MicroPerf 3 – GPS Texting

GPS Texting is a flash mob done by Yixue, Ashley and Daryl. It involves 5 performers receiving visual cues from their phones to form a gigantic “WE ♡ SG” using ropes laid on the ground. This was done at an open field near Geylang Industrial Estate.

Bird’s eye view of performance site

The initial idea was for each performer to access a web app (that is made using glitch and mapbox) that shows a map, their current location, and letter which they are supposed to “draw”. Each performer would utilise the GPS function on their phone to guide them on which direction to go and how long each side of the string will be.

Site 1 & 2 shown in Mapbox software

 

Webapp made to coordinate movement

However, on the day of performance, the chosen site was really muddy and wet, (making it very hard to walk). The GPS was also not accurate enough, perhaps due to reduced letter sizes(insufficient rope) and cloud cover. Furthermore, half of our performers were kids (Yixue’s nephews and niece), so we decided to improvise.

Test-run with new setup

The final flash mob performance consist of 5 performers, forming a letter each. There is also another conductor who is positioned at a higher level to guide the performers below by streaming a real-time video from above so that the performers below could check on their phones if their letters are placed correctly. Each performer would first form the letter on their own, then adjust accordingly with the help of the video stream.

Final Result

 



Process

With the idea in hand, a webapp was quickly prototyped to assess the feasibility of using GPS for such a purpose. The GPS is usable at large distances, therefore a suitable scale was required for the whole thing to work. The initial scales of letters required on average 60-70m of rope per letter. However, insufficient rope resulted in an attempt to tweak the letter sizes, which proved to be a bad decision.

Left: Glitch was instrumental in making a functional app with minimal fuss.
Right: Measuring tool for estimating distances.

The original plan was to have the performers open the same app on their phones. The app is synced; so the map will show the performer the next point to move towards relative to their current location.

Instructions for performers

For performers to visualise…

Materials and Tech

  • 5 reels of 55m white rope
  • Mobile phones
  • Glitch platform (nodejs app)
  • Firebase Realtime database (for synchronization)
  • Geolocation Api
  • Mapbox

Sem project Ideation 2

The thing: Our hands !

We use it to make sound, create visuals, orchestrate, feel etc.

During this crisis, the loss of connection within society has become even more apparent. So how can continue to connect with others in new and interesting ways, sensorially and visually?

Player can communicate by using hand gestures over the leap motion controller/some other hand gesture detection device.

On the other side, another player can connect by experiencing the ‘mist’ performance that’s orchestrated from the other end.

 

Dress code: Black

Scores:

Topic/context: Connection during covid

Tech: Leapmotion, TD, Arduinos, Ultrasonic misters, DIY sensing pad

Covid: Is observed. One player at each station. Use sanitizer as misting liquid

Initial Ideas for Semester Project

Ignite

  • Each slave node consists of five LEDs
  • the LEDs on the slave node shine according to how close a player is and how many are near a node(about a meter from the node, this is designed with COVID precautionary measures in mind)
  • each player, on entering, will bring up a webapp on their mobile. the app tracks their movement and generates colors and sounds continuously as they move around the space
  • once a slave node has five players stationed there, it will shine brightly (in a particular color that is in sync with the color shown of the user’s mobile browser) and a soothing melody is played as well
  • there are 2-3 of these slave nodes
  • as more of the 3 slave nodes are occupied, the master node’s brightness will increase, more sounds are also produced
  • the ambient sounds are also modulated partially by the players movement around the space
  • there is possibly a projection near the master node with a dynamic visual generated in realtime(a tracing of collective movement of people around space)

Initial Ideas for Flash Mob Perf

Beautiful-Noise

  • There are several zones each associated with different instruments
  • players start anywhere on the playing field, with their mobile browser pointing to a given webapp; they have no idea what instruments are in each zone
  • on entering a zone, they will see a prompt on the browser, with some instructions for how to make sounds(by shaking phones etc.)
  • users are allowed to explore the area, with the possibility of realizing that there are different instruments
  • users will be able to hear in realtime the collective sounds that are made by all players

Initial ideas for Instruction Art

Pseudomentary

User visits website, and is assigned a random VO. He/she submits a video accordingly. A video compilation of all submissions is created when all VOs are done.

 

Wonderland

  • Take a photo of a place that in your opinion is magical and share it with the world; e.g. a hidden secluded forest in the midst of city. If possible include a short description of where the location is.

 

Hug Mother Earth

  • Make your way to the closest place that has plenty of greenery(especially trees)
  • Find your favorite tree, and give it a hug!
  • Ask your friend/someone to take a photo and have it uploaded!

 

My precious

Gather 10 of these:

  • objects
  • pictures of places or things
  • people/animals

Take a picture and upload!

 

Serendipity

Choose your prefered mode of transport:

  • bus
  • car
  • bicycle/motorbike
  • train

Travel towards an area that you are not familiar with, stop whenever you feel comfortable/inspired.

Take a photo of what inspires you at this new, unfamiliar place, and share it by uploading.

 

Lighten Up! 

Make your way to the most uninspiring/normal/hideous place you can think of.

Get creative and use some naturally found objects and lighten the place up! Suggestion; maybe “turn it into a cozy and happy space”? 

Take a photo and share with the world. 

Give yourself a pat on the back, you might have just brighten up someone’s day with your work!

Non-exhaustive list:

  • flowers, 
  • twigs, 
  • fallen fruits
  • Leaves
  • Branches
  • Potted plants

Zoom Performance Initial ideas

Cooking, common stock of ingredients,

1 person will pass ingredients to other to be cut and added, and this goes on back and forth for a while, maybe stop after 10 ingredients?

Then mix/cook, and eat !

 



The idea here is a person cycling into the forest. This is a stop motion-ish animation being collaboratively performed by two people using Zoom.

The scene and objects are constructed with found objects at home. There are 2 layers used for animation. One is the bicycle layer. This is achieved by using a transparent sheet of glass or plastic supported on the sides. And below is the BG layer. This is to allow independent and easier handling of animation of both layers. A phone is placed at the top to film the ‘frames’.

Music is also playbacked at the same time. Chosen music is ‘Guaranteed‘ by Eddie Vedder.