machine project

The Sound of Fear

2010-01-21T00:50:10Z

Saturday May 7th, 2010
8pm

A lecture by Daniel T. Blumstein
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and The Institute of the
Environment, UCLA

What is it that makes screams scary? Why do animals scream? Why do they emit other sorts of alarm vocalizations? An individual might help others by alarm calling or screaming, but these sounds also increase the screamer’s risk of predation. The opposing benefits and costs of screaming create an evolutionary paradox. I will address this evolutionary paradox by describing insights from over two decades of studying marmots – large, mostly-alpine, ground squirrels – throughout the northern hemisphere. I will talk both about the evolution and function of alarm calls and end with a discussion of similarities among species, including humans, in the structure of fear screams and other scary and arousing sounds and how composers and audio engineers seemingly capitalize on this when designing movie soundtracks.

Sensors and Pattern Recognition

2010-01-12T22:31:30Z

Wednesday 4/7 : 7 – 10pm
Saturday 4/10 : 11 – 5pm
Monday 4/12 : 7 – 10pm

Taught by Heather Knight

Become a Machine Project Member and receive a discounted rate on all classes!

Non-members $250 (includes parts kit):

Members $225 (includes parts kit):

Class description:
This class is a crash course in simple analog circuits and their applications using basic pattern recognition techniques. You can use them for charismatic robots or intelligent machines (note: the emphasis will be on applications that improve peoples’ everyday lives rather than take over the world). In the previous edition, students used Arduino and Processing to graph electrical signals on their computer, play with audio, light, pressure and vibration sensors, track people walking by the Machine Project window, and try their hand at op-amps and transistors.

Session 1: Basic sensors and detecting signals
Session 2: Basic pattern recognition techniques; Rapidfire project challenge!
Session 3: Operational amplifiers and transistors

Students will keep demo code, lecture notes and kits.

Requirements:
Some familiarity with programming suggested (e.g. variables, if statements) but topics intended to be accessible and interesting to a range of experience levels.

About the Instructor:
Heather’s background is the design of everyday robots, human-robot interaction (MIT) and space instrumentation (JPL). Get a sense of her previous work at www.marilynmonrobot.com.

Refund policy:
Please note, all class fees include a non-refundable enrollment deposit of $25 that will be deducted from your refund if you sign up for, then drop, a class. So, for example, if you sign up for Machine Sewing 101 and pay the $155 class fee, but then remember that you have trapeze school final exams that conflict with the Sewing class and shouldn’t have signed up after all, we will refund you $130 of your tuition payment.

Introduction to Programming using Arduino

2010-01-08T22:55:41Z

Sundays April 4th & 11th, 2010 // 12-3pm
Thursdays April 8th & April 15th, 2010 // 7-10pm

Taught by Carlyn Maw

All materials included in registration fee.

Become a Machine Project Member and receive a discounted rate on all classes!

Non-members – $250, materials included

Members – $225, materials included

DESCRIPTION:
Learn how to program by making things that blink… and move… and make noise! Have tactile feedback while exploring low level vs. high level approaches to coding, variables, loops and objects. This class builds on Introduction to Electronics, but to make simple LED based projects no previous electronics experience is necessary.

Class 1: Blinking to the beat (Programming and programming environments, controlling one or more LEDs to make a light show)

Class 2: Enter the Human (Strategies for responding to outside input that happens on a human’s terms, rather than the computer’s, i.e. detecting button presses and deciding what to do about them)

Class 3: Data vs. Information (Computers are fast. They can log lots of changes in their environment very quickly. Learn to write code that filters out what you care about working with Analog Data and the PWM pins)

Class 4: Extending your environment (Writing reusable code, sharing code, next steps, project workshop. Libraries, following other people’s posted code, how to share your own, learn more, specific questions)

If you have a Machine Project gift certificate you’d like to redeem for a class, please email us at machine@machineproject.com and let us know.

Machine Project Spring Internship 2010

2010-02-02T20:20:56Z

A 10-week internship, early January to late March, 2010.

Machine Project is looking for a part-time video intern this spring!

We’re looking for someone who is interested in videotaping events/editing video for a small + feisty non-profit arts and educational space. It will help immensely if you’re already familiar with Machine and have attended events here in the past. You will also need a car.

REQUIREMENTS:

- Must know Final Cut Pro, DVD Pro, and Compressor

Additionally, a Machine Project intern should:

- Be able to work a flexible schedule. Most of our events happen on weekends or evenings — so you must be available to work on most weekends and evenings

-Log and capture all footage at Machine Project.

-Edit all footage at Machine Project

- Have access to a car. The video intern will be videotaping events at Machine Project and the Hammer Museum

- Be responsible and punctual

?- Enjoy coming to events at Machine (and have come to at least a few in the past).

Spring Intern Duties:

The intern will report to Machine Project in Echo Park on a part-time schedule, and work side-by-side with staff in Machine’s office, gallery, and classroom. A video editing workstation with an Apple computer and mini-dv tape deck will be provided. Video interns will videotape events, edit footage, burn a copy of the event to DVD, and upload footage to our Vimeo page. A Sony HD Handy Cam (equipped with a camera mount mic and wide angle lens) and tripod will be provided. The video intern will work hands-on with artists and staff to coordinate the logistics of documenting Machine Project’s events. This includes coordinating with artists and presenters to determine their needs, cleaning and prepping the space, determining any audio/visual requirements for each event and setting up and testing them beforehand.

