Mesocosm (Northumberland UK) by Veronique Brossier, Xue Hou, Andrea Lira, Laewook Kang

http://www.o-matic.com/play/friend/mesocosm/index.html

Mesocosm is a massive project, it is a 146 hour, real time cycle of life on the Northumberland moors.  The user can choose to begin the cycle in the winter or in summer, and as it starts, the contour of a figure based on Leigh Bowery sits atop a tree stump.  He makes these minute, subtle movements and after awhile, the whole scene comes alive in the most mesmerizing and captivating way.  Woodland creatures appear, birds, squirrels, countless animals.  The weather changes, the sky moves, the sun sets and rises.  Sometimes refugees and travelers appear on the hill beyond the fences and sometimes, the animals eat Leigh Bowery’s flesh (the red of his skin is the only color in the entire animation), and he frequently up and dances.  There are countless events that occur, and a probability equation codes the animation to ensure it is never the same.  I absolutely love this animation, I find it just breath taking in the complexity it generates from such simple imagery.  Watching the events of the animation takes patiences, but all of the delightful treasures that appear on the screen truly make it well worth the wait.  I suggest just leaving it open in your browser and checking up on the moors every so often.

Adam001 created by Yuli Ziv 2001

http://www.yuliziv.com/adam001.html

Adam is a virtual entity that encompasses all of the “fragments of human energy scattered around the virtual world” in one “being”.  It is an interactive web program that takes you on a bizarre, eerie and surreal journey through the internet by clicking on various part’s of Adam’s body (his forehead, collarbone, brain, penis etc).  I just realized that the program’s name is a biblical illusion, as Adam was the first man and Adam001 is the first   It seems like the program draws constantly on internet happenings and re-calibrates to reflect them.  Its a comparatively a rather old program (which is apparent graphically) and a bit theatrical but I quite enjoy messing around in it.  I think it’s a fascinating concept, the idea of trying to amalgamate  every persona and character we create on the web and watch it become this dark, brooding thing that sees and knows everything.

Entrails (openFrameWorks) by Lukasz Karluk

<iframe src=”http://player.vimeo.com/video/26801065?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0″ width=”400″ height=”225″ frameborder=”0″ webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/26801065″>entrails</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/julapy”>lukasz</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

This video is the a preview of a project in progress by Lukasz Karluk.  The final product will be a program that makes contours and polylines reactive to audio stimuli.  Right now the program animates in black and white, which is something I personally hope they keep as the minimal aesthetic of the white contours against the stark black background really appeals to me.  I like the energy of the lines and how expressive and active they are even in their unfinished state.  The flashes of the purple blueprint code lines (I’m not entirely sure what they actually are) gives the animating great perspective, and I just always really like to see unfinished works and creative processes.  Watching this would be so entertaining at a party.

“Soak, Dye in Light”

I relate eyeware’s “Soak, Dye in Light” to digital painting in the way that it transforms a hands-on artistic process or media into a digital/electronic. I enjoy how the user physically becomes part of the work, pressing their parts into the canvas in order to make splotches of color. I am not completely interested in the visual result, but more so the process of how the canvas is filled. I feel as though more exploration and experimentation with what different actions do to the canvas would result in a project that is more capable of producing calculated, aesthetically satisfying result.

SOAK from everyware.kr on Vimeo.

“Cinemetrics” by Frederic Brodbeck

Brodbeck’s “Cinemetrics” is one of the most interesting and relatable forms of data visualization that I have seen recently. It breaks movies down by chapters, prominent color palettes in shots and throughout the film, and then depicts the amount of motion/action in each set of shots. I feel like the program is so successful because of its capacity to describe movies and genres of film visually without showing clips or previews and without written description. Another facet that makes the project so successful is in the nature of movies beings so accessible to the public. It is incredibly likely that a viewer of “Cinemetrics” is to have seen or heard of a movie featured in the program, making its use relatable and interesting to a broad audience.

http://cinemetrics.fredericbrodbeck.de/

cinemetrics from fb on Vimeo.

 James Alliban’s “Composite”

“Composite” is software designed by James Alliban which utilizes the iPad to stylistically paint images received on the hardware’s camera. I was initially really interested in the idea of how this software is an example of the idea of art transforming from something only done by few to something widely available, and possible on-the-go (given the right software and materials). The initial screens that I saw of the software in were shown, it seemed to become more and more like just another photo-editing process to me (which, in essence, it is). For me, whether or not the visual result of “Composite” is successful as art depends on how distant the user can make their “painting” from the actual picture.action (the sketch of the statue seen early in the video) impressed me, but as more features of the software

Composite from James Alliban on Vimeo.

