For my master of design class "Creation and Computation" we were tasked with using the Arduino platform to create an object for a haunted space ship. In the process, I created a black box that was activated by proximity so that it will turn on as people walk by. This in turn activates the speaker and the music file I created of someone calling in from another space station for help. They are then attacked and the line goes dead.

1. Black
Box.

2. Black
Box.
Inspiration: Aether Artifact (2012) by Michael Importico
Aim was to create the illusion of a radio picking up sounds from the past – In our
context, I immediately thought “black box!” Link - https://vimeo.com/55187436

3. Black
Box.
What is a black box?
1 (Aeronautics) an informal name for flight recorder
2
A device or theoretical construct with known or specified performance
characteristics but unknown or unspecified constituents and means of
operation
3 Any small black box containing a secret, mysterious, or complex mechanical
electronic device
(1) Collins English Dictionary (2) The American Heritage Dictionary (3) Webster’s College Dictionary

4. Black
Box.
I am particularly fascinated by the “black
box” obsession that follows each airplane
crash – the wish (which I share) to
witness the last moments, especially the
moment that reveals the certainty of death
entering the pilot’s consciousness. Why
do I want to know this, over and over?
James Berger, “Trauma and Literary Theory”, Contemporary
Literature Vol. 38 (1997).
❝
❞

5. Black
Box.
Design Process – Creating a Black Box:
1 Hacking a speaker – how can I make it make noise?
2 Figuring out Sensors – how can I make people’s bodies turn it on?
3 Getting led astray! Trying to fit too much in
4 Music and Narrative

6. Black
Box.
Visit link to
watch
Black Box:
https://vimeo.c
om/108090574

7. Black
Simple Circuit Box.
Main Circuit is infra
red sensor and
speaker attached
right to the Arduino

8. Black
1 Hacking a speaker – how can I make it make noise? Box.
Breaking up Canadian Tire
speaker and using iPhone
as musical input

9. Black
1 Hacking a speaker – how can I make it make noise? Box.
First Step was taking out
batteries and changing the
power so it came from
Arduino, then I made it turn
on with a button press and
play music from my iPhone

10. Black
2 Figuring out Sensors – how can I make people’s bodies turn it on? Box.
Next step was replacing the
turn on button with a
sensor. I used the proximity
sensor with a delay so
people would turn it on for a
while
Idea for using proximity sensor from Kate’s Sept 25 Tutorial

11. Black
Box.
I really liked the
idea of having the
continuous servo
motor playing a
creepy music box,
but after making it
work thought:
“what does this
really have to do
with a black box?”
Nothing… but it
was a fun
experiment
3 Getting led astray! Trying to fit too much in
In the end I ditched the music box idea – concentrate, Lee! ;)

12. Black
Box.
4 Music and Narrative
Concept: Space ship pilot sends out call for help and then is attacked by
mysterious beings.
How: Recorded a friend’s voice, then used sound library to put together the
narrative and events.
Script:
[Dial Tone]
Pilot: Calling Mission Control. Calling Mission Control. Do you read me? There is
someone on our ship. I repeat. There is someone on our ship. Send help immediately.
[Creepy monster sound]
Pilot: Wait…What was that?
[Creepy monster sounds and growling]
Pilot: Oh noooooo!
[more creepy monster sounds and growling]
Pilot: HELP MEEEEE!
[Dial Tone]

13. Black
5 FINAL CONCEPT - INSIDE Box.

14. Black
5 FINAL CONCEPT – CODE Box.
//proximitysensor code from Kate Hartmen's lecture example Thursday Sept 25th digital futures OCADU
int soundPin = 9; //Pin to turn speaker on
int proximitySensorPin = A0; //Where Proximity sensor goes in
int proximitySensorValue = 0; //start numbers for sensor
void setup () {
pinMode (soundPin, OUTPUT); //speaker power
Serial.begin(9600); //to get readings
}
void loop () {
proximitySensorValue = analogRead(proximitySensorPin);
Serial.println(proximitySensorValue);
if(proximitySensorValue > 40) {
digitalWrite (soundPin, HIGH); //This will turn the sound on when someone is near
}
else {
delay(10000); // keeps it on long enough to listen to some
digitalWrite (soundPin, LOW);
//This will turn the sound off when someone is not near
}
}

15. Black
6 JOURNAL Box.
1 Hacking a speaker – how can I make it make noise?
(SEPT 20-21 WEEKEND – 2 DAYS – HARDEST PART)
2 Figuring out Sensors – how can I make people’s bodies turn it on?
(SEPT 25 – 26 – HALF DAY)
3 Getting led astray! Trying to fit too much in
(OCTOBER 3-4 – HALF DAY)
4 Music and Narrative
(OCTOBER 1- 4 – HALF-DAY)
5 Aesthetics and making it work
(OCTOBER 5 – HALF-DAY)

16. Black
7 Last words – Greatest Challenge – the speaker likes to screeeeeeeech Box.
When I was working on the
speaker at first it wouldn’t
take any iPhone songs, it
would only screech! Finally I
got the plugs in right but it
still screeches if they aren’t
in all the way
Vimeo:
https://vimeo.com/10814508
3
Lesson! Be careful while
your hacking, don’t just rip
things apart -_-

17. Black
Box.