x-OSC Board (source)

x-OSC is a wireless I/O board that provides just about any software with access to 32 high-performance analogue/digital channels and on-board sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer) via OSC messages over WiFi. There is no user programmable firmware and no software or drivers to install making x-OSC immediately compatible with any WiFi-enabled platform. All internal settings can be adjusted using any web browser.

I/O channels:

• 16× analogue/digital inputs
• 16× digital/PWM outputs (up to 50 mA per channel)
• 13-bit ADC with 400 Hz update rate per channel
• Up to 16-bit PWM resolution for 5 Hz to 250 kHz
• Control up to 400 RGB LEDs (NeoPixel)
• 4× serial communication channels
  
  

On-board sensors:

• Gyroscope (±2000°/s), accelerometer (±16 g) and magnetometer
• 400 Hz update rate
  
  

Networking:

• High-performance WiFi (802.11b/g, 54 Mbps)
• Supports ad-hoc and infrastructure networks
• Fully configurable by web browser
  
  

Other features:

• Regulated 3.3 V output
• Battery level monitor
• Size: 45 × 32 × 10 mm

OSC Open Sound Control (source)

Open Sound Control (OSC) is a protocol for communication among computers, sound synthesizers, and other multimedia devices that is optimized for modern networking technology. Bringing the benefits of modern networking technology to the world of electronic musical instruments, OSC's advantages include interoperability, accuracy, flexibility, and enhanced organization and documentation.

This simple yet powerful protocol provides everything needed for real-time control of sound and other media processing while remaining flexible and easy to implement.

Features:

• Open-ended, dynamic, URL-style symbolic naming scheme
• Symbolic and high-resolution numeric argument data
• Pattern matching language to specify multiple recipients of a single message
• High resolution time tags
• "Bundles" of messages whose effects must occur simultaneously
• Query system to dynamically find out the capabilities of an OSC server and get documentation
  
  

There are dozens of implementations of OSC, including real-time sound and media processing environments, web interactivity tools, software synthesizers, a large variety programming languages, and hardware devices for sensor measurement. OSC has achieved wide use in fields including computer-based new interfaces for musical expression, wide-area and local-area networked distributed music systems, inter-process communication, and even within a single application.

What is a gyroscope?
A gyroscope is a device that uses Earth’s gravity to help determine orientation. Its design consists of a freely-rotating disk called a rotor, mounted onto a spinning axis in the center of a larger and more stable wheel. As the axis turns, the rotor remains stationary to indicate the central gravitational pull, and thus which way is “down.”


What is an accelerometer?
An accelerometer is a compact device designed to measure non-gravitational acceleration. When the object it’s integrated into goes from a standstill to any velocity, the accelerometer is designed to respond to the vibrations associated with such movement. It uses microscopic crystals that go under stress when vibrations occur, and from that stress a voltage is generated to create a reading on any acceleration. Accelerometers are important components to devices that track fitness and other measurements in the quantified self movement.

Uses of a gyroscope or accelerometer
The main difference between the two devices is simple: one can sense rotation, whereas the other cannot. In a way, the accelerometer can gauge the orientation of a stationary item with relation to Earth’s surface. When accelerating in a particular direction, the accelerometer is unable to distinguish between that and the acceleration provided through Earth’s gravitational pull. If you were to consider this handicap when used in an aircraft, the accelerometer quickly loses much of its appeal.

The gyroscope maintains its level of effectiveness by being able to measure the rate of rotation around a particular axis. When gauging the rate of rotation around the roll axis of an aircraft, it identifies an actual value until the object stabilizes out. Using the key principles of angular momentum, the gyroscope helps indicate orientation. In comparison, the accelerometer measures linear acceleration based on vibration.

The typical two-axis accelerometer gives users a direction of gravity in an aircraft, smartphone, car or other device. In comparison, a gyroscope is intended to determine an angular position based on the principle of rigidity of space. The applications of each device vary quite drastically despite their similar purpose. A gyroscope, for example, is used in navigation on unmanned aerial vehicles, compasses and large boats, ultimately assisting with stability in navigation. Accelerometers are equally widespread in use and can be found in engineering, machinery, hardware monitoring, building and structural monitoring, navigation, transport and even consumer electronics.

The appearance of the accelerometer in the consumer electronics market, with the introduction of such widespread devices like the iPhone using it for the built-in compass app, has facilitated its overall popularity in all avenues of software. Determining screen orientation, acting as a compass and undoing actions by simply shaking the smartphone are a few basic functions that rely on the presence of an accelerometer. In recent years, its application among consumer electronics extends now to personal laptops.