Émile Sacré created Kulbuto which is an installation of an instrument that creates visualization of the sounds made. Kulbuto explores the “possibilities of non-uniform compositions” by integrating both the sound created from the instrument to create visuals and then using the visualizations to create the rhythmic cycles.   Kulbuto is based on the “principles of changing rates” which determines the graphics and how they develop over time. I found the  aesthetic of this piece to be very interesting and appreciated the inter-relation of the sound and visual aspects rather than just on affecting the other. The installation looks inviting and fun to engage with.

http://www.creativeapplications.net/sound/kulbuto-quarz-composer-sound/

Introspectre, Octocoupler, Dromolux – Ludwig Zeller

These projects provide technological solutions to human enhancement in the future. Introspectre is a machine that transmits, through sound, brain activity, allowing the user more insight on his or her cognitive processes. The Dromolux, when combined with specific medication, is used to help patients with dementia (or just the general population) train their brains to function at an increased level. The Octocoupler is a “depressant” that is completely electronic, aiming to relax the user just as other consumable depressants do. These projects are interesting in the way they experiment with theexplore the possibilities of technological and human cognitive interaction.

Necomimi – Neurowear

Necomimi by Neurowear is an electronic appendage that, through an EEG, reads the user’s brainwaves and communicates emotion through the movement of plushy cat ears. This prosthetic is a surprising and amusing way to engage both technology and pop culture. I am interested in this project because it brings up questions about the future possibilities of the intersection between technology and fashion, as well as the possible impact of technology on human communication. I do have a few qualms – its too cutesy, and can people really understand these apparatuses?

What it is Without the Hand that Wields it – Riley Harmon

This is a kinetic sculpture that is connected to the first-person shooter game Counter-Strike. Every time a character is killed in the game, the sculpture spurts a squirt of fake blood. In a culture brimming with violence, both simulated and actual, this piece is a relevant and engaging piece that deals with how violence is portrayed in our society. It acts as a tangible, physical reminder to the sort of accepted, yet secretly perverse, actions that have become common in gamer culture. I only wish that the fake blood was real blood.

Soak, Dye in Light, everyware

“’Soak, Dye in light.’ by everyware (2011) is an empty canvas but when you touch it, its elastic surface stretches and gets suffused with projected vivid colors mimicking fabric absorbing dye. Poking and rubbing with hands or resting their body on this spandex canvas allows visitors to soak this canvas in virtual dye and create own patterns.

Dying fabric is a time-honored tradition of humankind. Local materials such as herbs, flowers, rocks, juice of animals or shells have been used through the dying process. Especially in Korea, people have deep affection toward the unique colors and textures of fabric dyed with traditional materials. Now in the age of new media, we tried a whole new way of coloring fabrics with the essential materials of new media, ‘light’ and ‘interactivity’. Also, as a meta-creative interactive installation, ‘Soak’ can be expanded for creating garments with personalized patterns or textile productions using today’s digital fabric printing technologies.”

I found the integration of old-time aesthetics with new-age technology to be particularly relevant. While the progress of visual discourse is of course interesting, there is something very tactile about this work. The combination of contemporary practice with historical style is seamlessly fused in this work, and, to me, it is this balance that creates interest.

One Perfect Cube, Florian Jenett

In this piece, Florian Jenett has created a series of three clocks which “form a sign every 12 hours for exactly one second.” (florianjenett.de) It is a complex system which aligns all the clocks and allows the cube moment to occur. “To be able to try different symbols and texts to embed into “One Perfect Cube” a custom layout software was built in Processing. It allows one to freely place, scale and adjust time on a multitude of clocks. Every time a clock is added or changed the software would check for possible collisions between the clocks and would arrange the clocks on different yet as few as possible layers to allow the hands of two clocks to pass one another. A virtual master clock can be used to test the sculpture at different times.”

While this piece is quite simple aesthetically, I think it is an elegant concept and an interesting application of processing outside of purely web-based work.

One Hundred and Eight, Nils Völker

Controlled by an Arduino and Processing, Nils Völker created an installation with wall-mounted plastic bags which respond to the location of the viewer. Each of the bags is selectively inflated and deflated in turn by cooling fans, creating a fluid organic motion. When the viewer enters the space, the bags draw back and respond more tentatively to his or her motions.

The simplicity an elegance of this piece is perhaps the most interesting element. The way that something a simple as application of a fan can transform something like a plastic bag into an organic element is compelling. Furthermore, I have become more interested in real-world applications of processing and other methods of programming that we will learn in this class. I am not particularly interested in purely computer-based work, however the application of the skillset that we are learning into interactive installation feel like something that could potentially become a part of my practice.

