Pitch proposal: Interactive Devices

Concept:

The device questions the behaviours of people on social media, where we gain satisfaction from our peers whenever we receive a like/retweet/etc from our posts. How is it like if we were to translate the same behaviour in real life?

Device:

The device will be a LED panel shirt where the user’s post will be shown to the public. The public can show a “like” or “retweet” by clapping their hands or shouting a praise (using sound sensors). Similarly, thinking about the limitation of sound detection, another alternative is to use buttons where people can “click on” to show their like.

Inspiration:

LED panel shirt where texts will be displayed

Circuits can be created on fabric/paper by utilizing copper tape, clear tape, and some simple electronics.

Other online tutorials:

LED panel: https://www.instructables.com/id/PONG-WITH-ARDUINO-ARDUINO-PONG/

LED panel: https://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-24X6-LED-matrix/

Fabric circuit: https://www.instructables.com/id/Paper-Circuits/

Key milestones:

28 September

Research on LED panel (Should I acquire a panel by itself, or individually combine it together, like the tutorial above?)
Find out where to get the materials for the fabric circuit

30 September

Purchase materials for fabric circuit and led light over the weekend

01 – 05 October

Draw out sketches for class the following week
Complete first rough mockups (coding of LED panel to work + fabric circuit)

08 October

Troubleshoot for LED panel/fabric circuit
Connecting LED panel with a social media account, to display live tweets/fb statuses

15 October

Troubleshoot for LED panel + social media account
Connecting LED panel (with social media account) and the fabric circuit

22 October

Troubleshoot for LED panel + social media account
Connecting LED panel (with social media account) and the fabric circuit

Micro Project: Pirate Broadcasting 2

The path from ADM back to hall 4 is a dark and scary one. Usually, I would get too scared to walk through it alone. Especially since it is rumoured that it is haunted, because it is next to Nanyang Lake. I would very much walk one round around NTU (which takes an additional 10mins) than to take that shortcut.

Hence, for this project I decided to overcome my fear with the help of Insta Live.

I wanted to test the strength of our connectivity on the third space. I was questioning:

Will I still be afraid, even with people journeying with me through this process?
How will they react to my actions?
How will I feel to overcome this experience with Insta live?

Things escalated as I realised that somehow that night, the lights were switched off. Usually some street lights will light up the forested path. Watch and see what happens:

I have bad friends. Here are some of the reactions my friends had after the insta live airing:

In conclusion, despite being super afraid initially, talking to all my friends online made me forget my physical surroundings (slightly). I was less unaware of it, and hence much less afraid. Maybe because I feel a sense of security (if I got kidnapped people will know), or it was distracting me from the current environment. Maybe next time if I were to go through that path again, I will start another insta story haha.

Thank you!

Pattern, art, archi: Finalised motifs + process

Hello! Here is the process for my motifs, and the finalised look for it! My motifs is about making classical musical instruments into “rock band members”. A take on Amusia, where affected individuals hear normal music as something that is noisy, flat and grating.

First step was to create very rough sketches of a variety classical instruments

Next was to start on creating tighter sketches of the chosen instruments which I think have potential. Using the scanner app, took photos of the sketches and moved it into illustrator

Here is an example of how it looks like in illustrator. I separated the hand drawn sketches and illustration into different layers to make it easier to tweak. The pen and selection too were used to redraw the sketches. There are changes that I made within illustrator as it is easier to do so there

The next few images are the finalised motifs!

Oops there is a typo here, it is a saxophone and xylophone

Here are some other illustrations that will help to bring out the concept of “metal band”. I am thinking of adding more elements like guns, roses, textures and other patterns to support the main motifs above

Micro Project: Live Broadcasting

Had a steamboat session the other day and asked my viewers to join us if they could.

Research Critique: Annie Abrahams, The Big Kiss (2007)

French performance artist Annie Abrahams uses webcam technology and attempts to kiss through a video call. This is an example of an interaction occurring in a third space, as despite being present in different geographical locations, the physical boundaries collapses as the two individuals starts to feel more immersed in the act.

It brings to the question why Abrahams choose to use a kiss as the main element in the performance. A kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction,, sexual arousal, affection, respect, greeting, friendship, peace, and good luck, among many others. A kiss is something that is very intimate, yet, how did you feel when you watch the interaction occur in a third space?

Ulay and Abramovic performs’Breathing in, Breathing out’ (April 1977, Belgrade)

Watch a snippet of it here!

What emotions does these art performances, that does not occur in third spaces evoke in you? Especially in comparison with The Big Kiss. It seems like The Big Kiss is far less passionate and intense. It also seems to be more gestural, compared to the two examples above.

And perhaps, because touch, voice, and body signals, which are important for communication, are deprived in the machine mediated experience. This brings to the question to how intimacy is being adapted almost “shortchanged” due to the digital world we live in today.

Of course, we do not need to video call one another and perform The Big Kiss to show love. But on the other hand, we have perhaps unknowingly adapted it into various forms, like sending emojis, or simply dropping a “HPD!” message onto one’s Facebook wall. Ultimately, intimacy in a third space cannot be replaced or substituted.

So where and what are the limits of digital communication?

Machine mediated kissing in a performance = drawing with your tongue = taking pleasure, while constructing an image = a way to be superaware of the other = never totally abandoning yourself = ???????? = not at all like real kissing, it’s better! This might be a female view point. – Annie Abrahams

Like what Annie Abrahams said herself, The Big Kiss is not like a real kiss. To her, it is better due to not having the need to be physically present, which allows a closer intimacy between the two performance. And this is an advantage in her perspective.

Ultimately, different tools and platforms has its pros and cons and we need to be aware and tap on these advantages when it comes to our own artworks.

DOW: Osso VR

The Osso VR is a high immersive training tool for surgeons to experience the operating table first hand. This virtual reality platform allows individuals to use their very hands to pick up the needed tools and perform the necessary tasks. In addition, the Osso VR website states that it has “an unparalleled level of accuracy and realism to any surgical procedure”. There are also prompts that walks the users through each action, hence enhancing the learning experience of these trainee doctors before starting out on real patients.

It also grades one’s performance based on time, accuracy, and other metrics that surgeons are typically evaluated on.

VR allows the trainee to physically learn, practice, and master the proper steps of a procedure. Here is a video that further demonstrate the device:

Osso VR allows medical residences perform a variety of tasks, from leg to spinal surgery

Instead of needing complex and advanced hospitals to train in with expensive state-of-the-art equipment, a surgeon on the other side of the world can try the Osso VR module from any PC and VR headset to get the exact same quality training exercise.

Interestingly, it seems like the healthcare industry is heading towards VR to expand and accelerate the advancement of healthcare. There are events led by top medical practitioners that discusses the possibilities of VR as a platform to advance healthcare. An example of such is like “Virtual Medicine“. From such discussions, various VR innovations like the Osso VR or AppliedVR is created. (AppliedVR uses virtual reality to treat pain and anxiety in both inpatient and outpatient settings).

The con I could think about this product still cannot fully replicate the real experience of the operating table yet. For each case brought to the operating table is unique, as there could be many unexpected turns that can happen out of the blue. Nonetheless, this device is a great learning tool for trainee surgeons, refining their skillsets before operating on a real individual.

Perhaps this VR tool can expand to other job scopes like pilots, vets, or even to cooking. Maybe it can even be a tool to aid the elderly, to bring them new experiences and stimulate their minds instead of being bored in their elderly homes and such.