Gallery 2: Catwalk of Programmable Crickets

"Crickets" are small programmable computers developed by the MIT Media Laboratory. They can be attached to motors, sensors and other materials to make objects that move, light up in different ways, or make sounds and music. Devices made with crickets are controlled by computer programs that are downloaded into the crickets via an infrared interface. Children combine everyday materials, such as paper, cloth or wood with the crickets to make their own original creations. These crickets and various combinations of sensors, LED lights, speakers etc. can be strapped around the body and worn as part of clothing.

Cricket workshops enabled students to experience a unique mix of engineering, art & design. They build complex networks of output devices which are wired to crickets, write the computer programs, decorate the crickets, make the costumes themselves, and create an appropriate and fun storyline!

The LEAD students work in small groups of 2 to 3 to write their own programs with the "PicoBlocks" that control a specific sequence of output functions. The computer programs are transferred by infrared signals from the computer to the cricket, which is similar to the "programmable brick" used for controlling the robots in the Cascade (see Gallery 1). Students then decorate their crickets and costumes and compose a short story in which these wearable electronics play a part. These different stories are strung together to form a "Catwalk of Programmable Crickets"!

The following is a short description of each of the catwalk models' costumes and the accompanying storyline, in the order of appearance as on the day of the performance on 28 May 2005.

Rendezvous in the Mountains (designed by students of Creative Primary School)
Two mountaineers get lost in an avalanche, and later find each other... because they are wearing intelligent hats!

Sparkling Ornaments (designed by students of Creative Primary School)
Who says brains and beauty cannot co-exist?

Multimedia Boots (designed by students of St. Paul's Convent School)
These boots are made for walking, but they also flash and sing... so does the belt!

The Wedding (designed by students of St. Paul's Convent School)
These lovely students have just designed their wedding gowns!

Flash Gloves (designed by students of Creative Primary School)
A monster is lurking behind two brave young men. When they turn around and notice the monster, they flashed their glove-clad fists, and zap zap zap …the monster is no more!

This Cat Is Not So Cute! (designed by students of Creative Primary School)
A colourful kitten rests on her master's shoulder. Oh no! Don't pull on her tail! The Little kitten's awfully mad now... Slap! Scratch!... Ouch!

Star-studded Ts (designed by students of Marymount Secondary School)
Who wouldn't want a star-studded T-shirt completed with a pink cap, that has a smart fan that turns on automatically when the sun gets too hot?

Uniform (redesigned by students of Marymount Secondary School)
There will be no more excuse for not going to school. The uniform is simply too cool to give up!

The Juke Box (designed by students of Queen's College)
Wear a juke box, collect some coins, play some music, and collect some charity fund!

The Devil and the Angel  (designed by Marymount Secondary School)
The devil wants the driver to hit and run over a victim... the angel wants to save both the victim and the driver, and so she makes the victim sparkle in multicolours...

Light Sabers  (designed by students of Queen's College)
Watch how the sabers change colours during the fight. May the Force be with you all!

Come Create - GO LEAD!