Category Archives: Installation

Processing Countdown Timer

In case you need to implement timer in your project that have a specific countdown time and you can check if it has expired or not , this code snippet will help.

class Timer {
 
  int savedTime; // When Timer started
  int totalTime; // How long Timer should last
  
  Timer(int tempTotalTime) {
    totalTime = tempTotalTime;
  }
  
  // Starting the timer
  void start() {
    // When the timer starts it stores the current time in milliseconds.
    savedTime = millis(); 
  }
  
  // The function isFinished() returns true if 5,000 ms have passed. 
  // The work of the timer is farmed out to this method.
  boolean isFinished() { 
    // Check how much time has passed
    int passedTime = millis()- savedTime;
    if (passedTime > totalTime) {
      return true;
    } else {
      return false;
    }
  }
}

class Timer {

int savedTime; // When Timer started

int totalTime; // How long Timer should last

Timer(int tempTotalTime) {

totalTime = tempTotalTime;

}

// Starting the timer

void start() {

// When the timer starts it stores the current time in milliseconds.

savedTime = millis();

}

// The function isFinished() returns true if 5,000 ms have passed.

// The work of the timer is farmed out to this method.

boolean isFinished() {

// Check how much time has passed

int passedTime = millis()- savedTime;

if (passedTime > totalTime) {

return true;

} else {

return false;

}

Timer timer;

void setup()
{
  // timer should last 5 second
  timer = new Timer(5000);
  timer.start();
  ...
}

void draw()
{
  // check is timer passed
  if(timer.isFinished())
  {
  }
  ...
}

Timer timer;

void setup()

{

// timer should last 5 second

timer = new Timer(5000);

timer.start();

...

}

void draw()

{

// check is timer passed

if(timer.isFinished())

{

}

...

}

Kinect Puppet

Chinese developer has some interesting use of kinect with Journey to the west characters. Video here. They also have similar concept with chinese opera characters. http://www.qianyedan.com/kinect-pupppetry/kinect-puppet-research2/ It would be interesting if Malaysian developer can utilize it for Malaysia Wayang Kulit, isn’t it?

Processing + SimpleOpenNi + Export exe

Seems like there’s an issue here where your code run find in IDE but not after exported to exe.

https://code.google.com/p/simple-openni/issues/detail?id=27
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/25694883/processings-export-functionality-does-not-work-with-simpleopenni-kinect-appli
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/21755050/exporting-the-kinect-processing-application

So the solution is found here:

https://code.google.com/p/simple-openni/issues/detail?id=73

Problem begins from simpleOpenNI.class, trying to load libs from "/SimpleOpenNI/library/" withou success. I download the simpleOpenNI.java and i patched to take the current directory adreess and in nativLibPath string. To patch the java file simple add this line: static String workingDir = System.getProperty("user.dir"); after public class SimpleOpenNI extends ContextWrapper implements SimpleOpenNIConstants { and change 2 lines (32X and x64)from: nativLibPath = getLibraryPathWin() "\\lib\\"; to: nativLibPath = getLibraryPathWin() + workingDir + "\\lib\\"; compile the file and put it on simpleOpenNI.jar\SimpleOpenNI\ or download the atteched file and put it on: simpleOpenNI.jar\SimpleOpenNI\ located on folder lib!

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Problem begins from simpleOpenNI.class, trying to load libs from "/SimpleOpenNI/library/" withou success.

I download the simpleOpenNI.java and i patched to take the current directory adreess and in nativLibPath string.

To patch the java file simple add this line:
static String workingDir = System.getProperty("user.dir");
after public class SimpleOpenNI extends ContextWrapper implements SimpleOpenNIConstants
{
and change 2 lines (32X and x64)from:
nativLibPath = getLibraryPathWin() "\\lib\\";
to:
nativLibPath = getLibraryPathWin() + workingDir + "\\lib\\";
compile the file and put it on simpleOpenNI.jar\SimpleOpenNI\

or download the atteched file and put it on:
simpleOpenNI.jar\SimpleOpenNI\ located on folder lib!

So, you will need to download the simpleOpenNI fix and replace with the one in your exportedApp\lib. Good luck!

Kinect Pixel Mirror

This installation use Kinect to turn real human into pixel. A clever implementation as it avoided showing off kinect weakness but highlighted the strength.

