REFLECTION: Human + Art Science Museum

In the Human+ exhibition showcased many interesting projects by artiest, scientists, technologists and designers! One of my favourite piece was made by local student in Nanyang Polytechnic – School of Interactive and Digital Media named, TEASE.

My first reaction from the art piece was “Omg the body parts are so real” it was display with ears, feet and hand. It actually shock me until I felt a bit disgusted, still I took a step forward and touch it. The responds a vary such as laughing or angry depending on how we interact with their physical “body parts”. I really like how they invite interaction from the audience and the reaction from the installation was amusing.

The second part of the installation was presented at the back, capturing the emotions of the audience. I feel that was quite interesting where I spend a bit of time observing the different expression. From this installation reminds me that in real life we would tease each other similarly while the target now is a machine. The experience feel intriguing while if I were to tease a real person it feel more “shiok!” a sheer happiness. I guess is their body reaction and facial expression that cause the feeling in me. Whereas, teasing a machine feels less intimate and feel indifferent because it only react to you depend on your actions.

In conclusion, in future many jobs or even our daily life would involved robots however, I feel the relationship between human and technology was one way. We might really developed a relationship with robots but still they are coded to react to our behaviour. Yet, through installation like this can help us to explore our interpersonal relationship with the machine. I do feel intriguing and even happy to receive a laughing response. Aren’t this contradicting when your conscious tells you that its coded but still you have a emotional reaction.

 

REFLECTION: Human + Art Science Museum

Human+ exhibition are categories in to 4 category, Augmented Abilities, Encountering Others, Authoring Environments and Life at the Edges. The second category Encountering Others interest me more as most of them has the physical art piece there. Which aims to explore the changes of our social relationship towards the emerging technology. Many of the ideas will be helpful to our future or helps us to rethink the concept of robotic.


One of the project that caught my attention is this interactive Misbehaving machine act out by Heidi Kumao. The interactivity draws my attention to this and I was trying to find out how can I make it move. Most of the time when I was interacting with it, the left leg was jerking just like how human respond nervously shivering.

The anthropomorphism in this machines shown their characteristic through small gestural acts. Unlike the machines that we see in daily life were designed to fit our needs are “obedient” and productive. From this makes me reflected our relationship between the machine and us. The expectation that we have for machine has been increasing rapidly as compare to when I was a child.

However, this machine were portray differently with the added gesture that seems like an emotions to us. An identity was given to the machine as well, a six years old female performers and react differently through the gesture depending on to the zone of the viewer standing.

Another notable one was Nadine that was a realistic life-size robots. It was my first time seeing such a lifelike robot that look exactly like human. I was quite sad that I missed Nadine’s “working hours” as I feel it will be a quite an interesting experience.

Overall, Human+ exhibition has updated me on how technology has advance through the artist work. I am really amazed by the artwork such as Nadine are able to interact with us through various options like sending emails, communicate with us and also read us stories. While some artwork would makes me think and realise a different aspect like our expectation of robots are higher and higher. I am not sure if it’s a good thing but how robots are improving will definitely cause changes to us and our lives.

Cross Stream Broadcast – Actual

When I was the mobile streamer

ADM SAFARI

Internet Art and Culture Class

Posted by Nicholas Makoto on Thursday, 21 September 2017

Nicholas Makoto our safari theme live stream

Posted by Su Hwee Lim on Thursday, 21 September 2017

 

Cross stream broadcast was a collaboration with my classmate Makoto. We wanted to explore the possibility of Facebook Live using filters that can help to enhance our ADM safari’s idea. While combining with OBS, such as overlaying the animal gif and small photos to further emphasis on the theme.

We also designed the interface in OBS to make it looks like nature documentaries with showing unique information about each specie such as rabbits in ADM likes to eat KFC coleslaw or ADM student love cup noodles. Those information are plan to be nonsensical but some times is the facts of ADM student life.

On the actual cross streaming, we was lucky that there are still people around in school to appear in our streaming. I was quite overwhelmed and surprise by their respond as this was a unplanned streaming, they all reacted very well. Additionally, some even start to talk naturally along with the safari theme or even wanted to find a english name through the broadcast! From there we can see how technology are highly involved in our lives through their reaction to live broadcasting. Moreover, because there is a mutual trust between my friends and I that makes them willing to stream with me else they might think that I am a crazy person.

