Blog 1 - Brendan Mayer

 Blog 1 - Brendan Mayer


About me:



My name is Brendan, I am a 4th Computer Science / Game Development student in SETU. I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and came to Ireland in 2015 which makes this year my 10th year in Ireland. Although many parts of South Africa have a large variety of spoken languages, I grew up in a predominantly English-speaking area, but I also learned Afrikaans in school. However, due to a lack of practice, I've forgotten much of the language but can still read and understand most of it.

 My main hobbies include surfing, rock climbing, creating music as well as playing and creating games. I've always had a passion for creating things which is why I chose this course as it allowed me to study Game Development but also learn many other aspects of computing. This is also the same reason I chose IOT as my elective module.

Ideas:

  •  Weather Station: a device that is used to measure temperature, humidity, or air pressure and display the data.
  • Gesture Controller: Gesture detection that allows gestures to be interpreted as commands for a robot (eg. Robot Dog)
  • VR Camera for Robot Dog: Allow for the robot dog to be controlled from anywhere with a camera that can be viewed through a VR headset (much like a drone). This can also include overlays from the already included mapping system
  • Heartbeat Kinetics: Use heart rate data to dynamically change the movement of motors or servos in an art piece, such as a sculpture that "breathes" or "beats" in time with the user's pulse.

Micro:Bit:


The micro:bit is a pocket sized programmable microcontroller that introduces users to coding and electronics. It has a 5x5 LED matrix display, built-in sensors such as an accelerometer, a compass, buttons, and Bluetooth for user input and wireless communication. The micro:bit lets users design interactive projects, from elementary games and animations to more advanced ones like robotics and environmental monitoring. It can be programmed in multiple languages, such as Python, JavaScript, or block-based coding using the Microsoft MakeCode, making it easy to learn for everyone. Due to its size and efficiency, the micro:bit is ideal for enhancing problem-solving skills and creativity in STEM subjects.

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