Board index ‹ Interface-Hardware ‹ PIC Interface

[smallfish]

In the Media Arts and Technology program, we explore new metaphors for artistic interactivity that connect the physical world with the virtual realm. We develop new techniques for computing that generate music and visual arts in a myriad of ways; but in order to put forth these techniques, we must create new sensors, and build interfaces that can better grasp their control and generation. The CUI allows us to bind physical processes or actions to corresponding digital expressions.
To simplify this process of connecting the real world to the virtual, the CUI provides the necessary electronics to capture sensor input or control actuator output. The CUI comes with a USB port, a power LED, a Reset switch, a Programming switch, and a prototyping area. At the heart of the board is the PIC18F4550, a versatile microcontroller made by Microchip Technologies, Inc. The PIC18F4550 features thirteen A/D inputs, eighteen general I/O ports, and an efficient RISC-like instruction set. The CUI only uses one of the PIC's general I/O ports; the remaining ports are available for user applications to be built in the prototyping area. The total cost of the CUI is around $30 US when built in small quantities.