This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

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    Syllabus

    Course Meeting Times

    Lectures: 1 session / week, 3 hours / session

    Course Goals

    The overall goal of this course is for students to attain a broad familiarity with many different sensors useful in a broad definition of "HCI" (Human-Computer Interaction)

    • Develop judgment of what sensors and modalities are appropriate for different applications
    • Know how to electronically condition the sensor, hook it up to a microcomputer, and process the signal (at least basically)
    • Have some idea of how/where these sensors were used before
    • Have a reasonable idea of how different sensors work
    • Develop a sense for recognizing bad data and an intuition of how to resolve problems

    Textbooks

    Amazon logo Fraden, J. Handbook of Modern Sensors: Physics, Designs, and Applications. 4th edition. Springer, 2010. ISBN: 9781441964656. [Preview with Google Books] (3rd edition also OK)

    Amazon logo Horowitz, P., and W. Hill. The Art of Electronics. 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press, 1989. ISBN: 9780521370950. [Preview with Google Books]

    Readings in these books will be complemented by auxiliary references in other books, magazines, and Web sites.

    Coursework and Grading

    This course combines lecture and lab-based instruction. Students are required to complete several problem sets and labs, and a project due at the end of the term with a final report and in-class presentation.

    Grading

    ACTIVITIES PERCENTAGES
    Problem sets 30%
    Final project 30%
    Lab performance 30%
    Attendance, participation and reading 10%

    Calendar

    SES # TOPICS KEY DATES
    1 Introduction; basic sensor-related electronics and signal conditioning

    Lab 1 out
    PS 1 out
    2 Electronics (cont.)

    PS 1 due
    PS 2 out
    Lab 1 due
    3 Electronics (cont.)

    PS 2 due
    Lab 2 out
    4 Pressure and force Lab 2 due
    5 Pressure, strain and piezoelectrics PS 3 out
    6 Electric field and capacitive sensing PS 3 due
    7 Capacitive applications and magnetic sensing

    Lab 3 due
    PS/Lab 4 out
    8 Optical sensing PS/Lab 4 due
    9 Inertial sensing  
    10 Acoustic and thermal sensing  
    11 Digital sensor processing and modules Project proposals due
    12 Bioelectric sensing and related topics  
    13 Final project presentations