This project hit a personal interest for me because I am currently working with the topic of the modern day city and I am reading the book Invisible Cities, by Italo Calvino, which is the name sake of the project. Invisible Cities, created by Christian Marc Schmidt and Liangjie Xia, maps information that ” reveals social networks present within the urban environment.”  The project was developed in Processing and uses “realtime mapping” of  Twitter and Flickr updates to display the change in densities and geography social interactions within the city that we otherwise would not see. It will be interesting to see what applications this data may be applied to in the future. My mind first jumps to tracking, but it could also be interesting to survey this information after a long period of time to see how our interactions in this “Invisible City” change.

Invisible Cities (alpha) from Christian Marc Schmidt on Vimeo.

This device was created by Teehan+Lax Labs and is a combination of software and hardware to allow realtime manipulation of content on a remote device via touch interface on a mobile device. Now, users can use their mobile device screen as an input, which is known as a form of AR. The application can view its surrounding environment as well as understand it. THe creators paired the principles of AR with the touch ability on a mobile phone in order to create an entirely new interactive experience.
I thought this was an interesting development since we are getting close to learning Arduino in class. Also, the idea of linking this technology to a mobile phone could be an accessible solution for an interactive public piece.

Touch Vision Interface

Touch Vision Interface from Teehan+Lax Labs on Vimeo.

http://www.creativeapplications.net/android/touch-vision-interface-openframeworks-arduino-android/

Allesandro Novelli made this adorable and hilarous video that animates the alphabet.  The animation is very well done, quirky, and clever.  I also want to mention that Alexander has a great website, which is here: http://www.n9ve.it/the_alphabet .

<iframe src=”http://player.vimeo.com/video/29274467?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0″ width=”400″ height=”225″ frameborder=”0″ webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/29274467″>The Alphabet 2</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/n9v”>n9ve</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

I’d also recommend checking out the info site on the page… it looks like most of the animations and designs are created by Allesandro and three collaborators.  At the same time, the artists seem open to having interns and other people work for them, so if anybody in the class is looking for something along those lines, contact them!

FIND OUT YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL!

<iframe src=”http://player.vimeo.com/video/24354835?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0″ width=”400″ height=”300″ frameborder=”0″ webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/24354835″>IN THE WOODS</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/camillescherrer”>Camille Scherrer</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

I believe this project was made in collaboration between Camielle Scherrer and Steve Cardinaux.  Camille worked on the projection and Steve on the software.  The project has been shown in Switzerland, Croatia, and the USA.  I enjoy how the software seems to randomly turn your into an animal that you can pretend is your shadow because it follows you around, and when you move out of the screen, the animal goes away and you have the opportunity to jump back into the screen as something new.

The Creators, by Constanza Casas, Mark C Mitchell and Peter Steyaert

I’m always amazed by how computationally created images can appear as if they mirror the processes that go on within our bodies and in the universe.  Maybe this is because many of the visuals for these things must be computationally animated!  Sometimes I wonder what it is that we are seeing and why these processes all mirror each other and then I begin to think about space as nonlinear, but perhaps circular.  I hope this makes sense.

check out the gallery from the project here: http://www.thecreators.tv/gallery.html

Doesn't this look like outer space?

Constellations?

Emily Gobeille is the first name I am going to mention today.  (Sorry this is a bit late).  Anyway, Emily is a great artist and combines traditional methods with interactive computational media.  I recommend browsing around on her website – a lot of her projects just show images from stills of different projects she has done, but even the photo references are quirky and beautiful!

"The Best Fort Ever" - part of Emily's thesis project

Check out the thesis website here : http://a.parsons.edu/~emily/thesis/  (I guess she went to parsons?)  Anyway, the “animations” section shows some really nice experiments that she tried out.

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Jussi Angesleva and Ross Cooper are the creators of “Last Clock” – a iPAD app that uses what you are doing to show time in a more visual way.

<iframe src=”http://player.vimeo.com/video/27975734?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0″ width=”620″ height=”349″ frameborder=”0″ webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

I think that the most interesting part of the clock is to compare images that it creates in different settings.  Below are images that the clock made in different places.

After a Football Game

venice beach, CA

Let the camera stair at your face, and see what your clock will look like!

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Paul Slocum is really into 80s technology, so he bought it an iPOD app where you can play around on a little piano.  But, this piano is more than just a piano – you can add samples from recordings and beats that are on the app.  It looks like a really fun way to make some music on your iPod.

<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/c_mzbSKkN3s” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

 http://www.creativeapplications.net/iphone/sir-sampleton-iphone-sound/ 

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On a side note, I’m not sure why my video embedding isn’t working!

I love kittens!