AutoHotKey force app fullscreen automatically

For example, you have an exe that you need to force it fullscreen, on top and borderless and yet you have no access to the source code. AutoHotKey is here to rescue. Do you know that you can compile an AutoHotKey script into exe file? Then, you can pass parameter to it from CLI.

Step 1: grab this code

(assume your screen resolution is 1920×1080) and save as fullscreen.ahk

w = 1920
h = 1080

#SingleInstance, Force
#NoTrayIcon
SetTitleMatchMode, RegEx

Title = %1%
Title := Title . "$"
Target = %2%

Run, %Target%

WinWaitActive, %Title%
WinGet Style, Style, A
WinGetPos, X, Y, Width, Height, A
WinSet, Style, -0xC40000, A
WinMove,A,,0,0,w,h

ExitApp

w = 1920

h = 1080

#SingleInstance, Force

#NoTrayIcon

SetTitleMatchMode, RegEx

Title = %1%

Title := Title . "$"

Target = %2%

Run, %Target%

WinWaitActive, %Title%

WinGet Style, Style, A

WinGetPos, X, Y, Width, Height, A

WinSet, Style, -0xC40000, A

WinMove,A,,0,0,w,h

ExitApp

Step 2: convert it to fullscreen.exe

You can use the free Ahk2Exe.exe to convert the ahk into a exe file. Look for the compiler at path like: “C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoHotkey\Compiler”

Step 3: create a launcher.bat

Put the following line inside:

cd C:\MyApps
fullscreen "window_title_name" "app.exe"

1 2	cd C:\MyApps fullscreen "window_title_name" "app.exe"

make sure your fullscreen.exe and app.exe (program to launch in fullscreen) are in the same folder (in this case is in C:\MyApps). You will also need to change the window_title_name to the correct title name.

How to know my application title name

AutoHotKey come with another goodies called “Active Windows Info” or simple window spy. You can locate it at path like “C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoHotkey\AU3_Spy.exe” Launch it then focus on the application that you wanto find out the title. Look for the first line under >>>>>>>>>>( Window Title & Class )<<<<<<<<<<< section, that’s your application title name!

Capacitive Sensing

Capacitive sensing with arduino can easily amaze your friends as it can easily sense human touch through any conductive material such as metal, graphite (pencil drawing), or even fruits (juicy)! First of all, you will need to download and install the CapitiveSense Library from here. Restart your arduino and you should beable to see examples code likes below:

Then, construct a circuit with arduino uno board. The resistor I using here is 10k ohm but the best would be 1M ohm.

You will need to upload the following sketches:

#include <CapacitiveSensor.h>

CapacitiveSensor   cs_4_2 = CapacitiveSensor(4,2);        // 10M resistor between pins 4 & 2, pin 2 is sensor pin, add a wire and or foil if desired
CapacitiveSensor   cs_4_6 = CapacitiveSensor(4,6);        // 10M resistor between pins 4 & 6, pin 6 is sensor pin, add a wire and or foil
CapacitiveSensor   cs_4_8 = CapacitiveSensor(4,8);        // 10M resistor between pins 4 & 8, pin 8 is sensor pin, add a wire and or foil

void setup()                    
{
   cs_4_2.set_CS_AutocaL_Millis(0xFFFFFFFF);     // turn off autocalibrate on channel 1 - just as an example
   Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop()                    
{
    long start = millis();
    long total1 =  cs_4_2.capacitiveSensor(30);
    long total2 =  cs_4_6.capacitiveSensor(30);
    long total3 =  cs_4_8.capacitiveSensor(30);

    Serial.print(total1);                  // print sensor output 1
    Serial.print(",");
    Serial.print(total2);                  // print sensor output 2
    Serial.print(",");
    Serial.println(total3);                // print sensor output 3

    delay(10);                             // arbitrary delay to limit data to serial port 
}

#include <CapacitiveSensor.h>

CapacitiveSensor cs_4_2 = CapacitiveSensor(4,2); // 10M resistor between pins 4 & 2, pin 2 is sensor pin, add a wire and or foil if desired

CapacitiveSensor cs_4_6 = CapacitiveSensor(4,6); // 10M resistor between pins 4 & 6, pin 6 is sensor pin, add a wire and or foil

CapacitiveSensor cs_4_8 = CapacitiveSensor(4,8); // 10M resistor between pins 4 & 8, pin 8 is sensor pin, add a wire and or foil

void setup()

