Blob (by Bjorn Lindberg) was converted in 2011 to run as a webApp using SenchaTouch 1.0 and Phonegap 0.94. Both of these frameworks have evolved to the point that the original code is no longer workable.
Updated Sencha Touch containers and html canvas setup to same methods used in SecretSpot.
Improved algorithm for setting width/height of Blob window based on actual window dimensions – this makes it run better as a Web app on a desktop computer.
In process of updating icons and launch screens for Apple requirements.
screen size issues resolved by setting as universal app, and migrating launch images to asset manager – in Xcode – and removing the status bar with settings in the plist file.
Lots of small things needed to upgrade to iOS 7.
bugs
Like SecretSpot, The native app runs only in portrait orientation.
notes
After this update has been submitted to Apple, I will try to convert it to run in current versions of Sencha Touch and Phonegap. There is relatively small amount of Sencha code in the app: A main window, toolbar, canvas window, and a few customized buttons.
SecretSpot was written in 2011 as a webApp using SenchaTouch 1.0 and Phonegap 0.94. Both of these frameworks have evolved to the point that the original code is no longer workable. With iOS 6, the app version of secretSpot broke. Audio was only triggering with every other touch.
Instead of upgrading javascript code, I made a few changes to the phonegap library so it would compile in iOS 7, then added new icons and splash screen files – and resubmitted the app.
One change was to alter the way that launch images get loaded during webView initialization, to prevent annoying white flashes. This version also does an extra load of the launch image – instead of just going to a black background while the webView is loading. If this ends up being too slow, then it may be better to go directly black background following initial launch image. See this post: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2531621/iphone-uiwebview-inital-white-view
bugs
The native app runs only in portrait orientation. This is something the app has had problems with before. Something has changed in the process of detecting current orientation. Its likely to be a Phonegap issue as the Web app version works fine.
I may have a look at this bug – and apply updates to the Blob app as well. But the real solution is to upgrade to current versions of the frameworks.
notes
This is more a documentation thing: If you don’t touch the canvas when the app starts, then there will be no sound unless you restart the app.
Computer displays have evolved to high resolutions. What about the other direction? This experiment is a display interface using a grid of LED’s. Essentially, very large pixels.
information types
on/off
small numbers (0-10)
large numbers (0-10,000,000)
clocks
level indicators
connections
map keys (i.e., explanations of symbols)
communicating with LED’s
LED’s communicate information using
brightness
color
movement
ideas
With just a few LED’s its easy to display a clear message. A large matrix of LEDS can get confusing. Here are a few suggestions:
Use separate regions for each block of information.
Draw guide markers to help locate positions by giving frame of reference.
Animation catches the eye but also distracts, and confuses.
examples
traffic lights
An effective but inefficient signaling method.
resistor codes:
Resistors use a numeric color code.
Find the value of any resistor by looking at the first four 4 color bands. Colors represent base 10 exponential notation.
abacus
An abacus uses 5 or 10 beads for each digit. Faster than decoding a resistor and works with one color – but takes up more space.
level meters
Segmented level meters convey information using a line of pixels:
binary clock
Represents digits using binary coded decimal notation.
An LED grid in Max
This grid design was used for the visual interface of a shortwave radio:
There are 2 large toggles – one for etch-a-sketch, and another for the radio simulator. Try one, then toggle it off before trying another one. If you forget – just restart the patch.
The number box near the top can be used to expand or contract the display size (while it is active) The default size is 17.
how it works
The same patch generated both video examples above. It uses javascript to make a two dimensional array of Max led objects. Each object is addressable by its position in the array. Here’s the code to make the objects:
//
// makecells - create matrix of led objects
//
function makecells( x, y, color )
{
var p; // this patcher
var tmpstr;
var objname;
post( "makecells: ", x, y, color );
post( );
p = this.patcher;
// make cells
for( i = 0; i < x; i++ )
{
for(j = 0; j < y; j++ )
{
cell[i][j] = p.newdefault(xorigin + (i * cellspace), yorigin + (j * cellspace), "led" ); // create leds
if(color != 9 )
{
cell[i][j].hidden = 0;
cell[i][j].message( "pict", color );
}
else
{
cell[i][j].hidden = 1;
}
cell[i][j].varname = "led" + i + "x" + j; // assigns name for future use
}
}
}
blobs
Although each LED in a grid is addressable, its easier to group sections of the grid into blobs. Each blob is a unit that displays data, like a number for example. There are several types of blobs:
Here are the properties of a blob:
// blob data structure
//
// x, y upper left
// lengthx, lengthy,
//
// orientation: 0 = horizontal, 1 = vertical
// step 1 = downward or rightward, -1 = upward or leftward (this defines the corner of origin too)
//
// data lorange, hirange
// scale: 0 = no, 1 = yes
//
// blobtype: 0 = generic decimal, 1 = spare, 2 = pushbutton flash, 3 = radiobutton,
// color code 0-9
// contrast color 0-9
//
// signed ( 0 = no, 1 = yes) // booooooooooooooolean
// colorshift ( 0 = normal , 1 = use different colors every 3 digits, like comma separators (frequency display)
//
// blink (milliseconds duration for pushbutton flash type only (led blinktime )
//
// radio number
// name
// value
//
//
Blob data examples
Lets look at examples of various ways to display data – as used in the shortwave radio video above.
