Thanks Daniel.

I forgot about that interactive bag. I was going to do the classic home-made touch sensor made out of foil ( or by cutting a dance dance carpet ), but theirs are force sensitive so I am defenetly going to try that. Even if I don't know how their thing is force sensitive compare to the foil technique.

I though about textile sensors but I assumed it was going to cost us to much money. We have to much surface and volume to do.
For the qt sensors, I feel really sorry for the guy. He must have been really upset against Qprox! If I use them it won't be has complicated as this guy so it might still be a way of doing some of it. I don't need a precise grid for that, just a 4 or 5 lines. The installation is composed of several elements that are using differents type of sensors ( like non mercury vibration sensors ), so this is just a element, people won't focus only on it.

I am not going to try to challenge people who have studied their products for months or years. The main focus of our project if not only on the interactivity but on the environment shaped with sound and volume made with fabrics. Although it would be a real shame if the interactivity was rubbish. It's really a short description, we hope is going to look good. The volumes looks already great.  
We will propose the installation to the exhibition page, just in case  
We are exhibiting it in Brighton ( UK ).

Thank your for your answer.

 ;D

Hi, I am working on a project that needs capacitives sensors. I saw the really cool tutorial on making a capacitive sensor with a piece a wire and a 10M resistor but it says that for long distance it's better to use a qt.

I've got a qt140 from when I was in school but I remember that it was really slow, like 1s delay between the moment the copper is touched and the info is send to the computer. Must come from the chipset we used, we didn't have the arduino at the time  :'(.

To describe the thing. It's a 1 meter high "bag" filled with foam. I need to have long capacitives sensors running along it ( top to bottom ), spaced approximately by 15cm. I need those sensors so I know approximately where the hand is placed on the bag.

A guy on the forum says that the qt are not that complicated to used if you are using the simple one. But is here really a difference between a 4 and 10 inputs? Is it complicated to "plug" the qt to the arduino ? If anyone have any experience with those and could put me on the track, that would really be great.

Thanks for you time!

[size=10]Sorry for my bad english.[/size]

hi,

I was searching for " arduino + mp3 player " and found thoses posts. Look greats but a bit expansive for me if you need to do a lot of endependant modules. I am working on an installation that need that kind of thing.
Would it be more easy to buy a £9 mp3 player and connect the arduino to the player's buttons ? Might be a bit laggy but do you think it could do the job ?

It would be so nice to have the tinker.it interactive Mp3 ( http://www.tinker.it/en/Products/InteractiveMP3 ) but I think it's not distributed yet.

ps: excuse my english, I'm french.

HI wayoda,

Thanks for the link. I think the vibration one works in any position/angle. The normal tilt sensor works within a certain angle. Never used them but it's what I understood from the datasheets. I imagine you used them before anyway.

Thank you very much for your reply and the link.

Hi everyone,
I couldn't find something with the search of the forum, is it broken ?
Anyway I am working on a installation where I need to use some arduino. As you might have allready understood, I am a newbee in hardware.
Does Anyone knows about those tilt vibration sensors ( http://www.rapidonline.com/productinfo.aspx?tier1=Electronic+Components&tier2=Sensors&tier3=Tilt%2FTip+Switches&tier4=Non-mercury+vibration+sensors&moduleno=72379 ). I think they are just like normal tilt sensors but because I am not buying with my money and I need something like 25,35 of those I prefer to ask for advises.
Also, they are out of stock on this website, I can't find a proper website for buying sensors in the UK, believe me I've been searching. I found a few but can't find those Non-mercury vibration sensors or flex sensors.
Thankssssssss

I think you have wired correctly. Do it like on the second picture. On yours, the pin8 and 9pin are not connected as they are on 2 seperated parts. The 2 two parts are not connected. See what I mean?

Strange, maybe you have a older version of the arduino. I looked at mine and I still have plenty of space left after uploading the code. Weird.
It could the float variable like westfw said but that I would find this strange. That would mean you are very very limited then. Try without the two variable I added, so at least you could see something in the Serial Monitor if that's the problem. It's the button next to the Upload one. Upload your code, when done click this button and wait a few second.

