Amy Friedman

28 Jan 2015

Theme: OpenFrameworks & OF Addons

EyeWriter


EyeWriter is an open source, low cost eye-tracking system that allows ALS patients, physically paralyzed and patients with motor impairments to draw on a computer using their eyes. The project was created by Free Art and Technology(FAT), OpenFrameworks, and the Graffiti Research Lab. The software for EyeWrite has two components, one software tracks the movement and location of the eye using blob detection, and the second is a drawing software which creates drawings using eye movement, both of which are programmed in OpenFrameworks. This project allows people to utilize their creativity when they are limited by physical demands, although I am unsure of the accuracy of the drawing tool. I find this work to be inspiring as we are constantly focused on the medical aspects of physically disabled rather than how we can allow them to experience opportunities they are limited from. The tracking system is impressive to be able to track the eye, but I wonder how long someone can do it without hurting their eyes or getting tired.

City Runs

A years worth of runners workout routes in New York, London, and Tokyo aggregated from Nike+ to create a mapped visualization using OpenFrameworks and OpenStreetMaps. This installation was created by YesYesNo, and Dual Forces for Nike retail stores. This visualization allows viewers to understand these cities from a runners perspective, the more dense the white the more times that path was travelled. It would be interesting to see a week by week visualization of the routes to understand patterns in correlation to weather and time of year.