Here are 3 blobs that represent numbers in three different ways.
The far left column and the bottom row are key graphics. They give a frame of reference for the data.
columns
Moving from left to right…
The LED’s far left column, are a graphic key, starting with red on the bottom, represent the numbers 1-9
The next blue column is just a divider
The 3rd column of white dots is the signal strength data ranging from the 0-9. The current value is ‘4’, represented by a column of 4 dots.
The next nine columns (4-12) represent the frequency in Hz. ranging from 0-999,999,999. The data is in groups of three (as you can see by looking at the graphical key in the bottom row). The number currently displayed is: 4,999,991.
Negative frequencies are displayed by shifting the colors to values that don’t match the key graphic.
The last column is a radio button with 4 possible values and is currently set to ‘3’
rows
The bottom row is a key graphic, showing a different color, or group of colors for each data item. So for example, there is one white dot under the signal strength data in column 3. There are 3 groups of 3 dots (yellow, green, yellow) in columns 4-12 representing the frequency data in the format: 999,999,999.
The 2nd blue row from the bottom is a divider.
The next shows which data items are being controlled by modulators. The 3 white LED’s show modulation of frequency data in the million’s, 100’s, and ten’s places.
Modulator units
There are 5 modulator units in the display. Data is represented using a color code..
red
green
blue
yellow
white
Gray LED’s represent ‘momentary’ controls in the off state. When a momentary button is pressed, it will blink white.
Here is an example of a modulator unit
The blue LED’s are just dividers (background space)
columns
The first column of data on the left is the on/off indicator and the modulator’s ID number.
The top LED of the column is the on/off toggle. It is blank, which means off.
The next two red LED’s together represent the ID number of the modulator: red = 1
—
For the remaining columns, the top row indicates whether the input gate is open allowing other modulators to control the parameter. Grey indicates the gate is closed, A white LED means the input gate is open.
—
The second and third columns of data are the clock speed and wave type. The 2 LEDS in each column are grouped together and are using the color code above. The clock speed is 5 (white). The wave type is 4 (yellow)
—
The fourth and fifth columns of data are the low and high range. Low range value is 5 (white) and high range value is 2 (green) – which doesn’t make sense, but this is simulator data.
—
The last column is the modulator destination activity indicator: grey if zero (not assigned) or white if any non-zero value.
modulator data structure:
// modulator data structure
// these are fixed structures 8x2, with specific color rules
//
// ulx, uly
// mod id number 1-n
// on : 0 = off, 1 = on
// modin : modulation source index 0-4
// clockspeed : 0-4
// wavetype : 0-4
// lorange : 0-4
// hirange : 0-4
// ingate : 0 - 4 (tells which control is being modulated)
// spare
// destination : 0-127 destination index // this is displayed elsewhere
//
Click the print message near the serial object to get a list of the serial ports in the Max window
Unlock the patch and edit the serial object to use the correct port letter
notes
runs in Mac OS and Windows
It would be worth checking the code that sets frequency and BFO against the newer code in the LED-project. I can’t remember if I updated this older version
There is also a version of this program that runs with ICOM ic-746 receiver
The signal is weak, not intended for broadcast. Not legal to broadcast… but hypothetically, amplifiers and antennas could be connected.
This audio signal is from an iPod playing through a VCR received by rtl-sdr in Max on 65.75 MHz. (channel 3) using a random length wire connected to the antenna output.
Notes about RF modulators:
I have tried this with some small RF modulator boxes. One of the problems is that you need to send a signal to the video input, or the modulator won’t run. You can get a rough signal by patching one of the audio channels into the video input jack. Or a better signal by using the video composite output of a raspberry-pi. Although the VCR gives a much cleaner signal
Built by students at Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine 2013.
Detects movement on stairs using individual IR sensor pairs on each step. When an IR beam is broken, a note is triggered and status LED lights up. Using an Ethernet shield, the data is tracked in a feed at xively.com
Here’s a circuit that provides some gain to iPod line-out audio to drive the TXD pin of a Radiometrix NTX2. It uses an LM386N audio amplifier chip (available from Radio Shack). I just substituted capacitors until it worked. Its powered by +5v DC from an Arduino pin.
Transmit AM audio on 727 KHz. using a voltage divider and an Arduino.
By Markus Gritsch
Note: with the actual circuit the signal is closer to 760 KHz.
Samples incoming audio at 34 KHz. and rebroadcasts as RF using the Arduino clock.
This is a simplification of Markus’ original circuit. It eliminates the tuned output circuit. Probably at the expense of increased harmonic distortion.
The voltage divider is uses 2 47K Ohm resistors and a 1 uF electrolytic capacitor. It is the input half of the original circuit.
