out the series and enjoy more Bear Bots in the near future.

Arts Council

Bespoke CommuniToy

Robotic CommuniToy

Guerilla Mobile Toy Hacking project - ICT and ART connect

Following our visit to ICT and ART Connect Louis submitted a proposal to further develop the mobile toy hacking workshop on street level. The mobile toy hacking project has been in the back of minds since we started toy hacking. It first manifested in thought as workshop delivered on a bus, then a tuck shop TucTuc, and lastly on bikes, possibly by converting an old ice cream bicycle. 

The time or place for this project has finally arrived, and with the extra bonus of Louis d'Aboville's digital projections. Louis is also interested in the mobile aspect for his interactive digital projection installations. The idea of combining the two successful projects is pure genius, as both outcomes are very successful on street level.

Toy hacking works in the public realm on the street as tested on Hove Lawns, and Providence Place in Brighton. The providence Place site was later revisited for the Shine on London Road project, which showcased the premier convergence of toy hacking and digital interactive projection installations.

Louis and David are going to present this project in Brussels at the FoAm Gallery on May 13th 2014.
We are very excited about this and will be posting more info about the project soon.

In the mean time enjoy these pictures

CommuniToy Performances
IdeniToy

Prestamax House - just completed our move into our new Research and Development lab

Exploring Senses CIC have been busy moving into our new Research and Development lab at Prestamax House in Brighton. This is the first real dedicated space that Exploring Senses have ever occupied, and we are delighted to be here!!: )

We would like to thank Centric Charity for providing us the space, and Cat Fletcher from Freegle Brighton for providing us with all of our furniture. Cat is sharing the space with us and we have new neighbours Mascot, who provide activities and support for children and young people on the Autistic spectrum; collab projects are in the air!

The move in has taken the best part of a month and we can now continue with our Arts Council R&D CommuniToy project, which is starting to take shape.

Bespoke CommuniToys
IdentiToy
Robotic CommuniToy
CommuniToy animations
CommuniToy Kits
CommuniToy Performances