Power point! yeah!

In order to create my static images I used a processing program. This program uses frequences from THIS sound clip, a field recording of slap bass. These values create a visualsation of the music, Here are two static images I have captured that I feel represent the music best:

Click here to see the program.

While reading this article on synesthesia I am  reminded of my experiences on hallucinogens.  I already know a decent amount about this condition, having a friend who has it. He creates music ( link ) and has described in detail to be the experience. His condition allows him to create works that look, in my understanding cooler than they sound. While on hallucinogens, I experienced things very similar to what he described.  Already, I as a result of my visual impairment I associate colours with many things, including songs, people, sounds, environments, feelings. On hallucinogens, I experienced the world fully, further than an association.  I recall listening to music and seeing each note pop up, turn a specific colour near the same point of the spectrum that I had already associated the song with, and indescribably take the form of the music. Although Synesthesia seems to be different for everyone who has the condition, this sounds to me like a similar experience.  This leads me to believe that it is possible for everyone to have a somehwat similar experience, On certain substances, the sense become blurred and many incidents have been reported similar to my own. ( link )  I also created art ( link ) during those experiences that I felt visualed what I was hearing.

Here are additional links about drugs and synesthsia

http://www.neurologyreviews.com/jul02/nr_jul02_mindseye.html

as well as other  synesthesia drug trip expereinces:

http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=44449

In a world of overly complicated simple tasks, there is only one thing you can rely on.

The Breakfast Machine.

(site under construction)

Usful things

http://www.fftw.org/  — This is what we used to determine the frequencies of the frequencies…

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=bsp&ver=1qygpcgurkovy — This is documentation for a method we didn’t use…  But maybe should have.

Goals

Our origonal idea was to create a piece that used sequences of notes to create letters, to spell words. Idealy, these could be placed in any order and sound good.

The first problem that we ran ino was that the frequencies for each note were not clean. To fix this we used Fourier transform.

Click here to download the code

Demo video 1 Demo video  2

Click here to see documentation.

The internets.

The webber-net.

Click here.

fail. the first project that
was tried failed because none of our equipment worked. Or at
least they didn’t work together. The first project was to have
a car that could wirelessly communicate with a computer and from
this setup and a spray can attached to our car, we could
instruct the car to roll around and spray out letters, like a
super fast car/pen. making adhoc graffity everywhere we went.

project 2, the one we picked to build, is based around sound.
Different sequences of notes of an
instrument played to the
computer will draw letters to the screen along with the scores
associated with their letters. The end result should look like
a song that was played out to string together letters, words,
and sentences.

Click here to become a victim.

Click here to become a murderer.

Click here to see a potential 3d model of the design.

Click here for an example of the steampunk aesthetic.

Our machine will consist of a processing application, pulling data through php. The current weather will determine what kind of eggs will be made ( out of two options, scrambled or… not scrambled)  This machine will be made out of plywood and sheet metal.  We also want to incorporate a screen of some sort, giving visual cues about what is going on with the machine, as well as a speaker providing the audience with cheesy messages. Something out of a video game… like Fallout 3. Or even old films, predicting the future. The jetsons?  yes…

The idea behind the creation of the machine is a combination between the oversimplification and the over-complication of everyday tasks. People are already becoming more and more lazy, with machines to do all sorts of things for us.  The concept is really exaggerating and mocking the effort people put into simplifying everyday tasks.

We have started checking out how to start fabrication and have plans for gears as well as a an animation basically representing the function of the machine.

Click here to see DB3.

Click here to download the Processing and Arduino code

The concept originally began with motion capture. After seeing that the majority of the class was set on this idea, I decided to use other forms of physical interaction. My main focus was my personal discomfort regarding text. I found it very difficult to think up an example of a text based interactive display, as I have payed attention to few myself.  Sinse I found myself encountering this struggle, I decided it was a good platform on which to build my project. Not only did I want to focus on things I have difficulty with, but create a database of others with similar daily battles with simple things, that others may not consider. Using this collection of data, I began to use Processing to visualize my own experience. I had little trouble having Processing display text and making it interesting, although I spend several hours playing with this library, in order to get Processing to read SQL.  After having these elements working,  I encountered unexpected trouble with the Arduino. Also, I used this library for the Arduino. The values from the light sensor  are VERY sporadic.  In order to get the desired effect, the sensor values in the Processing program must be calibrated to the average light of the room it is being presented in, otherwise it behaves unpredictably. In fact, regardless, it still behaves pretty unpredictably. I’m currently looking into ways to smooth out the values that the Arduino recieves. Another issue was the lag between the values that are being gotten in and the rate at which Processing displays them.

Ideally, I would like other people to make use of this database to document their struggles in specific ways, perhaps using other sensors as mechanical elements to illustrate the ways in which technology aides us in doing things our physical struggles often limit.