Progress of Proposal

I have finished writing the Proposal today. And, I am going to draw some drafts for my project and attach to the Proposal : )

A surprising news: Those mist machines that I have bought from the taobao online shopping website are just arrived to my home! Sound NICE *3*

Starting on Project Proposal

When I am waiting the equiments which are senting from China, I am starting to do my FYP-proposal for the presentation next week.

I am planing to do the writing first. And then I will draw some drafts to explain my project to my advisors.

There is a week for me to finish it. I would pay heart and effort on it ! .\_/.'''

I found the most suitable MIST MACHINE!!!

During these days, I keep do research on the mist machines. I found that there is a mist machine on the taobao bidding website. It is small but it can produce a large amount of mist but not water. I think I found what I want. It is very small, so it is so flexible. It is also cheaper than the motor-sprinkler so much. And it can be connected with the infrared-ray switch too. It is really very nice!

I have decided to BUY this mist machine from the website! : D

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=3909554991

and also, decided to BUY the infrared-ray-switch that had been found from the website. So that, it should be connected with the mist machine to work out.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=3376578497

Research on others mist machine on taobao web

I have experience on some bidding websites. I think that those websites may find some interesting devices. I always browses on the most popular bidding website in China (www.taobao.com). Because the things are cheap, variety, interesting, novel...etc.

I found that the motor-sprinkler may be suitable for my project.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=5934019794

and I also found some of the sprinkle-nozzles may be suitable too.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=3075402299

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=4013289381

However, I cannot find any infrared rays motor-sprinkler, as I need to the detect people pass-by. Lucky, I found an infrared-ray-switch on the website. It should be connected with the motor-sprinkler as well.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=3376578497

This switch can detect human pass-by. It can detect from 5M to 8M. It should be suitable.It can also load under 800W. It is more flexible for more devices to be connected together.

Research on Ultrasonic Humidifier

After I think again and again, I remember that I have an ultrasonic humidifier at my home. When the weather is dry, my mum would use it. As the ultrasonic humidifier would keep giving out mist, I think it maybe suitable for my project.

After I had tried to play and observe it seriously, I found there are some seriousl problems:

Problem 1: All the mist is spraied upward. As I would prefer this machine is put on the top of my installation, the mist would give out from the top at the audience's head.

To fix the Problem 1:

1. I tried to open a fan on the top to blow the mist downward. However, it is not successed. 

2. I tried to use a big plane and put it above the machine to block the mist going upward, but still not successful.

Problem 2: Besides, although I turn the machine at the max-level, the mist is not enough for my request.

To fix the Problem 2:
Buy 2/3 more machines, but it is too expensive!

So, I think I still need to find another mist machine : p

Research on Fog Machine

I have been doing research on the main equipments of my project. As my work would have some interactive visual effect that when someone pass-by my work, water drops/fog would come out from the top.

I have found some information about the fog machine:

http://www.onstage18.com/----06.html
http://www.martinpro.com.hk/tc/product/productgroup.asp?bcat_id=52&cat_id=168&pcat_id=168

葵興葵昌路50號葵昌中心15樓1505室

電話： 8103-0308

傳真： 2423-6672

電郵：sales@consulting-hk.com

雅歌工程有限公司:

九龍深水埗欽州街66號地下

電話： 2729-1022

傳真： 2725-6787

電郵：acoustic01@biznetvigator.com

Yesterday, I went to visit the above shops and offices to find the fog machine. However, after the sales explained the operation of the machine, I found that most of the fog machine is not using water, but using some chemicals to produce the fog. I think it is not suitable for my work. It is not environmential friendly. And those fog machines are so expensive. All over one thousand dollars *0*!!! Then, I continued walking around in Sham Shui Po. As I know there is a lot of strange machines and electric equipments. However, I cannot find any suitable devices for my work there.

my updated project idea

Hong Kong's Atlantis
香港的阿特蘭提斯

“Atlantis (in Greek, Ἀτλαντὶς νῆσος, "island of Atlas") is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias. In Plato's account, Atlantis was a naval power lying "in front of the Pillars of Hercules" that conquered many parts of Western Europe and Africa 9,000 years before the time of Solon, or approximately 9600 BC. After a failed attempt to invade Athens, Atlantis sank into the ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune".” (Wikipedia)

Hong Kong is being like Atlantis. Hong Kong is a fantasy and wonderful place. People from different countries want to come to Hong Kong travelling, shopping, eating, studying and even working. However, there is too much environmental burden to Hong Kong. Human activities, pollutions and destruction are such a big burden to Hong Kong. Have you ever fancied that Hong Kong would sink into the ocean in a day and night and disappeared henceforth?

My project aims is to cheer up Hong Kong people to show Hong Kong characteristic, culture and spirit. Help Hong Kong to release the burden. Help Hong Kong to maintain the attractive. Help Hong Kong to show the brightness.

The style of the project is artistic and visualize. For the illustration, I would like to use webcam to track people pass-by my installation, when people detected, there are some water-drops projection would be displayed. The water-projection represents the environmental burden. An animation would be projected on the floor afterward. It shows Hong Kong is sunk under the sea. The animation would do some interactive with audience to motivate them to rescue Hong Kong from the sea.

Technically, the project gives an attractive and innovative demonstration to audience. The sensor of the work would detect every audience pass through the installation. When each detect, the work would project some raining effect. This can give a strong impression to audience for my work. My installation also motivates audience to rescue Hong Kong under the sea. Audience can gain more and more introspection and invention on my work.

The project brings a strong reflection to audience. Is now a time to find Hong Kong characteristic? Is now a time to project Hong Kong culture? Is now a time to show Hong Kong spirit? It is an impressive and interactive way to show my impression and demonstrate to audience. Let’s people think. Let’s people introspect. Let’s people improve.


(Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis

Modifying my project idea.

My advisor said my project idea is quite controversial and may not suitable for me to demonstate. After I have thought again and again, I have got some results and reflection. I am now modifying and creating a more impressive and meaningful idea for my installation. I hope my work can cheer up and motivate people by providing an introspection of our life.

Koala : ) thank you so much for your suggestion and support.

start on Arduino

In this week, I start finding and studying the information about Arduino. This is the main difficult and new techology to me. But, I can only find little information about Arduino from bookshop and even internet.

As I am a beginner of Arduino, I feel so confuse about the technical part of my work. I heard from my classmate Dora that Oscar is an expert of Arduino. I contacted him immediately. I have asked for the advices from Oscar, who is an also Assistant Professor in Creative Media department. After I have explained my work to him, he gave me a lot of useful and solid advices for my work. A lot of confusion are solved. And also, I got many information on the new techology.

Thanks Oscar very very much and also his useful links for me to work on my project :D

1st draft about demonstration of the work

 1st simple draft of the work

A Webcam which is a sensor to detect people pass-by the installation.

A Computer which is a main system of the work.

An Arduino which is a physical control for the split-out.

A motor which gives signal to shower.

A Shower which gives out water.

A glass bowl which carries water.

A projector which show animation.

An animation which is about Hong Kong culture overflow.

A Power-Supply which gives power to electronic devices.

A Water-Proof Floor which maintains the safety of the work.