Code:

// CapSense.pde
// Paul Badger 2007

int  i;
unsigned int x, y;
float accum, fout, fval = .07;    // these are variables for a simple low-pass (smoothing) filter - fval of 1 = no filter - .001 = max filter
int ledPin = 5;   // select the pin for the LED

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);

  //DDRB=B101;     // DDR is the pin direction register - governs inputs and outputs- 1's are outputs
  // Arduino pin 8 output, pin 9 input, pin 10 output for "guard pin"
  //  preceding line is equivalent to three lines below
  pinMode(8, OUTPUT);     // output pin
  pinMode(9, INPUT);      // input pin
  pinMode(10, OUTPUT);    // guard pin
  digitalWrite(10, LOW);  //could also be HIGH - don't use this pin for changing output though
  pinMode(5, OUTPUT);

  analogWrite(ledPin,255);
  delay(10);
  analogWrite(ledPin,0);
}

void loop() {
  y = 0;        // clear out variables
  x = 0;

  for (i=0; i < 4 ; i++ ){       // do it four times to build up an average - not really neccessary but takes out some jitter

      // LOW-to-HIGH transition
    //PORTB = PORTB | 1;                    // Same as line below -  shows programmer chops but doesn't really buy any more speed
    digitalWrite(8, HIGH);    
    // output pin is PortB0 (Arduino 8), sensor pin is PortB1 (Arduinio 9)                                    

    //while ((PINB & B10) != B10 ) {        // while the sense pin is not high
    while (digitalRead(9) != 1) {    // same as above port manipulation above - only 20 times slower!                
      x++;
    }
    delay(1);

    //  HIGH-to-LOW transition
    // PORTB = PORTB & 0xFE;                // Same as line below - these shows programmer chops but doesn't really buy any more speed
    digitalWrite(8, LOW);              
    //while((PINB & B10) != 0 ){            // while pin is not low  -- same as below only 20 times faster
    while(digitalRead(9) != 0 ) {     // same as above port manipulation - only 20 times slower!
      y++;  
    }

    delay(1);
  }

  fout =  (fval * (float)x) + ((1-fval) * accum);  // Easy smoothing filter "fval" determines amount of new data in fout
  accum = fout;

  Serial.print((long)x, DEC);    // raw data - Low to High
  Serial.print( "   ");
  Serial.print((long)y, DEC);    // raw data - High to Low
  Serial.print( "   ");
  Serial.println( (long)fout, DEC); // Smoothed Low to High

}
 

Good Luck.

Hi, did you find what was wrong ?
I am not a expert so I can't really help.
Are you following the second picture?
Maybe your resistor is not the good one, if it's to low it won't do anything.
Maybe your sensor is wrong. Try with copper or aluminium foil ( like in the one in your kitchen ).

Also, I used the commented part of it instead of the 'PORTB' thing.
Here is my code, it's really a quick one just for testing. The 'activation' thing with untouched and store as to be better. I am wondering between the difference between two person or a same person after a different day. It seems that somedays I have more electricity in my body then other days.
I haven't test with the original code again as I am looking into the multiplexer now.

Code:

// CapSense.pde
// Paul Badger 2007

int  i;
unsigned int x, y;
float accum, fout, fval = .07;    // these are variables for a simple low-pass (smoothing) filter - fval of 1 = no filter - .001 = max filter
int ledPin = 5;   // select the pin for the LED
float nonTouched, store = 0;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);

  //DDRB=B101;     // DDR is the pin direction register - governs inputs and outputs- 1's are outputs
  // Arduino pin 8 output, pin 9 input, pin 10 output for "guard pin"
  //  preceding line is equivalent to three lines below
  pinMode(8, OUTPUT);     // output pin
  pinMode(9, INPUT);      // input pin
  pinMode(10, OUTPUT);    // guard pin
  digitalWrite(10, LOW);  //could also be HIGH - don't use this pin for changing output though
  pinMode(5, OUTPUT);

  analogWrite(ledPin,255);
  delay(10);
  analogWrite(ledPin,0);
}

void loop() {
  y = 0;        // clear out variables
  x = 0;

  for (i=0; i < 4 ; i++ ){       // do it four times to build up an average - not really neccessary but takes out some jitter

