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CSCI 1600, Fall 2021

Homework 1 - Sensors, Actuators, and I/O

Due 09/17/21 at 11am

Instructions

Submit these in slide format (ppt, pptx, or pdf) with each section (Background, Modeling sensors and actuators, Input and Output, Accessibility) on a different slide. Please do not put your name on the PDF, so that we can anonymize grading in Canvas. Number the questions/question parts. Questions in blue are optional/questions for you to think about to yourself.

You are graded on good-faith effort, not correctness. This means that you should attempt to answer every question, and if you did not reach an answer, you should describe your process and where you got stuck.

Background

  1. (2 pts) Have you worked with electronics (circuits, microcontrollers, Arduinos, etc) in the past? In what ways? It is okay if you haven’t, we just want to get a sense of everyone’s backgrounds so we can make a better course.

  2. (2 pts) Have you read assembly language code in a class before? Which architecture/language?

  3. (2 pts) What are you most excited to learn in this class?

  4. Are there any doubts or concepts you want a refresher on?

Modeling sensors and actuators

Read the following parts of Lee/Seshia Chapter 7: Introduction, 7.1. (except 7.1.7 and 7.1.8), 7.2, 7.3

  1. If you have any questions about the reading, post them on Ed

  2. (4 pts) Answer chapter 7, exercise 2

  3. (4 pts) In your own words, define a sensor and an actuator. Give one example of each that was not mentioned in the chapter.

Input and output

Read the following parts of Lee/Seshia Chapter 10:
Introduction, 10.1 up to but not including 10.1.3 (p.267), and 10.2 up to but not including 10.2.4 (p.278)

  1. If you have any questions about the reading, post them on Ed

  2. (2 pts) Answer chapter 10, exercise 2a

  3. (8 pts) Answer chapter 10, exercise 7

Accessibility

When we talk about accessibility in general-purpose computing, we are usually considering on-screen accessibility (contrast, large text, screen readers, web and monitor design for photosensitivity) or standard I/O devices like mice and keyboards. When designing embedded devices, the conversation is broader because the types of interfaces for embedded systems are broader.

  1. (2 pts) Do you see any accessibility issues in the size, form factor, etc of electronics components, for example, the ones in your Arduino kit or on devices you have seen in the real world?

  2. (4 pts) Locate a credible source (academic resource, government report, or first-hand account from someone with a disability) talking about accessible design of electronics. Cite the source (author, title, date, and link) and summarize your main takeaway.