Physical Computation Final Project Proposal
Once again, I am teaming up with Lucas, and this time Adib, to make a project that is performance based and video based – two areas I have little experience in. This should be refreshing.
Below is the schematic for what will, hopefully transpire.
The mechanics of this project are fairly straightforward. The coding is pretty simple, invoking a switch for video control. As far as I can see, the aspects to concentrate on involve the video software and performance.
Using Arduino, we will code somewhere around six switches which receive information from the sensors, in this case Piezo sensors. Piezos sense vibration by creating small amounts of electricity upon disturbance. This electricity is read by the Arduino and translated into serial communication for the program we will use to show the video, maybe Puredata, Max, Isadora, or Processing. Any vibration with a reading above a specific amount (revealed through thorough testing) will fire the video clips, which will be projected above the drummer. We hope to perform this in some very public square, perhaps even across the street from Tisch central.
Our initial idea was to enlist the help of an actual street performer who tends to perform across the street on fair days. Wwe have not seen this bucket drummer since our idea’s conception, so our plan B is to channel the inner beat of Lucas and his mother country, Brazil, for an all out South American percussive extravaganza.
While I have excused myself from the video software side of things (that is, afterall, Lucas’s domain), I will still try and learn as much about that program as I can. Besides, I will need to know something about it since I will be sending it serial information. We have yet to determine what video will be played, how it will be arranged, and what relevance the video will have to the drummer and the audience. We explored the idea of abstraction and narratives, but have not nailed anything down.
Once again, because of the simplicity of the mechanics, we must focus on the performance for this project for it to really be spectacular. I have complete faith that we will do so.
Stay tuned!
Video Throw Up #2 featuring Serial Communication and Two Pots!
This weeks lab started off a little subdued, but finished strong. We inch closer and closer towards controlling objects on the screen, which, for the diversionary type, means VIDEO GAMES! Ok, for the interactive designer, it means something less pointed. I partnered with Lucas to make this lab happen, and you will here is clear and cogent explanations of what is exactly transpiring.
Without further ado:
Of course I’m serial.
Another successful lab, this time dealing with serial communication between a micro-controller (my cheap Seeeduino board) and Processing. The outcome is surprisingly game-like, though I admit I did not tweak the screen elements as much as I should have, but I did alter the background color and give it a nice serial dependent, gray scale gradient. I’m sure to fool around with this a little more.
