Device of the Week #04 – Pinokio

 

Pinokio are a very interesting device, animatronics that likes attention from human. It uses 6 servos motor for its movements, a webcam to track people. It uses  Arduino and processing to generate all the interaction and behaviours.  One of the most interesting behaviours is that Pinokio doesn’t like being turn off, when user turn it off it will trigger the button again to turn itself on! I feel its a very interesting aspect.

The pros is that it has interesting behaviours and it was intriguing to watch even though this is a simple device. However, after awhile it can be bored watching it as it only have a few reactions.

In the video they say it can recognise sounds and like attentions, probably the device can added some interesting reaction such as a dancing lamp or something to create more variation.  Or adding wheels to it to follow human around so improve its immobility. Or even adding use to it such as voice command or clap to turn on the lights so to put it self in a more useful position.

Device of the Week #03 – Pilobolus: Art without authorship

Pilobolus was created for a social experiment on how social dynamic works and how individual can make decision which can affect on the overall result. It explore on how everyone can participate in the art with the combination of effort. They created 250 wired umbrella that can be lit up in different colours and projected all of them on to the screens.

I really like how they use simple device of controlling LED lights result in the aggregation effort in order to make this art work! Giving the audience choice to choose the colours and a togetherness experience which was a different approach from other art.

However, instructions was given to the audience in order to complete the images. I am really curious about what will happen when there are no instruction given so for the audience to explore the art piece themselves. Then it would invite more interaction between them and the results would be diverse as the result will be projected.

In additional, wireless connection could be added in the umbrella devices to link all umbrella together to create variation such as spreading of the light colours like “disease”. Or even it can be sold to the public, when one umbrella cross by another umbrella, it can detect each others and cause the LED to start blinking. As to create small little interesting moments that we might not experience before. Also, when computer recognise each umbrellas as pixel that will create many possibilities such as visual effects of linking all of them together to make an image outline.

In conclusion, Pilobolus had show us how human can work together in group to produce an art piece using the light up umbrella device. The aggregation effects can be use in many ways such as playing games and making a linked outline images.

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.

Device of the Week #01 – ALPHA – rotator

This alpha rotator was created by françois xavier saint georges, showcased in Amsterdam, Original Dampkring Gallery. The rotator are hung on the ceiling and has 6 arms, each with 26 holes that represents a alphabet. To interact with this device, user will place the pencil in each arms’s hole according to the word they wanted. Upon completion, user will need to push either of the handle above to construct the encrypted message. The pencils will gently draw against the paper that place on the floor. Final outcome of the word become encrypted message are filled with layers of lines, shades that would never be a second same piece.

The holes are designated

The pros of this artwork involved engagement in the viewer and provide them with a different experience in writing. I find it interesting that the artist designate the hole to each alphabet to form a word. At the same time, viewer are given a chance to participate and being an artist themselves by constructing the final piece. Creating the one and only piece instead of the literal writing.

However, the whole process could be quite time consuming although it can be really fun to play with. Probably machine can be implemented to adjust the position of the alphabet by viewer can key in their desire word to a computer and during their turn every thing will be automated. It can be quite interesting to see the machine move itself too! I feel there are also potential in this artwork to be use in group interactive controller. The 6 arms can be change into 3 platform that holds 3 person. They need to corporate together to change the direction of the controller to control the game character. In which it involve balancing and communication with team.

Overall, alpha rotator created a different experience for user to explore in writing making the user an artist. The change of position, a viewer to a creator provides sense of ownership and satisfaction would leave them deep impression.

I also came across this artwork called Study for Fifteen Points. The moving LED caught my attention as all of it are moving in different direction. Yet the later part of the video reveal that at one viewpoint we can see that each LED represent a point of a human walking. I felt this was not much of interactive device but something interesting to share with.