Verktøykassen: Control the behavior of light and image
Published
Verktøykassen (the toolbox) is BEK’s new meeting place to learn about and try out technical tools, be it both hardware and software. There is a low threshold for participation and a high hands-on factor. Each time, a new “theme of the day” is launched, and the participants can come with inputs or questions that are raised jointly. The toolbox will take place regularly throughout the spring, and is led by game developer and programmer Stian Remvik.
In this Verktøykassen we will learn super-simple controlling of sound and image with micro:bit. micro:bit is a handheld programmable micro-computer that is used in programming everything from audio and video to robots and musical instruments. With some micro:bit experience, you can discover new possibilities in your art projects, and will be able to work further with the steering of audio, image, robotics and cybernetics.
Thursday February 21st at 11.00 – 15.00
Today’s theme: Control the behavior of light and image with micro:bit, and the participants’ own questions.
The participants have the opportunity to work on their own on Friday, February 22nd at 10.00 – 16.00, the course leader will be available during parts of the day.
Verktøykassen is free and open to everyone, and will be held in Norwegian and/or English as needed.
Registration by Tuesday February 19th to bek@bek.no Please let us know of questions and/or issues that you wish to address in Verktøykassen (beyond today’s theme). Bring your own laptop, BEK has some micro:bits available for testing.
micro:bit has built-in motion sensor, battery and bluetooth wireless signal. It can, for example, measure light, temperature, CO2, distance, movement, humidity and compass direction. Measuring distance is often used for robots so they can “see” where they go. Or you can connect motion sensors to a dancing body and decide that something should be triggered by it.
Through micro:bit you become familiar with the very basic principles of coding, as well as the terminology that applies. micro:bit uses object-based coding, which means that we can use visual “drag-and-drop” tools instead of writing text lines. micro:bit can be coded from any browser and no software is required.
In extension of micro:bit you will be able to explore software such as Arduino (which has slightly more possibilities than micro:bit and which, for example, MAX can be connected to), or openFrameworks (which has several possibilities with regard to animation, and which one also can use on RaspberryPi without going through Arduino).
See how micro:bit works, here’s the link to get started.
See examples of micro: bit projects here.
For those who want to expand the horizon already now:
Here is a link to a list of and info about other visual programming tools.
Here is a guy you can enjoy learning about programming.
And check out Processing; a flexible software, sketchbook and language to learn coding in visual arts.
The next Verktøykassen will be on March 14 – 15th and has the theme Unity – a programme that you can create small and large games and other interactive projects with! Stay tuned, more information will come.
About Stian Remvik
Stian Remvik is a game developer and programmer, and has since 2013 been affiliated with BEK on a freelance basis. Remvik graduated with a bachelor’s degree in visual communication from the Bergen Academy of Arts and Design (2010), and has acquired knowledge and experience of programming and implementing technical solutions in art projects through his involvement with BEK. In 2018 he launched the game GumGun, and in recent years he has developed and shown his own computer animations in exhibitions. Remvik has developed several apps, including BITWaves for BIT20 Ensemble and an app for the performance Post-Capitalistic Auction, and in the near future the app for Siljustøl at KODE – Museum and Composer Homes in Bergen will be launched.
About Verktøykassen
Verktøykassen (the toolbox) is BEK’s new meeting place to learn about and try out technical tools, be it both hardware and software. There is a low threshold for participation and a high hands-on factor. Each time, a new “theme of the day” is launched, and the participants can come with inputs or questions that are raised jointly. The toolbox will take place regularly throughout the spring, and is led by game developer and programmer Stian Remvik.