Physical Computing & Interactive Media Systems

Bridge the digital and physical worlds through electronics that sense, respond, and interact with human presence and environmental conditions. Learn microcontroller programming for art applications that prioritize experience over efficiency. Practice sensor integration including touch, motion, sound, and environmental sensing for creating responsive installations. Develop skills in creating intuitive interfaces that invite interaction from community members across different technical comfort levels. Build interactive objects and environments that demonstrate technology's potential for enhancing rather than replacing human connection and community engagement. Advance to creating objects and installations that exist simultaneously in digital and physical realms through augmented reality, embedded systems, and networked objects. Learn to design physical objects that communicate with digital systems while maintaining their material integrity and functional purpose. Practice building augmented reality applications that overlay digital information onto physical workshop projects and community spaces, developing skills in creating objects that collect and share data while respecting privacy and community autonomy.