In Lev Manovich’s book the Principles Of New Media, he identified five guiding principles that dictate the identity of a New Media project or artwork.

Firstly, my interactive project aptly falls under the principle of Numerical Representation. My work challenges the conventions of sociological conventions of an echo chamber through sound. By using pitch as one of the many elements derived from the element of sound itself, I transpose voices via algorithms in MAX to convey the idea of multiple voices in an echo chamber.

This is particularly true given that MAX reads through a sample and in coding terms, it will be in binary. This binary representation, therefore, constitutes the actual form itself. Furthermore, this also becomes a discrete unit upon itself to form a language that MAX can understand.

a rough basis of what MAX does for this project

the Arduino side for the modules

Secondly, I also believe that my project falls under the principle of Modularity. In Lee Manovich’s work, he asserts that this principle can be called the ‘fractal structure of new media’. The basis as this, as he asserts begins when elements in a Media are formed of many discrete elements. In my case, my project delves into the concept of the pop-up experience. Consisting of many different modules that would affect the pitch of voice; these modules are designed and expected to fit into spaces. Furthermore using WiFi and a compact battery for power ensures that the modularity of the project coexists to work with space.

Furthermore, the modularity extends into the way in which the project can evolve. Currently, I am planning to only make three due to financial constraints but there exists a possibility to extend it to an even greater number. Using software-based processing, the concept of modularity and numerical representation come hand in hand to explore the ways how I derive from using one sample track, represented into a numerical representation and expounded by a modular concept of retranslating it back into a physical form.

I also believe that my work falls under the Automation and in two ways. Firstly, Lee Manovich asserts that there are two ways in which automation can be considered either ‘low-level’ and/or ‘high level’. Basing these two ideas and channeling it into my work, I feel that mine falls more under the ‘low level’ aspect. Namely, the ‘low level’ experience works by simple audio input into an algorithmic software that then modulates it. Although it is not inherently low level or even automation as I will pre-define the set thresholds for pitch modulation that would occur. But naturally, I want my work to not be 100% automated or even generative and incite participatory from the audience.

Lee Manovich also asserted the principle of Variability as one guiding way in which a New Media artwork or project could be defined. In this aspect, the project I am working on falls under this principle as I can exponentially create systems connected via ethernet, internet or simply by adding more modules that can change the overall composition from one situation to another. This is apt considering I had envisioned this project to evolve into many different ways and it is not limited to the Arduino modules themselves. Possible (re)-interpretations of the way is possible to convey an experience that is highly unique but yet focusing on one single topic that is the echo chamber.

Furthermore, variability in this aspect can be referred to as the ways in which the experience varies per person. As it is driven by a sample, there can be an infinite amount of variance. Furthermore, this is also driven by the possible ways in which the audience feeds feedback such as clapping, shouting or blowing into the modules. Therefore, there exists an infinite possibilities of variations to how this project can be experienced.

Lastly, I believe my project also falls under the principle of Transcoding. In his paper, he argues that the reconceptualization of data from one point into another. In this case, it is the reconceptualization of physical, sound waves — propagations of particles in space into a series of numbers punched into Arduino and later MAX. This translation itself is between two mediums — the analog and the digital and therefore I feel it falls under this principle.