Forgot all about the nf thing Thanks for the rest
Sent from my Virgin Mobile phone -------- Original message -------- From: "Kurt @ VR-FX" <v...@optonline.net> Date: 08/14/2013 8:53 AM (GMT-06:00) To: profox@leafe.com Subject: Re: [NF] learning python Hey Virgil, Two things. 1 - U forgot to put [NF] on the Posting Subject. But - no biggie - I got that Rectumfied for you! 2 - I was at my big Graphics conference several weeks ago out in Cali. Was actually chatting to a couple young guys who work at this graphics co. that does special effects work for movies. Seems that Python is WAY BIG in the CG industry - as they are creating tools to integrate into CG & special Effects production pipelines! Anyway - just thought I would mention it. And, if you actually got into seriously coding Python - there is another job option you could consider - working in Special Effects! L8r, -K- On 8/14/2013 8:43 AM, Virgil Bierschwale wrote: > I’ve been monitoring the python comments lately because I’m thinking about > learning it to do things like this. > > > > Long story, but I’m the type that has to have an actual problem to learn > something new <grin> > > > > Thought I would share some of the things that are being done with python and > automation in case ya’ll haven’t run across it. > > > > I have a interest in this stuff because of what I hope to accomplish on the > following link. > > > > http://keepamericaatwork.com/?cat=62 > > > > If it doesn’t come through because of the pic’s, etc., send me a email and > I’ll send you the link > > > > Virgil > > Keep America At Work > > N5IVV > > > > From: Keep America At Work [mailto:donotre...@wordpress.com] > Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 6:41 AM > To: vbier...@gmail.com > Subject: [New post] Interning at Kijani > > > > > new_kaaw posted: "My summer at Kijani Grows has been very satisfying, as well > as entertaining, so far. I’ve gotten to apply information learned in the > classroom to real world problems, which is exactly what I was hoping to do. > Eric put me to work quickly. My first as" > > > > > > > > > > New post on Keep America At Work > > <http://s.wordpress.com/i/emails/blavatar-default.png> > > > > > > > <http://keepamericaatwork.com/?author=1> > > > <http://keepamericaatwork.com/?p=214841> Interning at Kijani > > > by <http://keepamericaatwork.com/?author=1> new_kaaw > > My summer at Kijani Grows has been very satisfying, as well as entertaining, > so far. I’ve gotten to apply information learned in the classroom to real > world problems, which is exactly what I was hoping to do. > > Eric put me to work quickly. My first assignment was to create a script that > connects to his bluetooth device, read the report it sends every 10 seconds, > and save the report in a file. We decided to use Python because it has > bluetooth libraries available and because of my familiarity with the > language. I downloaded a Python coding environment along with the required > libraries using Ubuntu and got started. > > The bluetooth device my program connected to is the small board with green > LEDs visible at the bottom of the following picture. > > <http://www.kijanigrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/BT+RelaysOn.jpeg> >BT+RelaysOn > > > > The device is designed to monitor small aquaponic gardens like the one shown > below. By taking input from sensors, and controlling environmental factors, > like the lights or pump, with relays, the amount of work required to maintain > a garden is reduced substantially. > > > > ><http://keepamericaatwork.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/36df0c6a67_gardenFullView.jpeg> > gardenFullView ><http://www.kijanigrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/gardenBedView-e1374104388368.jpeg> > gardenBedView > > Eric set this garden up recently. The garden bed has lettuce sprouts poking > up. > > Once I had a program receiving the board’s information via bluetooth link, > Eric instructed me to create a visualization of it, choosing HTML as the > presentation format. He had me set up an Apache server on my Ubuntu operating > system, so I could view the website locally as I built it. I made a second > Python script that reads the file created by my first script, created HTML > code corresponding to the data, and stored it in a file being hosted by the > apache server. In addition to displaying the data from the garden controller, > Eric wanted me to make the website an interactive remote for the controller. > I added buttons to HTML code and modified my original script to send commands > to the garden controller when they are pushed. Then, I added the > visualization; using HTML tables I created a small image of a garden and a > tank. > > <http://www.kijanigrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Version1.png> >Version1 > > > > > > > > After seeing my first attempt, Eric asked that I add the flow back pipe (the > pipe that allows water to flow from the garden bed back to the fish tank), as > well as a fish feeder and a reservoir. I drew up a new set of tables and set > about coding them into the page. > > <http://www.kijanigrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Version2.png> >Version2 > > > > Due to numerous visual and functional issues, I aborted my second version. On > my 3rd attempt I decided to make code that creates the tables dynamically > based upon a set of constants that can be modified (bed height/width, tank > height/width, pipe height/width, etc.). In addition I implemented a coloring > scheme that allowed for easy