Here is the presentation of Aequilibrium for the preprototyping crit in March 12th. Some aspects have been then changed in the prototyping phase to keep the project more simple. Click to download the PDF here: aequilibriumpreprototyping.
PROGRESS POSTS
Aequilibrium - pre prototyping crit
5 April 2007 – 2:57 pm.:prototype:. tree of life
17 March 2007 – 1:03 amThe period of prototype is begin.
In collaboration with the group of Marco and Margherita we bought different materials to build our scenery.
I and Pamela finished programming it our timeline in processing. And we introduced the video and sound.
Margherita and Pamela cut and colored the wood for the creation of the floor.
I finished with processing.
Today, with Darrel, we saw for the first time our sensor, and we experienced its operation.
But now there is a problem.
How we recall from processing this sensor?
If we do not succeed to do to work the ultrasonic sensor, then will use the sensors to pressure with Marco and Margherita.
Summary of projects
10 March 2007 – 9:46 amHere is a summary of everyone’s projects in table form. You may find the descriptions useful in the future when you designing a communication about your project.
Project summaries (Excel) (28kb)
Project summaries (pdf) (40kb)
in search of that sinking feeling
8 March 2007 – 7:36 pm
In our research for the ideal wave to animate, we built a highly technological device to suit our needs of perfection. It worked well, and we’ll be pleased to show you the results at the next crit.
::Tree of Life::work in progress:::
5 March 2007 – 5:38 pmThe tree of life is work in progress. We are now designing the map with its animation on it, studying colours for background, interactive areas and animations. For now we post the first idea of graphics, but we have to adapt colours to the projection brightness and contrast.
Aequilibrium - pictures
5 March 2007 – 5:02 pm
These are some sketches we made for Aequilibrium. We are focusing on the graphics of the columns even though tomorrow we’re going to work more on the fishes and on the columns as well (here a visual reference). Here you can see the fishmarket location (3 pics). Check out the previous Aequilibrium post for the quick and dirty prototype. Stay tuned!
THAT SINKING FEELING (TSF)
1 March 2007 – 5:13 pmAIMS
who is it for?
TSF is a visual information system which gives to the user an immediate sensation about the present and future conditions of the high tide in Venice. Its target is anyone who needs to walk around the city without a “sinking feeling”.
what information does it give?
As Venice is an island linked to the high and low tide mechanism of the Lagoon, TSF allows the users to see in an easy and intuitive way where and when the water is going to raise up/down, to easily plan their movements in the city.
TSF also gives you the possibility to know which kind of boots (or waders) choose depending on the zones you want to visit; the device projects over your body four different rays of light related to the level of each zone.
i.e. When high tide is 100 cm, in San Marco’s square water will reach your knees, but if you’re in Cannaregio it will only touch your ankles. [more ...]
SECRET GARDEN/PLAY A WAVE by Giovanna Nicosia
27 February 2007 – 3:27 pmAccording to me Venice has always been that kind of place where it is still something misterious to be discovered.
Where, for sure, the same little stone invites you to have a conversation with it!
I like to think that somewhere in Venice there is the possibility to see who is having information about tide after while he is playing with an anomalous vawe or someone is playing with a misterious being after while the segret garden is revealing his soul.
SECRET GARDEN
AIMS
a] “La caratteristica fondamentale del vivere veneziano, continuo interscambio fra pubblico e privato, viene mantenuta anche nella struttura del giardino” (G.Berengo)
Secret Garden starts as a project to be realized in order to mix togheter private and public space.
It is also a way to share feelings between Venetians and all kind of people that is coming in lagoon.
b] “Il giardino è spesso individuabile, da chi transita per le calli o per i rii, dai ciuffi di verde che sporgono; questi giardini sono una minima parte rispetto a quelli esistenti” (G.Berengo)
Have you never know about the big number of gardens in Venice?
Have you never had the curiosity to get to know what could be behind the wall along the calle?
Have you never try to look at the sky and seeing trees mix up with the sunshine?
SECRET GARDEN project wants to put eyes on the wall to see and make happen the impossible/invisible.
SECRET GARDEN is one special window to give that kind of experience that is more a glimpse than a clear vision of something.
So, SECRET GARDEN is a kind of glance on slow time living memory because the same little plant saves the past (it tells us about conquests or ancient distroied forests).
c] Reading Gianni Berengo Giardini segreti a Venezia, I got many informations about all the possible gardens to be found. It is quite amazing, but looking at the map there are so many gardens! Almost the 50% of Venice is covered of green!
Because of the nasty walls all around the gardens, I suppose to work behind the windows that usually gives us the unic way to have a look inside the garden. It can be possible to find a lot of grid windows or really small ones, but always they are caracterized by the white Istria stone frame. If it is not, I would prefer to make an installation in one blind window (there are many).
EXPERIENCE
a] The experience is based on a game of perceptions. If the user is passing nearby the window installation, first of all, he got a vision of a really bright green. This last is a video of the invisible garden behind the wall, but it is just a fresh view of leaves mixed with light.
When the user is in front of the window (or standing to look at) the previus view of the garden becomes more strange…because misterious presences start to appeare! Nymphs, monsters, Fauns…animations of what is usually standing like fix sculpure in the garden.
In the beginning I was also thinking to make the window as a mirror for each passerby [secretgarden.mov].
b]The emotional tone has to sintetized that typical feelings during the night when you are walking on one lonely calle: surprice and scary, shadows and unexpected noise. It also wants to be a poetic experience of Venetian secrets.
IMPLEMENTATION
a] I am quite sure about the idea in which the installiion has to be as less invasive as possible.