{

cs_4_2.set_CS_AutocaL_Millis(0xFFFFFFFF); // turn off autocalibrate on channel 1 - just as an example

Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop()

{

long start = millis();

long total1 = cs_4_2.capacitiveSensor(30);

long total2 = cs_4_6.capacitiveSensor(30);

long total3 = cs_4_8.capacitiveSensor(30);

Serial.print(total1); // print sensor output 1

Serial.print(",");

Serial.print(total2); // print sensor output 2

Serial.print(",");

Serial.println(total3); // print sensor output 3

delay(10); // arbitrary delay to limit data to serial port

}

Touch each end of the sensor and you should start seeing value changes in serial monitor. You may connect it with any conductive material, in this case, i choose vege and fruits.

You may further enrich the output using processing + serial.

import processing.serial.*;
 
 int touch1Value = 0;        // sensor 1 value
 int touch2Value = 0;        // sensor 2 value
 int touch3Value = 0;        // sensor 3 value
 
 int threshold = 30;
 
 Serial myPort;
 
 void setup() 
 {
   size(800, 800);
   
   // List all the available serial ports
   println(Serial.list());
   // I know that the first port in the serial list on my mac
   // is always my  Arduino, so I open Serial.list()[0].
   // Open whatever port is the one you're using.
   myPort = new Serial(this, Serial.list()[0], 9600);
   // don't generate a serialEvent() unless you get a newline character:
   myPort.bufferUntil('\n');
 }
 
 void draw() 
 {
   background(0);
   println("touch1Value:"+touch1Value+" touch2Value:"+touch2Value+" touch3Value"+touch3Value);
   
   if(touch1Value == 1)
   {
     background(255, 255, 0);
   }
   else if(touch2Value == 1)
   {
     background(255, 0, 0);
   }
   else if(touch3Value == 1)
   {
     background(0, 255, 0);
   }
 }
 
 void serialEvent(Serial myPort) 
 { 
   // get the ASCII string:
   String inString = myPort.readStringUntil('\n');
   
   if (inString != null) 
   {
     // trim off any whitespace:
     inString = trim(inString);
     // split the string on the commas and convert the 
     // resulting substrings into an integer array:
     float[] touches = float(split(inString, ","));
     // if the array has at least three elements, you know
     // you got the whole thing.  Put the numbers in the
     // touchX variables:
     if (touches.length >=3) 
     {
       touch1Value = touches[0] >= threshold ? 1: 0;
       touch2Value = touches[1] >= threshold ? 1: 0;
       touch3Value = touches[2] >= threshold ? 1: 0;
     }
   }
 }

import processing.serial.*;

int touch1Value = 0; // sensor 1 value

int touch2Value = 0; // sensor 2 value

int touch3Value = 0; // sensor 3 value

int threshold = 30;

Serial myPort;

void setup()

{

size(800, 800);

// List all the available serial ports

println(Serial.list());

// I know that the first port in the serial list on my mac

// is always my Arduino, so I open Serial.list()[0].

// Open whatever port is the one you're using.

myPort = new Serial(this, Serial.list()[0], 9600);

// don't generate a serialEvent() unless you get a newline character:

myPort.bufferUntil('\n');

}

void draw()

{

background(0);

println("touch1Value:"+touch1Value+" touch2Value:"+touch2Value+" touch3Value"+touch3Value);

if(touch1Value == 1)

{

background(255, 255, 0);

}

else if(touch2Value == 1)

{

background(255, 0, 0);

}

else if(touch3Value == 1)

{

background(0, 255, 0);

}

void serialEvent(Serial myPort)

{

// get the ASCII string:

String inString = myPort.readStringUntil('\n');

if (inString != null)

{

// trim off any whitespace:

inString = trim(inString);

// split the string on the commas and convert the

// resulting substrings into an integer array:

float[] touches = float(split(inString, ","));

// if the array has at least three elements, you know

// you got the whole thing. Put the numbers in the

// touchX variables:

if (touches.length >=3)

{

touch1Value = touches[0] >= threshold ? 1: 0;

touch2Value = touches[1] >= threshold ? 1: 0;

touch3Value = touches[2] >= threshold ? 1: 0;

}

The outcome:

AutoHotKey force app to fullscreen

Sometime you need to full screen an application that you have no access to the source code. AutoHotKey come in handy:

grab and install from here.
Then, copy the code and save it as fullscreen.ahk, double click it.
You can now press CTRL+Z to toggle the active application into full screen mode. (NOTE: the code assume your screen resolution is 1920×1080)

; Set your resolution
w = 1920
h = 1080

; Window to fullscreen
Ctrl & z::
SetTitleMatchMode, 2

WinGet Style, Style, A
if(Style & 0xC40000) {
  WinGetPos, X, Y, Width, Height, A
  WinSet, Style, -0xC40000, A
  WinMove,A,,0,0,w,h
} else {
  WinSet, Style, +0xC40000, A
  WinMove,A,,%X%,%Y%,%Width%,%Height%
}
return
;

; Set your resolution

w = 1920

h = 1080

; Window to fullscreen

Ctrl & z::

SetTitleMatchMode, 2

WinGet Style, Style, A

if(Style & 0xC40000) {

WinGetPos, X, Y, Width, Height, A

WinSet, Style, -0xC40000, A

WinMove,A,,0,0,w,h

} else {

WinSet, Style, +0xC40000, A

WinMove,A,,%X%,%Y%,%Width%,%Height%

}

return

;

Checking arduino port on ubuntu

Sometime in processing, you will need to listen to the serial port that arduino attached to.

Serial sPort = new Serial(this, Serial.list()[portIndex], 57600);

1	Serial sPort = new Serial(this, Serial.list()[portIndex], 57600);

Finding out the portIndex is easy on windows by simply checking in Control Panel -> Device Manager. However when you are in linux (ubuntu), you will need to use command to do it.

First plugin your arduino to usb
type lsusb to see list of attached usb devices
type dmesg | tail and it show you which serial port your usb device bind to. In my case, it is something like: [3486.xxxxxx] usb 2-2: FTDI USB Serial Device Converter now attached to ttyUSB0
or, you may also type dmesg | grep tty
Then you need to figure out the index of this ttyUSB0. Ubuntu reserved ttyS0 to terminal and 1 until 31. normally ttyUSB0 means 32.

Arduino Clone vs FTDI

FTDI has been acting very unprofessional by pushed out a new driver with Windows Update that bricks counterfeit/clone/incompatible FTDI chips by setting the Product ID to “0000”. Here is the process that worked for me to return the FTDI chip back to its original VID:PID of 0403:6001 from a Linux (Ubuntu) computer.

Plug in your bricked device. If you run “lsusb” it should show a device at “0403:0000”.
Download ft232r_prog from ft232r_prog (v1.24) and extract to a folder
Install the build dependencies by running “sudo apt-get install make gcc libftdi-dev"
Change directory into the folder cd /ft232r_prog
Type “make” to build the program
Now run “sudo ./ft232r_prog --old-pid 0x0000 --new-pid 0x6001“
You are done. Unplug and re-insert your USB device and run “lsusb” again. It should show an id of 0403:6001

However, if you just wanto use the chip on windows, you may follow this video tutorial: or https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-install-ftdi-drivers/all

if somehow your USB Serial Port show a warning icon after you done all these, you may wanto follow this tutorial to set the PID from 0000 back to default 0001. http://electrohobby.es/Archivos/arduino%20nano%20fix.pdf?21e9af

Downlaod FT_Prog_v3.0.56.245.zip
Install and run FT_Prog
Click the magnificent glass and you see Product ID is 0x6000

Click USB Device Descriptor
On the right panel, select FTDI Default
Click the lightning icon to Program Devices
Click Program button and it will be alright.

Normal Map

We asked for normal map to use on 3d coin, but our freelance designer gave us this:

This is not normal map, not even quite a bump map. Here is a better explanation:

Malaysia colleagues trains many good 3D artist, but mostly for the pre-rendered video use. They should expose more to real-time rendering 3d modelling.

YS Tech Share

Sharing knowledge and information on geeky stuff

Category Archives: Installation

Processing Countdown Timer

Kinect Puppet

Processing + SimpleOpenNi + Export exe

Kinect Pixel Mirror

AutoHotKey force app fullscreen automatically

Step 1: grab this code

Step 2: convert it to fullscreen.exe

Step 3: create a launcher.bat

How to know my application title name

Capacitive Sensing

AutoHotKey force app to fullscreen

Checking arduino port on ubuntu

Arduino Clone vs FTDI

Normal Map