Week 10

Now that we know what we are going to do as a project, we
have to think of the realisation part. Just using the Arduino with no additional software may be difficult. ‘Processing” has a few quite simple examples referring to sound when you download the programme.

However with its very straightforward interface we still decided to use MaxMSP.

Our light source will be different colored LED (We already tested the experiment with small ordinary LEDs). So far, we used the microphone of our computer, but that one will be exchanged to a small one.

Since the arrangement as shown in the sketch above does not really look nice, I was trying to find ways how to position things better. So, the idea of a cone like a loudspeaker came into my mind. You could hide the Arduino, all the ugly wires and the LEDs in there. Then it would not only be a light show, but a light speaker. By speaking into it, it does not raise the volume of your voice, but it creates light effects.

Week 9

In week 9 we sat down in a group to decide what exactly we could do for our final project. Since there was not a lot of time left we really had to specify our aims.

Due to the fact that most ideas we came up with seemed to be far too complicated, we decided to do a light show. Something that may look pretty and that yo would be enjoying to watch. So far we got to know a variety of sensors. Their usage was not difficult, but the resulting data could definitely used in an interesting way. Therefore, if we make the light responding to data delivered by the sensor, processed by Arduino, we could give our light show the missing twist.

Somehow we all decided to use noise sensors. They seem to be beneficial since in a dark room where the light show would be presented, there would not be any worries whether they work or not.

Groupwork - Lightshow (Representation of noise through light)

We came up with a list of the things we will probably need.

Engine
Lenses, different kind
Mirrors, projecting picture to ceiling
Prism
Electricity wires, switch
Torch
masks, lasers
kaleidoscope

In addition to that we decided who will take what position within the group.

Director: Doreen
Ergonomics: Gregory
Presentation: Doreen
Target Audience: Klavdij
Timekeeping: Doreen
User’s Role: Kavdij
Electronics: Gregory, Klavdij
Finances: Slave
Coding: Doreen, Gregory, Klavdij

The Camera-Eye

When experimenting with light and optics, there is without a doubt one thing that cannot be left out - the camera.

When visiting the Duchamp exhibition in the Tate Modern, a sketch of Francis Picabia, who was like many other artists very interested in machines at that time, attracted my attention. ‘The Camera-Eye’

In this picture you can see the refraction of light in a Perspex blog.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refraction
If we are really going to do something for the final project with light, it would surely be useful to refresh our knowledge of light behavior.

Here you can see the same phenomena. The water with a different density than air, makes the straw look as if it was broken.

‘Interactive light installation for an audience of one’

To me light and color have an amazingly strong effect. When I wake up in the morning and the sun shines, crystals hanging in my window form the most beautiful rainbows at my walls.
There are innumerable projects that make use of light. Some of them do not just create pretty pictures, but are based on deep scientific research.

‘Interactive light installation for an audience of one’
http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/2005/08/-via-delicious-1.php

In 2001 the artists Bruce Gilchrist, Jo Joelson and Anthony Oliver travelled to Greenland where after 24 hour daylight summer, the onset of winter started. There the artists performed experiments associated with light and physiology.

The participant sits in a self illuminated cube where he benefits from the effects of polarised, full-spectrum light. The person sits on a translucent chair and the hands are on bronze electrodes, completing an electrical circuit. Then a reading is taken and the light generates exactly the light of the read data.

Most participant found it a very positive experience. Especially, during the dark and cold season, it ‘lights up’ people’s minds.

Wooden Mirror by Daniel Rozin (1999)

Daniel Rozin developed a wooden mirror that consists of 830 square pieces of wood, 830 servo motors, video camera, control electronic, a computer and a wood frame.
This piece intents to explore the line between the physical and the digital. There is a strong contrast created by using natural warm materials and portraying the abstract notion of digital pixels.

http://www.smoothware.com/danny/woodenmirror.html

Simon Penny - Petit Mal

Maybe because of my experience in Potsdam, I find light particularly interesting. Making light response interactively could be a good idea for the second Assignment.

http://ace.uci.edu/penny/works/petitmal.html

The artist Simon Penny is especially keen in “interaction which takes place in the space of the body, in which kinesthetic intelligences, rather than "literary-imagistic" intelligences play a major part.”

http://www.transmediale.de/page/files/download/file/petitMal.JPG

Penny’s aim with Petit Mal was the creation of an autonomous robotic artwork, which does not lack in charm. Petit Mal senses and explores the space round it, follows people and reacts to them. Due to its behavior, it appears to be intelligent. Penny seeks to explore the esthetics of machine behavior and interactive behavior within an almost everyday environment.

‘The famous Grouse Experience’

Nowadays, computer art is getting more and more complex. Installations very often take up enormous space in galleries. Especially the idea of interaction of the viewer is in demand.

An interactive show which attracted my attention is ‘The famous Grouse Experience’.
http://www.artcom.de/index.php?option=com_acprojects&page=6&id=7&Itemid=144&details=0〈=en
ART+COM and Land Design Studios created the show in order to be displayed at the Glenturret Distillery Visitors Centre.

It is an interactive environment where there is a floor and wall projection. Visitors are meant to interact with the film images projected in real time. So, jumping could break the projected ice on the floor or people can run above water.

To make it an experience that teases more than one sense, there is also an interactive sound system employed and whisky aroma lies in the air.