[Lab] Touch sensitive/reactive windows

[Andrew O'Malley]

Hi all, an update on this touch-sensitive windows project . . .

I ended up using the CapSense library for Arduino with a row/column
electrode arrangement, thus only needing 11+1 i/o pins for each 5x6
array of windows.  Thin wire was used for the electrodes, with a
row/column intersection centered on the back of each window.  Despite
some noise/interference problems (mostly solved w/ grounding), this
solution worked pretty well.

Each window was individually illuminated by a Shiftbrite, and the
whole thing assembled in a fabricated steel structure.

I've written a detailed post about the (on-going) project here:
http://technoetc.net/blog/2011/04/27/urbana-2011/

Thanks again for your input and suggestions,
ao.



On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 11:10 PM, Andrew O'Malley <aomalley at gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks for the suggestion.
>
> The other issue I have with an ir+camera solution is that there will
> be substructure in the tower which will be holding all the lights
> which illuminate the windows, so there will only about a 3 inch margin
> between that and the inner walls.
>
> ao.
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 7:02 PM, Mike Baker <mbaker3 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> If you're looking at an IR based solution I've been working on a touch table
>> using IR lasers. They have the advantage of still working quite well in
>> sunlight rooms.
>>
>> Here are the lasers I use and am quite happy with so far:
>> http://aixiz.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=44_27&products_id=67&osCsid=d5b9a3ff99350c797248ca117ed67cfb
>>
>> The challenge with your idea would be somehow using a camera to capture the
>> reflected IR in that small box. I can't think of a solution immediately but
>> I'll keep on it. Maybe the use of a chrome ball or extreme fish eye lens on
>> the camera to try and capture all sides of the installation at once.
>> --
>> Mike Baker
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 5:43 PM, Andrew Plumb <andrew at plumb.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Have a look around for spray-on anti-static ESD coatings.  That might get
>>> you the conductivity you need for capacitive sensing over larger surface
>>> areas.
>>> Andrew.
>>>
>>> On 2011-03-14, at 5:13 PM, Andrew O'Malley wrote:
>>>
>>> Ouch, too expensive for my budget considering I have 100+ 5" x 7"
>>> windows to deal w/.
>>>
>>> Thanks for the input everyone, please keep it coming if anything comes to
>>> mind.
>>>
>>> So far my most promising results are using capacitive sense wires near
>>> the windows; going to do a full-scale mock-up of my interaction
>>> surface this week to confirm.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> ao.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 5:03 PM,  <bentfork at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> I've seen transparent conductive glass used for DIY EL screen
>>>
>>> printing.  I think they used Indium Tin Oxide, aka ITO Glass.
>>>
>>> The cheapest I could find (in 30 seconds) was
>>> http://bayviewoptics.com/id2.html
>>>
>>> It looks like people have been able to manufacure their own.   I even
>>>
>>> saw a youtube on  it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTu4KhL7IOE
>>>
>>> If you find any cheaper let me know ;)
>>>
>>> On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 3:47 PM,  <lab-request at artengine.ca> wrote:
>>>
>>> Message: 8
>>>
>>> Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:47:21 -0400
>>>
>>> From: "Andrew O'Malley" <aomalley at gmail.com>
>>>
>>> Subject: Re: [Lab] Touch sensitive/reactive windows
>>>
>>> To: Jean-Marc LeBlanc <jeanmarc.leblanc at gmail.com>
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Thanks for your ideas/suggestions everyone -- I'm hearing the idea of
>>>
>>> conductive coatings or conductive plastic a lot, anyone have any leads
>>>
>>> where I would acquire such things?
>>>
>>> Thanks again,
>>>
>>> ao.
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>