manipulation. This was particularly useful > because it allowed the visualization to change its colors in response to > different data from the garden controller (e.g. a pipe that has water flowing > through it is blue). > > <http://www.kijanigrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Version3.png> >Version3 > > > > > > Once the visualization was good enough, it was time to do away with the raw > display, as most users would not use it. I took whatever data wasn’t shown in > the visualization and displayed it in the area the report used to reside. > > <http://www.kijanigrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/LatestVersion.png> >LatestVersion > > Below are pictures with modified dimension and color constants respectively, > to demonstrate the ease of modification. > > ><http://www.kijanigrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/LatestVersionDimensionshift.png> > LatestVersionDimensionshift > > > > ><http://www.kijanigrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/LatestVersionColorshift.png> > LatestVersionColorshift > > > > Once the visualization was complete, Eric moved me on to something different, > having me work on his code for the garden controller. He asked me to add > support for commands in the form of a JSON string, and to add cyclic timer > functionality. That is, instead of merely telling the garden controller to > turn something on or off, I will tell it “turn the pump on for 5 minutes, off > for 10 minutes, repeat”, and it will make the cycle autonomously. Using my > own arduino kit as a development environment, I added the functionality. The > command parsing proved difficult, as an ATMega328p (the microprocessor being > used) has only 2 KB of SRAM, I had to use character arrays and pointers > instead of String objects that are memory expensive. This particular problem > was the most fun and difficult programming challenge I’ve encountered so far > at Kijani. Eventually, I got the functionality Eric was looking for. The > controller takes in commands in the form of a JSON string, the commands > contain information about a particular control’s cycle. The controller > maintains this information in non-volatile memory, so cycles will not be > forgotten when power is lost. This cyclic capability can be used to turn > lights on and off, as shown in the photos below. > > <http://www.kijanigrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/BT+RelaysOff.jpeg> >BT+RelaysOff ><http://www.kijanigrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/BT+RelaysOn.jpeg> >BT+RelaysOn > > > > Once the garden controller could enact cycles and receive commands to modify > them, I added a cycle status section to its report, and returned to my second > Python script. I added another area to the visualization web page that > displays the cycle information from the board. In the same area, a user can > create or modify cycles, and send them to the board. > > <http://www.kijanigrows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/UpdatedVersion.png> >UpdatedVersion > > > > The next step in the project is to make the visualization accessible to > anyone using a garden with one of the bluetooth microcontrollers (it is > currently hosted on my computer for development, it isn’t available on the > web). This may involve setting up a master web server that will host web > pages for many gardens in the area nearby, or an Android application that > connects to the bluetooth directly and uses a completely different > visualization. > > The project is for Eric’s Guns to Gardens program currently being set up at > Castlemont High School in East Oakland. There, he is clearing out an old > JROTC shooting range and filling it with smart aquaponics gardens. Eric will > be teaching classes there, Castlemont students will have the opportunity to > learn how to grow food with the gardens, as well as how to build and maintain > them. I have been to Castlemont with Eric on two occasions, and I’m excited > about the program. > > It has been a good summer so far, a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. Eric > is fun to work with, and is a good teacher, if you ask the right questions. > Hopefully, I can learn some more before Fall arrives and I go back to school. > > <http://keepamericaatwork.com/?author=1> new_kaaw | July 18, 2013 at 4:49 >am | URL: <http://wp.me/p3NGb5-TTb> http://wp.me/p3NGb5-TTb > > > <http://keepamericaatwork.com/?p=214841#respond> Comment > > <http://keepamericaatwork.com/?p=214841#comments> See all comments > > > > > Unsubscribe or change your email settings at > <https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=e00b1920a15a3e7dca89a1a1e210e411&email=vbiersch%40gmail.com> > Manage Subscriptions. > > Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: > <http://keepamericaatwork.com/?p=214841> >http://keepamericaatwork.com/?p=214841 > > > > > > ><http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=jetpack.wordpress.com&blog=56169215&post=214841&subd=keepamericaatwork.com&ref=&email=1&email_o=jetpack> > > > > --- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts --- > multipart/alternative > text/plain (text body -- kept) > text/html > --- > [excessive quoting removed by server] _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://mail.leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://mail.leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/520b8be7.3000...@optonline.net ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. 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