The filters actually created a lot interest in them that helps me to start a conversation. They are also interested in the other filters while we all play along with it. Similarly, it reminded me how I always play with the snapchat filters that just look amusing and fascinating.

The added filters created a funny or silly videos that can videoed by anybody and can be relate by everybody. It has become a culture in youths to video down their daily life that sometimes can brighten up each other day.

Another experience I had was some of my friends are watching me going live! Some they commented on the live which I did interact with them. The feeling actually feel kind of weird because I was interacting with them but I cannot see them. It feels a bit uncomfortable as there was no assurance or feedback that they can hear me. The only way was by keep commenting on Facebook.

 

When Makoto is the mobile streamer

Posted by Su Hwee Lim on Thursday, 21 September 2017

https://www.facebook.com/nicholas.makoto/videos/10155805791692698/

When it was my turn to control OBS, I was actually quite nervous. There are many things need to take note before we go on live stream. We would double check everything before we are ready to go live! At first I was panicking with the layers and captions as I need to be quick to react on which filter did Makoto chosen and show the layers accordingly.

After awhile I also found out using the on and offing the layers can make the words appearing flashing to help to inform the viewers of what we are doing. Therefore, just in case there is someone who just open up our live stream have higher chances of staying until they decide to move on.

In overall experience was quite stressful to me as we are not sure what we will face during our journey around ADM safari. Yet I do really enjoy process as I get to try out both screen broadcasting and mobile broadcasting. Mobile broadcasting was more interesting to me because I get to interact with people which was once my biggest worries they would reject being on live. However from the live experience, they become my biggest saviours as they are really open about getting on live with me. Screen broadcasting was quite stressful to me where some impromptu changes must be made in seconds. I feel Makoto has done a really great job, he is fast in typing and able to adapt to changes from my live streaming! The cross stream broadcasting not only deepen my understanding of what cross streams can achieve and also interesting how we human are comfortable in front of camera.

The cross stream can be viewed at:
https://thirdspacenetwork.com/cross-stream-makoto-su-hwee/

Hyperessay #1: Concepts in Social Broadcasting

The past 6 weeks was my first few experience to try and learn about social broadcasting which something I would never try in my life. I appreciate what we are taught were put into use for our micro projects which really work for hands on person like me. From those projects, helps me to understand the concepts better as well as myself.

From the first Real Time Aggregation project brought interest in me as I found out how camera would brings human relationship closer.

The language of media is everybody’s language.

I feel no matter you are watching’s people live steaming or with the person who is live streaming, it breaks down the barrier we had. At a very least we would gain more impression about that person and that makes a step closer between you and the person who is doing the streaming. Also, I felt the reason why we get friendlier when we are live streaming was due to our upbringing concept of being in front of camera you must smile. There is a natural reaction that we portray when we face the camera.

After knowing Videofreex, I admired how they explore different ways to film which becoming the first to live broadcasting. They inspired me to explore ways to live stream my Video double just like they build the system to makes live broadcast possible.

So, in my video double I added handmade logos to make everything more personal and real which I felt it fits the theme. In the video they also mention about:

It is important to go there where history are being made

This also encouraged me to live the moment while I was broadcasting for my projects because we are also making our own history! So just enjoy the process and everything will be fine.

Each live we stream are also unique where things or incident cannot be undo or repeated which makes it more precious. Especially in live streams there are things are unpredictable in fact out of our control.

I was stuck somewhere in between when I try to make a perfect roll on ground. The sound was even recorded. lol

Just like how it happen during my video double and Desktop Mise-en-Scene. Although there are flaws, but it portray a more natural real live instead of a staged sequence. The research for Jon Cates brought this realisation further. He focus on the raw imperfection of glitch that was consider breaking the rule to creates a new aesthetic.