      // LOW-to-HIGH transition
    //PORTB = PORTB | 1;                    // Same as line below -  shows programmer chops but doesn't really buy any more speed
    digitalWrite(8, HIGH);    
    // output pin is PortB0 (Arduino 8), sensor pin is PortB1 (Arduinio 9)                                    

    //while ((PINB & B10) != B10 ) {        // while the sense pin is not high
    while (digitalRead(9) != 1) {    // same as above port manipulation above - only 20 times slower!                
      x++;
    }
    delay(1);

    //  HIGH-to-LOW transition
    // PORTB = PORTB & 0xFE;                // Same as line below - these shows programmer chops but doesn't really buy any more speed
    digitalWrite(8, LOW);              
    //while((PINB & B10) != 0 ){            // while pin is not low  -- same as below only 20 times faster
    while(digitalRead(9) != 0 ) {     // same as above port manipulation - only 20 times slower!
      y++;  
    }

    delay(1);
  }

  fout =  (fval * (float)x) + ((1-fval) * accum);  // Easy smoothing filter "fval" determines amount of new data in fout
  accum = fout;
  store++;
  if (store<50) {
    nonTouched = fout;
  }
  if (store>50){
    store = 50;
  }


  Serial.print((long)x, DEC);    // raw data - Low to High
  Serial.print( "   ");
  Serial.print((long)y, DEC);    // raw data - High to Low
  Serial.print( "   ");
  Serial.print( (long)fout, DEC); // Smoothed Low to High
  Serial.print( "   ");
  Serial.println( (long)nonTouched, DEC); // Smoothed Low to High
  if (fout>nonTouched+3){
    analogWrite(ledPin,255);
  }
  else{
    analogWrite(ledPin,0);
  }
}

Apart from that can't really help. Good luck

Hi, I've been thinking about what you said. Is it because the two legs of the resistor are on the same line so the two legs are connected together instead of having the two legs separated?
Anyway,Thanks for your previous explanation.

I really enjoying your technique !!! It's brilliant !!!  
It's going to work perfectly for our project. If you are in the UK and not far from Brighton at the beginning of November, It would be a pleasure to see you at the private view. Here is a link to the website for more info : http://www.sonicbody.co.uk

Thanks again.

Hi again, I am really confused  :-?

I just changed the cable position. I moved the cable connected to pin9  and the white cable on the line above. Then I linked the 2 lines with the resistor and now It works !!!!!

I put a picture for the newbies like me ( and documentation )



I am sorry for all this, hope that at least it will help others. It must be really silly the way I have done it in the first place. I really need to learn the basics.

Great code by the way, thanks for that !!!

hi, I tried to make your code work but no chance  :'(
I am using a 3.3M resistor and I don't have a clue  :-/
Here is a picture:



The white cable has a piece of copper ( 4x3cm ) at the other end.
I am new to arduino so you might find me quite silly. I was planning on using a qt but if your technique works it's better.

Thank you for your time and contribution to arduino.

New Exhibition added here : http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Projects/ArduinoUsers#SonicBody

Thanks to the arduino forum and tutorial !  

Thanks Mellis. As soon as the installation is finish I will put it the exhibition page.
Cheers

The Sonic Body is a newly commissioned audio-installation that uses interactive technology to create an orchestra of the human body, with sounds recorded from organs, muscles, veins and bones. Developed as a collaboration between four interdisciplinary artists and a heart surgeon, the installation brings together art and medical-science to reveal the un-heard sounds of the body.
more infos at http://www.sonicbody.co.uk

Artists: Harry Neve, Anna Orliac, Thomas Michalak
Curator: Rowan Drury

Private View: Thursday 1st November 2007, 6-9pm
Exhibition: 2nd - 8th November, 2pm-6pm
Website: http://www.sonicbody.co.uk
Contact: info [at] sonicbody.co.uk or online at http://sonicbody.co.uk/contact

Blank Studio Gallery
108 North Street
Brighton, Portslade

ps: How will I be able to submit this project to the exhibition page?