COLLISIONcollective

Can natural elements from a virtual reality take solid form and exist in our physical reality? Can virtual particles affect real world molecules?

This project is a mixed reality installation in which the wind of Second Life is used to move a windchime in real physical space. The virtual wind’s direction and speed are the variables that determine the device’s functionality in real time. This work creates a parallel between these two realities (virtual and physical), showing how they relate and interact with each other, creating a portal from one world to the other.

SONAR Duel positions two TVs in a computer-generated audio/visual dialogue. Sonar sensors embedded in the televisions and connected to hidden computers converse: the sonars’ interaction triggers coding in the computers that creates unique patterns on the screens. On their own, the TVs “talk” to each other, moving in and out of visual and harmonic sync. But people can literally step into the conversation by standing between the two televisions. This human intervention generates human-like responses in the sonar dialogue. The screen images react with patterns, colors, and sounds that appear to reflect emotions such as happiness, agitation, and even jealousy. The interaction of the sonars with each other and with people in the space generates random coding in real time, so that audio and visual effects are dependent on the changing environment. In this way, SONAR Duel conveys the illusion of human sentience in technology.

For more information see Will Copps' article here: Full Circle: SONAR Duel Install at Boston CyberArts Gallery

A computer reduced to a single function, to recieve text and send that text to a public twitter feed on the internet. Currently the dominant paradigm of digital information sharing is based around personal devices. We each usually own our cell phones or computers and even if we are using shared machines, we have our own individual accounts. What if instead of owning our device or the publishing account, that ownership was transfered to a shared device in a fixed location? Would this help us to collaborate more? Does adding memory to a physical space increase collaborative impulses?

Want to make one yourself? See http://broadcasterproject.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/how-to-make-a-public-text-box/

Remember the old Frankenstein movies?

Masked Thoughts is an interactive video installation that allows viewers to try on virtual masks, and think virtual thoughts. The installation is comprised of the following components: a large mirror mounted in a wooden frame, a video projector and video camera mounted on top of the frame, and two projection surfaces mounted on mic stands in front of the mirror. One of the projection surfaces is a mask with eyeholes cut out. The other surface is a thought balloon - comic book style. Both surfaces are front/back symmetric and can be swiveled around to face the other side.

A webcam provides a video feed to the CPU, which scans the area and detects changes to the mask and thought balloon. Swiveling the surfaces cause the projected images to change in real-time. Turn the mask around, see a different face. Turn the thought balloon around, see a different thought. Note that the surfaces can be changed at any time, in any order.

A variety of recognizable faces are available to try on: politicians, historical figures, entertainers, etc.