…openUp possibilities, potentialities for ppl, as well as for myself

Indeed his glitch form of art reflect on the current society where we are obsessed with perfection. What is wrong with imperfection right? Also, we become too occupied and serious that we forget to play and explore the possibility. Usually we tend to stay on the safe side but dare not to do things that are out of the norm. Perhaps we are conscious of how people would look at us, especially during live streaming. However from all the artist we have came across during this module, they believe in themselves and their ideas to create unconventional art piece. In which motivated me to explore more incorporate what was interesting to me to the work I created. Likewise, is more important to look into ourselves instead of what others view us and enjoy the process of broadcasting.

Just nice that we had the OBS project where I could incorporate what I had learn, explore and play! In OBS there is a lot interesting effects and function that interest me such as overlay effect and sliding movement which I selected was my favourite.

I also like how Jon Cates created Bold3RRR in the constant changing images that would keep me curious so I added the similar object in my Desktop Mise-en-Scene to keep my viewer interested. I also found a way to slowly trust my ideas better. Starting from exploring, giving myself many options and exposure. Then I would select and remain certain things that helps me to narrow down which give me a clearer direction of what I want to go for.

ADM SAFARI

Internet Art and Culture Class

Posted by Nicholas Makoto on Thursday, 21 September 2017

In the cross stream broadcasting project, Makoto and I wanted to explore the transition effect, filter effect combining with OBS layers. The videos are live stream simultaneously and with live captions just like a documentary series but a LIVE version.

The live captions.
https://thirdspacenetwork.com/cross-stream-makoto-su-hwee/

When both video was played at the same time side by side, the visual feels like an unfinished art while another was a polished version. I also notice my eye will be sway between the both videos. While broadcasting, the interactions with my friends are also easier as introducing them the filters and projects help me to break the ice with them. Some really surprise me as I don’t really know them and they even says things about safari to contribute to our theme!

In current society as technology has advance people are more open about being in front of camera live as compare to how people takes time to react in the project “Hole in space”. Being on screen has become part of our lives whether in the real, virtual or third space. Nevertheless, many people are familiar with the technology just by using is as a normal camera but yet there is rooms for exploration such as the filters effect and OBS.

There is also come interaction between my friends who they commented on the videos. Which makes me feel that even though we don’t contact frequently they still can know and participate in my live stream.

In conclusion, social broadcasting are a platform for us to communicate to the world or certain targeted audience through different mediums. Where it creates more interaction between humans and it can communicate emotions, providing us with accessibility to our friends whom we have not meet for decades.

When we can no longer separate the real and the virtual (the post real), when the third space is just the way things are, well, that in sum is the current state of evolution.

We are connected through social media or even the third space just like what we did from adobe connect. With collaborative streaming such as my cross stream with Makoto can be added with effects for instance, live caption helped to enhance the impact to the viewers. Furthermore, the biggest advantage of social broadcasting is it allows two ways communication when my friend can communicate to me using their keyboards. Thus, regardless of location, culture, time differences we are connect through this third space.

The cross streaming can be viewed at:
https://thirdspacenetwork.com/cross-stream-makoto-su-hwee/

Final Project: Idealisation #01

After narrowing down from my sketches, I decided to work on Umbrella for the final project. Umbrella is something I felt has many interesting aspect, people use it to shelter themselves, using it as a walking stick or even a in a form of armer. With all stated, we can derive that umbrella provides us protection that makes us feel comfortable. In which in directly forms a comfort zone. Seeing that, reminds me that I often due to my own fear, I dare not step out of my personal comfort zone. This is something I am over coming slowly each that to push myself a bit further and further.

In my art piece I wanted to create the floating umbrella that will be moving around in 3 dimensional. I hope to spark thinking from this installation or even questioning. I would be using motors and pully to create the system and will be prototyping on a smaller scale. Will update the research on motors and pully soon!

 

REFLECTION: Future World @ Art Science Museums

In April 2016 I when to Future World exhibition for the first time. After more than a year, the gist of the exhibition still remains! Unlike the usual quite and formal museum exhibition, I really like how Team Lab created their art in a more interactive way to engage both children and adults. In the exhibition it indirectly bring out our child like habits to starts playing around regardless your age that reminds me of saying “there is a child in each one of us”.