Sensors in use
Real-world usage best illustrates the differences between these sensors. Accelerometers are used to determine acceleration, though a three-axis accelerometer could identify the orientation of a platform relative to the Earth’s surface. However, once that platform begins moving, its readings become more complicated to interpret. For example, in a free fall, the accelerometer would show zero acceleration. In an aircraft performing a 60-degree angle of bank for a turn, a three-axis accelerometer would register a 2-G vertical acceleration, ignoring the tilt entirely. Ultimately, an accelerometer cannot be used alone to assist in keeping aircrafts properly oriented.

Accelerometers instead find use in a variety of consumer electronic items. For example, among the first smartphones to make use of it was Apple’s iPhone 3GS with the introduction of such features as the compass app and shake to undo.

A gyroscope would be used in an aircraft to help in indicating the rate of rotation around the aircraft roll axis. As an aircraft rolls, the gyroscope will measure non-zero values until the platform levels out, whereupon it would read a zero value to indicate the direction of “down.” The best example of reading a gyroscope is that of the altitude indicator on typical aircrafts. It is represented by a circular display with the screen divided in half, the top half being blue in color to indicate sky, and the bottom being red to indicate ground. As an aircraft banks for a turn, the orientation of the display will shift with the bank to account for the actual direction of the ground.

The intended use of each device ultimately influences their practicality in each platform used. Many devices benefit from the presence of both sensors, though many rely on the use of but one. Depending on the type of information you need to collect — acceleration or orientation — each device will provide different results.

The story telling balloon project is an exploration into making audible activity in space into something tangible, visible and feel-able through air). The project captures spoken word in space and as words are spoken gradually inflates the balloon until it’s full and then deflates, spilling its contents back out in the space. The output scenario is not yet fixed. Possible scenarios include projection of words or playback of words simultaneously as the balloon deflates. Given that the balloon if gone beyond its capacity will explode, the project needs a safe kill switch. Two reliable options came to mind: a pressure sensor inside a chamber or some conductive material that would act as kill switch when the pressure of the balloon strategically placed will make the connection once balloon is full and deflate the balloon. The max patch is on its way but was not included for the prototype.

1. mic setup faraway to bypass feedback loop (in 2nd iteration instead of threshold there will be voice recognition recording any actual conversation where by it is speaking and not just any noise that will activate the valve)
2. amplitude over certain threshold will active pneumatic valve
3. amplitude under certain threshold will shut off pneumatic valve
4. process keeps iterating until balloon is full and this is where the kill switch comes into play
5. when balloon is filled the top of it will touch the bottom of the cabinet where 2 pieces of conductive tape are hanging
6. ballon pushes against the tape and makes a connection which in turn turn on the solenoid for deflation
7. simultaneously the word spoken into the balloon will playback in reverse based on the time of deflation
8. ie. if the total time of inflation (words spoken) is 30seconds and deflation time is 10 seconds then the playback will speed up by 3 times and playback in reverse while the balloon is deflating
9. with voice recognition the words would ideally by scattered onto where the balloons deflate
   

void setup()
{
  pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(2, INPUT);
  pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(4, INPUT);
}
void loop()
{
  if(digitalRead(2) == HIGH)
  {
    digitalWrite(12, HIGH);
    delay(10000);
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(12, LOW);
  }

  if(digitalRead(4) == HIGH)
  {
    digitalWrite(13, HIGH); 
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(13, LOW);
  }
}

material properties

• physical:
  liquid form (paint) water-based, nontoxic. can use hardener to adjust density. standard acrylic or water-based paints can even be used alongside Electric Paint to act as insulation or to create multi-layer circuitry!
  
  
• electrical:
  electrically conductive! can be used as controller or potentiometer. works with low voltage dc power
  
  
• structural:
  can paint wires onto things like models, clothes, furniture, walls, almost anything you can think of.
  
  
• perceptual and aesthetics:
  by itself it doesn't offer much, it drips, it dries but where and how or the method of painting & what it can be painted onto can is an open field for perceptual and aesthetic experimentation
  
  
• production/supply/ cost:
  here or here... no production or supply problems, can be found and ordered online or bought at Spikenzie/ Abra etc.
  $25 for 50ml at spark fun (link), or you can make your self for a couple dollars
  
  
• environmental impact and safety:
  the water-based version although costly if store bought is pretty safe, pretty much if there's no led in there you'll be fine
  
  
• types of manipulation and processing:
  can play with density based on use, can be processed using glue, water-based liquids generally and texture can be changed through blending paint with flour or something neutral
  

As mentioned above, paint can be applied to anything to either demand a reaction, output, get some data out of it or used as potentiometer up to 5 sensor capacity (this i with the silver paint). Ideas involve painting surface based on some sort of labyrinth pattern and passerby will actuate sound light or something all in the interest of manipulation and accentuation of some spatial perceptual qualities of space. Alternatively conductive thread can be used to achieve something similar.