SO I have been playing around with what is conductive. Sand is not. Sand from the sandblaster, coated in the worn off metal shavings is not. Coal dust is not. This afternoon I will go over to the hard ware store to get some graphite powder. It is too fine to use on its own, but maybe if I mix it with the sand it will work.

Is salt conductive?

I have also been thinking that maybe the medium dosent have to be conductive. If I have a variety of prong sensors sticking up through the sand, not visible mind you, but enouhg to periodically brush the rake that would be enough. I'll see this afternoon whether I can get anything to read current, if not I think that is the path I will take.

10-2-07 (Kevin)

Abby, I think you're on the right track with considering the material beneath the sand to be the source of coductivity, in this way leaving the "surface" experience as close to a standard small Zen garden as possible. Perhaps a variety of materials that have different conductive qualities would add even more to the experience.

10-9

Ok, so I seem to have the conductivity thing working.  I can get my two probes about 1/2 inch apart and to conduct, so that is good.  I really didn't want the rake to have to actually touch something metal on the bottom of thepan.  And I can get one Pico to recognize and differentiate between three conductive sources, So I can have lots of different ports on the bottom to conduct.  Remarkably the mechanics seem to be going just fine.

So now the big question.  What the hell does it do when it reads conductivity, and how do I make it do that?  I was thinking loud obnoxios noise, and that is easy.  I just use the Pico IR to send out a signal when any of the sensors read conductivity.  (oooh, or it could sing the Haleluja chorus!)  I want it to do something kinetic as well. Should it flick sand?  Shake the whole pan?  What?  This is where I am stuck and need help. 

Any suggestions?