 

The another version of nature in 2016

I feel that the Nature was really a great improvement. I remember vividly before was only movement of the flowers that was projected on the wall and floor. Yet for current version the experience was just like you are brought to another dimension and very mesmerising. The projection of art piece on the surrounding makes you fell like have the illusion just like you are on the journey with them. Although it can be quite dizzy after that. The energetic sounds effect enhance the experience even more by co-related with the visuals.

The above video shows the older version of Black Wave, called 100 Years Sea Animation Diorama which I felt it was a more interesting piece. I remember there was a different representation of the wave and there was a mountains and nature of landscape included. This would keep the viewer busy and wants to stay longer.

Nevertheless the current piece Black Wave, provides another kind of experience that has a calming effect just like how we would stare at the movement of sea. The sea was depicted by the traditional Japanese painting style by using curvilinear lines that move to create the overall moving effect. Large beam bags are place there for viewer to chill while looking at the artwork which it sort of mimic the feeling of seaside.

The tunnel that you need to bend down and crawl over to another side.

Follow on to the next exhibition, I really enjoy myself at the Town section. They even included the gigantic slides which is something very familiar yet we did not play with a long time. They also added projections of fruits, flowers and butterfly on the floor and slides which would bloom when people walk past, just like giving life to it. Such small little action create interests in us would makes people feel closer and wants to interact with nature.

The most memorable project was the Sketch Town. Regardless your age, this would project your work live on the screen! Even though this is my second time, I wants to try this again! This artwork provides us a sense of ownership while combining all the artwork together in the whole piece. It creates topic among my friends and I while we drawing and making the 3D paper art. However, after reading the artwork description I realise that the whole projection of the town are interactive. We could actually touch the car so it would speed up or change in direction. It is such a big missed, probably we are occupied by drawing.

Lastly, my favourite piece was Story of the Time When Gods Were Everywhere! I am really amazed by how they created the sensing using the laser technology which seems like everywhere on screen can be detected. The visual are beautiful which looks like watercolour painting that goes on live painting. When we touched on the hieroglyphic characters it would turn them into nature elements and even animals. There would never be a same visual just like no identical moments in nature. A very interactive piece that involved gesture movements.

In conclusion, my second experience with future world never bored me. Team Lab’s interactive still interest me even though I have came here before. I feel that it is because every experience is very different that it remains fresh and new to me. I really admired how Team Lab get people from different expertise to work together and create innovative and artistic art piece that we have seen today.

Cross Stream Broadcast Technical Test

Idealisation

Due to personal reason I did not attend the last lesson which the first trail of streaming. This makes me more nervous on what I suppose to look out for during this cross stream but luckily it is a technical test! After brainstorming with Makoto, we came up a few ideas such as attaching our phone at different angle and news reporting. So to explore the different angle of viewer, for example attaching at our toe as it is a totally different view from what we usually see. Or collective visual connecting our face together visually. However all those did not have a concrete theme for us to play/explore with. We arrive at the final concept of Safari adventure while playing with the filters. We wanted to do something that make use of the interesting filters.

Linking that up with the safari idea, we decide to explore ADM with the people we meet with the filters! So it will be like searching of the “wild animals in ADM NTU”. It is like how documentary they film about animal. We found rabbits, wolf and also cat filters that would help us to portray the idea. In OBS, we also added filters such as the logo and titles to mimic how we would see on the tv.

Process in streaming

The internet connection was really quite bad some areas might not able to connect to internet especially when I walk out of IM room there is a short period of time it was disconnected. I might be just change to my mobile data for the actual streaming to prevent the break off. I feel it would interrupt the process and might miss some moments.

We also face sound difficulty as there is a feedback coming out from Makoto side. After we went for the second technical test just for the sound he manage to solve the problem which end up coming from his live streaming. After offing the volume for that the feedback seems did not appearing anymore.

While going out to stream, I actually have quite a blank mind again even after a few times of streaming experience. Yet, keeping my ideas in my mind of finding the “wild animals” in school. I have plan to prepare which filter to use next when I saw people I know yet I will still panic a bit when I was switching around the filters. However, the unplanned situation makes the streaming unexpected and impromptu. Maybe some overlay effect can be adding on OBS to make the whole live stream more interesting. Probably some moving image and shift of camera angle like dip to black just like switching scene would have a smoother flow.