That’s why I going to work behind an hypothetical window or using simply projection of light.
Input:
- Infrared motion sensor/proximity sensor
- Webcam
Output:
- Projector
- Loudspeakears (if I am going to put sound)
- PVC screen for back projection
b] For the installation I need a wiring board to coordinate the system with the all elements I mentioned above.
What hardware and software are needed in your final prototype version?
c] Basically I hope to found an interesting grid window where it is possible to put the system installation. If it not, I will do the same with another window even thought not on the calle.
I suppose to be able to build the same system as in the real life system and it should be possible if I have all of the components with me.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
The mayor tricky is about the code (in Processing) to build the all system.
I still need to understand if I have to put some other instruments in order to project on the screen (what kind of screen?)
but anyway I am already trying to make a video of the garden using little animation of that misterious beings.
PLAY A WAVE
…it is coming!
TREE OF LIFE
27 February 2007 – 11:21 amTree of life by Benito Condemi de Felice and Pamela Moscarda
Aims
The project aims to tell visitors to the Venice Ghetto about Jewish culture and history in an interactive and ludic manner.
Experience
Visitors to the Ghetto receive a Bluetooth (short-range radio) headset which guides them around three interactive installations in the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo:
1) The Tree of Life itself, a tree in the square. Activated by photocell, the tree introduces the tour and explains the Venetian origin of the word ‘ghetto’
2) The Sottoportego, an arcaded porch. By standing on a ‘timeline’, the visitor activates a projection on the floor and an audio commentary, which illustrate the history of the Jewish diaspora
3) The Cabbalah Carpet, near the square’s wellhead. By walking on the carpet’s ‘Tree of Life’ pattern, the visitor activates an audio explanation of the meaning of the Cabbalah.
The emotional tone is serious but ludic.
This project concentrates on the Sottoportego.
Implementation
In a ‘real life’ version, the Sottoportego’s input devices are infrared or ultrasound distance sensors which detect the visitor’s position on the historical timeline. Its output devices are a ceiling-mounted projector which projects an animated map on the floor to show the diaspora in that historical period, and the Bluetooth headset which gives an accompanying audio commentary.
Input and outputs are mediated by a custom-programmed microprocessor.
In our prototype, pressure pads replace the distance sensors, and a laptop replaces the microprocessor.
Unresolved issues
1) How to send audio to the headset and program its sequence with our installation?
2) How to interface the distance sensors with our laptop?
3) What happens if more than one person stands on the timeline installation?
AEQUILIBRIUM by Margherita Urbani & Marco Zamarato
27 February 2007 – 1:30 amAIMS
[a] AEQUILIBRIUM is an immersive environment where you can experience the equilibrium between the aquatic life of the venitian lagoon and external human influences. The installation is for everyone who walks through Pescheria.
[b] The biological cycle of the lagoon is affected by fishing (intensive or illegal), industrial fisheries, pollution, boats traffic and global warming. AEQUILIBRIUM gives information about these topics in the history of the Lagoon and make a prediction for the future based on the visitors’ behavior in the installation.
[c] AEQUILIBRIUM is located inside the little Rialto fish market (Pescheria) during afternoon and evening.
EXPERIENCE
[a] A projection inside Pescheria continually simulates an aquatic environment. As you enter the system and the fishes react to your presence modifying what is projected on the floor around you. According to your behavior the images around your feet become darker up to disappear and the fishes will run away scared of your presence. In this way you instantly perceive the impact of your actions and understand how to behave properly without damaging the system.
Around the projection area there are eight columns. The columns are divided in pairs and dedicated to four specific topics: fishing, pollution, global warming and disturbances. In each pairs the first column displays the historical data while the second displays a prediction according to the visitors’ behavior.
Number of visitors –> fishing –> affects the number of fishes in the Lagoon
Position of visitors (small or big groups) –> warming –> water starts to boil
Movements of visitors –> pollution –> the area around the visitor becomes darker
Noises –> disturbances (boat traffic, building sites) –> water starts to tremble
[b] We want to create a unique, mesmerising experience. The installation should be beatiful and fragile at the same time. A bit dark and a bit pulsing. Of course it is also a game but wheter you choose to play with it or to explore it in a more seroius way you should immediatly feel and see the weight of your actions.
Watch these videos to get a better idea:
> UVA Volume at Victoria and Albert Museum
> ART+COM 1
> ART+COM 2
IMPLEMENTATION
[a] The main purpose for the implementation is to preserve the flavour of the Pescheria. The installation need to exactly fit the Pescheria environment and need to be invisible during the morning and not to disturb the everyday market activity.
INPUTS:
- Microphones (to check noise)
- Webcams (to check position and movements, since we don’t want to modify the location with sensitive carpets)
- Photocells (to check number of visitors)
OUTPUTS:
- Projector (for the floor environment)
- LED walls (for columns data display)
- Loudspeakers (for general sound environment)
[b] For the real installation we need the previously listed items plus a computer and one or more wiring or arduino boards to control the photocells inputs and the LED walls outputs. Probably more than one projector will be necessary to cover the full Pescheria floor.
[c] For the prototype we are thinking to create a smaller sensitive carpets to simulate the Pescheria floor and a single LED wall to simulate one column. We will need a microphone, a projector, loudspeakers, LED wall (can be simulated with a second projector), wiring board (if we use LED wall).
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
We are now working on graphics and fishes simulation algorithm. For the moment the main unresolved issues are:
- how to get smarter fishes (control position, movements prediction, collisions)
- how to build a sensitive carpets (which technology to use and how to proceed)