- Frequently update the Machine Project Vimeo website (http://www.vimeo.com/machineproject) with the final edit of documented events.

- Ensure events are videotaped, edited, and uploaded to Vimeo

- Use Final Cut Pro to edit, and log and capture footage

- Use DVD Pro to burn final edit to DVD

- Use Compressor to compress video file for Vimeo upload

- Fill in as production support in various roles as needed

- Provide general support to the Executive Director and Operations Manager in daily tasks.

HOW TO APPLY:

If you’re interested and eligible, email a cover letter and your resume (mandatory) and a link to your recent favorite YouTube clip (optional) to machine@machineproject.com ASAP.

Happy former Machine Project intern, Justin, documenting the Machine Project Benefit

Intro to Electronics

2010-01-08T22:26:35Z

Sundays March 21st & 28th, 2010 // 12-3pm
Thursdays March 25th & April 1st, 2010 // 7-10pm

Taught by Carlyn Maw

All materials included in registration fee.

Become a Machine Project Member and receive a discounted rate on all classes!

Cost:
Non-members $250 materials and equipment provided

Members $225 materials and equipment provided

DESCRIPTION
It takes just a few basics to understand most of the electronics around us. Some simple hands-on projects will illustrate how laws and theories get turned into everyday objects. No previous experience required. Soldering skills will be useful but not necessary.

Class 1: How to Build a Flashlight (Simple circuit basics to light up your world. Current, voltage, resistance and how they relate. LEDs, batteries, switches, resistors and the different things that can happen when you start hooking them up)

Class 2: Anatomy of an Electric Toothbrush (Electricity, magnets and motion. Using capacitors and diodes to side step possible problems. The relationship of AC to DC)

Class 3: When a toggle switch will just no longer do (Part 1: Variable Resistance, because a circuit can be “a little bit on.” Part 2: What one circuit said to the other circuit)

Class 4: Hello Computer. (How to make circuits that think. Combining logic, electricity and time.)

If you have a Machine Project gift certificate you’d like to redeem for a class, please email us at machine@machineproject.com and let us know.

Intermediate Sewing 102: Pattern-making and Alterations

2010-01-08T00:48:36Z

3 Saturdays, March 20th, 27th, & April 3rd, 2010
noon to 4pm

Instructed by Annie O’Malley + Lake Sharp

Non-Members – $155

Members – $130

Become a Machine Project Member and receive a discounted rate on all classes!

We as people with bodies don’t always fit into the homogenized arbitrary sizes of mass produced clothing. This class understands that and will teach you how to make your own patterns that fit your body. We will actualize a pattern that you’ve only known conceptually, as well as cover the tricks of the trade to altering a pre-existing garment in order to fit your 3 dimensional body. Must have basic knowledge of sewing and bring your own machine, other notions are included.

If you have a Machine Project gift certificate you’d like to redeem for a class, please email us at machine@machineproject.com and let us know.

Pinatas: A Lecture

2010-01-08T21:49:03Z

with Sarah Bay Williams

Thursday, March 18th, 2010
8pm

Please join Sarah Bay Williams as she presents a talk about the short history, process, materials, resources, human nature, and meanings behind piñata-making. With live demonstration of a piñata in use (and full of candy).

Intro to Welding (MIG)

2010-02-08T22:31:13Z

Sunday, March 7th, 2010
10am-3pm

Location: in the back cement lot of Machine Project, with lunch break.

Taught by Matt Jones

Non-members – $135 (all materials and MIG welder rental included, with take-home final project)

Members – $120 (all materials and MIG welder rental included, with take-home final project)

Become a Machine Project Member and receive a discounted rate on all classes!

In this five-hour class, we will cover the basics of welding using MIG welders, to have you safely and effectively ready to start your very own furniture, bicycle chopper, or top fuel dragster project. We will be using welders rented from Home Depot and emphasizing skills and techniques that will make welding more accessible to those without extensive workshops, toolsets, or experience. During the class we will cover safety, metal procurement and selection, welding technique, and finishing/rust prevention techniques. We will then apply all the new skills to make a four-inch cube that we can inflate with a bicycle pump.

Requirements: Comfortable using power tools and not squeamish with loud noises or sparks. Participants must wear long sleeve cotton shirts and cotton pants/jeans without holes. Pants must cover the tops of your shoes. Please also wear leather or canvas shoes (zero nylon/synthetic materials on the shoes—vans, work boots, cowboy boots—all good). Please also bring sunscreen, safety glasses, and leather work gloves if you have them.

Workshop instructor Matt Jones is a sculptor and works as a scenic carpenter and welder building sets and props for museums and amusement parks. Visit his website: www.ojdingo.com

Gift certificate purchase:
If you have a Machine Project gift certificate you’d like to redeem for a class, please email us at machine@machineproject.com and let us know.

NOWCLOUD Residency

2010-01-31T21:28:09Z

Music every Sunday in February 2010 (Feb 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th)

12pm

NOWCLOUD Residency

2010-01-31T21:27:12Z

Music every Sunday in February 2010 (Feb 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th)

12pm