The first technical test:

This is a trial video

Posted by Su Hwee Lim on Monday, 18 September 2017

Second sound test:

https://www.facebook.com/suhwee/videos/10155082554878403/

The outcome after combining together:

https://www.facebook.com/nicholas.makoto/videos/10155799366832698/

The outcome on sound test:

TEST RUN FOR OSS ASSIGNMENT

Posted by Nicholas Makoto on Monday, 18 September 2017

Device of the Week #02 – Eunoia II

This interactive piece was created by New York based artist Lisa Park uses brainwave sensors. The brain activity would be detect from NeuroSky EEG headset into data and translate to sound wave to create vibration in the pool. There is total of 48 pools with speakers which symbolise 48 different emotions define by a philosopher Baruch Spinoza such as hope, fear, remorse and compassion.

When high frequency brain wave such as frustration would trigger louder sound output while lower meditation would have slower vibration. From the constant changing patterns of rippling, visually display the brain activity from user emotional status.

From this project, it help us to understand more of our brain visually through the data collected. Probably in future this project can develop further for medical purpose to analyse brain or feelings. Especially to understand coma patient brainwave could help them recover better. Or for patient who cannot communicate verbally, we could analyse how they feel and made adjustment accordingly if there is a chart of flow to refer to. I feel there are lots of potential in this project to develop to help people. The overall placement of the project is also aesthetically pleasing in symmetrical placement that reminds me of the connection between our neurons. The strong reminisce between our brain and concept are well thought out.

However the contrast of water ripples are very weak, I almost did not notice at first glance. Viewer might miss the important part of this art piece. Probably adding flicker lights to aid the frequency would be more impressing and eye catching. Or just light to emphasis the movement of water will make the whole artwork more prominent.

Research Critique Hyperessay – The World’s Longest Collaborative Sentence

Douglas Davis was interested in exploring the possibility of video and internet interactivity. He was once a writer before he started his artist career on 1960s. A few notable work from him was the satellite broadcast “The Last Night Minutes” that feature him staring out of the television trying to make connection with the viewer and trying to escape visually in the camera wall.

Another was in 1994, “The World’s First Collaborative Sentence” that involved super participation from people around the world to add their own words online. Mixture of languages are used to convey various of thoughts without using full stop that makes the sentence go on. This platform provides a gateway for people to voice up their view.

The huge difference between broadcast TV and the Web is the keyboard. With that people can say anything; they have full expressive capacity.

Similarly in the modern days, we have social media for us to voice out our views and having discussion. From their sentence, it feels like this platform became a window for them to shout out their thoughts to everybody.

When the artist involved the audience to be part of the contributor created a sense of belonging being able to participate in it. When you are involved, you feel more excited about it as it is a different experience when you are just an audience.

Wow, I was a part of the world’s first collaborative sentence!

While, getting the whole world to write this sentence making it more comprehensive with interesting narrative. You would get to know different content which while you are reading, it creates the nonsensical sequence in your mind.

However art work like this created in the pioneer days are facing a problem which was mention in the article by Melena Ryzik. Due to technical advancement digitalise artwork could no longer be working, in this case like Davis’s work. Until Whitney curators decided to rebuild and mend the broken links. This leave me thinking about the programme we are using now, we might not be using it next time. As the way we communicate, we interact and we look at things will be very different in future due to technology advancement. The art direction would be evolve as well because art revolve around the society and culture. I felt its really important that Whitney are preserving the digitalise art that the pioneers artist has done showing us how art evolve until today. Just like how we learn about videofreex to the hole in space to The World’s First Collaborative Sentence.

In conclusion, getting the audience involve can create interaction and something that can never be achieve by just one person. It is the combination of effort from different people in different culture to create this unique piece like The Worlds’s First Collaboration Sentence. Yet conservation of the pioneers’s digital art can be challenging. What we can do now to preserve our own digital art was to do good documentation and videos to convey our concept and ideas.