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Continuing in my consideration of intuitive (physical) interactions* I am developing a demonstration piece using Arduino which takes as its principle metaphor the extremely basic action of turning over an hourglass.

This piece emerged out of the DOING class where we were asked to simply build an electronic circuit between a sensor and actuator which is controlled using a micro-controller.  I selected various movement sensors (including one of the kind used in pedometers – piezo vibration sensor) and my tutor, Jamie Allen, also loaned me a mercury tilt sensor “to get started…”

Immediately the tilt sensor became the focus of my attention because I wanted to get a sense of what it was that differentiated this sensor from a mere mechanical switch or digital trigger.  (See above my tilt switch test based onthe circuit at this arduino site tutorial)  The tilt sensor can be used to discern physical orientation in a way akin to how we understand the liquids of the inner ear to function.  Utilising the earths gravitational force, the liquid metal mercury acts as a switch by making or breaking the circuit.

Below is an illustration of a concept I would like to develop:

I’d like to use the ‘turning over’ action (typically used to commence an hourglass) to trigger an arduino programme which can control power to a DC motor – alternating between FULL and ZERO.  A perforated circular disk attached to the motor will reveal the words “TICK” and “TOCK” alternatively.

“TICK” and “TOCK” are the traditional onomatopoeic by-product of the mechanical clocks escapement (for more on this see I AM A WATCHMAKER.)  In translating the hourglass ‘turning over’ action into the words ‘tick & tock’ the piece will be, in a sense, a ‘mechanical metaphor mixer.’

More on this piece VERY soon – for now I’ll leave you with Jayne Mansfield…

* some examples where I have previously considered the nature of intuitive physical interaction either by building a prototype to test or exploring thru writing/dialogue on this blog:  SIMPLE TWISTING INTERFACE, NOTHING UNLESS SHAKEN and PHYSICAL PETITION (this list is not exhaustive.)

- Jayne Mansfield image used without consent of copyright owner (if you are the copyright owner please get in contact.)

Here is the final layout of my piece comparing clock mechanisms and legal process as it appeared in  Mercy’s “12 Angry Men” E-Zine.  The piece features a cryptic kafka-esque illustration by Franky Hale-Lynch.  (In most browsers, clicking on the image below will enlarge it.)

I wrote a new piece ov fiction drawing a comparison between the evolution of clock mechanisms and the workings of the Law.  It has been published and beautifully illustrated in an excellent new e-Zine from my long-time collaborators – Mercy – read it here:  I am a Watchmaker

Writing a fictional narrative was a completely new departure for me and was actually really helpful for working thru aspects of my current understanding. To quote the Watchmaker:

‘Seeking Law in the relentless stutter of parliamentary acts and decrees is like searching for Time in the mechanism of a clock.’

Deadbeat Escapement gif used under CC Licence – Wikimedia Commons

Of course – another strategy for making information/data and concepts more ‘tangible’ or ‘graspable’ when exhibiting in the public realm, is to re-present the information using a ‘loaded’ material, (as this example from a Liverpool Museum demonstrates…)