09

I determined that three levels would be appropriate to guide the users' eyes from the top, where the paint bottles are located, to the first level, where the paintings are generated—a stream of paint flowing from top to bottom. Consequently, I arranged the wooden bars in a ladder-type shape, with dimensions set for each level. Attached is a sketch.

The positioning of the different components was determined based on where they could be stable without distracting from the paint flow. I laser-cut the boxes and plates that stabilized and supported components such as the microcontroller, relay, motors, and paint bottles. I will not go into detail about the measurements, as this entry is already quite descriptive; they were based on practical considerations and user experience.

Additionally, I replaced the hose from last semester with infusion sets used in hospitals for IVs, ensuring that the paint drips in increments even more precisely than before.

Another possible plan is to add 3D-printed components, such as covers for the wooden poles, to further enhance the visual cohesion with the other prototypes.

For the hardware, the model was shaped so that a round surface would guide the printed outcome. Because the print needs to printed upward like a typewriter, it was positioned and modelled as such. The considerations were again had to do with rounded corners and a vintage 20th century machine aesthetic.

After the 3d print was ready, I needed to align the height and angle of the printer's paper output slot with the corresponding opening in the case. Considering the need to refine other prototypes and work on the documentation and collaterals, I will be postponing the refinement of the physical interface until after Open Studios.

In terms of the software, I added more sentence structures so that the outcomes will have more variability. I also refined the mapping by using the o1 model of ChatGPT to order the word index from alert to calm.

I would also like to experiment with the layout of the text, but that is more secondary. For now, refining the physical interface is higher on the list of priorities for this prototype.

While I was finishing up the coding, a problem emerged. Both printers started to break down—one flickering on and off and the other printing only in Chinese. At first, I thought it was an issue with the serial communication or the Arduino, but after troubleshooting with other Arduinos and my previous printers (which are too big to fit into my current hardware), I discovered that the printers had just become wonky.

So, I ordered two new ones—this time, models that didn't look like fakes and that could arrive before Open Studios. The earliest one is expected to arrive around the weekend before Open Studios. Therefore, I will have to postpone the documentation until after that. Hopefully, I can get one of them to be interactive for Open Studios.