I hardly ever post about 4D - this is probably because it is the module that receives the least attention. Mainly because it has the latest deadline. When we did our mid-way presentation we mentioned wanting to turn internet talk into a poem. Only problem with this is that neither me or Michelle are poet or script writters.
Then I came up with the idea of basing it on a book and I choose Alice in Wonder - Chapter 5: Advice from a Caterpillar. This chapter is based on a conversation between the two where Alice is not too sure who she is. So that the character is talking about not knowing her online identity. Thats basically it so far!

I just thought I would post the conclusion of my fourth chapter up!

The idea of immersion has a long history and is well connected with art. It can be created in many ways as shown in this chapter ranging from new forms of navigation with data gloves, bikes, joy sticks or data suits; to full immersion into a space such using the human body as with Osmose and new forms of interface which is critical to any installation and defines the character of interaction and perception. Some see this advance in immersion and interaction as liberating computers to enter into a fuller range of human life. Others see it as the further extension of control and domination into the realm of the body. The investigation of immersive virtual reality is still in the early stages of development where the technology lags behind the concepts being explored by many artists, but the debate of embodiment and disembodiment is long going and without any real conclusions. As artists strive to make more powerful and realistic realities to absorb the observer into.

This basically sums up the chapter ‘Examples in contemporary life of the virtual as material’

I have finally manged to get sound working in my project - woo hoo! so depending on the angle and length of the X and Y location it creates and changes a series of notes. At the moment it sounds like a series of computer beeps, which after 5 minutes you can’t stand to listen to. So I am going to work with a composer (if I can find one lerking in plymouth) and start working on some deccent sounds.

I am taking it one step further by creating a A.I system which you can train to recognise certaincomposing gestures - so the conducting will become really accurate - or at least thats my hope. Luckily I have half the code all ready and waiting but if I manage to get it working is another matter.

Since my last progress report on the 10th of January my I have focused on the technical side of my project by testing out different methods of manipulating sound. This has been all together a time consuming process – because gesture recognition systems are not common it has been hard to programme one from scratch.

I thought of three ways of creating a system:

1. Plot the path created by the light wand and then when two points intersect create a shape and measure the surface area and manipulate sound according to the size.
2. Plot the points of each shape drawn and store them in a class and if the points are hit again the program attempts to guess the shape and create sound according to that – the program learns from the participant’s actions.
3. Plot the x and y points and measure the distance and angle of each point and manipulate the sound according to the point’s new location to the pervious.

Each method has it’s pro’s and con’s. I created each method and tested it with a basic sound track.

Option 1: was inaccurate and the results were often unpredictable.

Option 2: Worked well in being able to create the shapes of a conductor but slowed down the video capture. Creating less of a real time effect and when the sound was included the system often crashed.

Option 3: If the less technically advanced but worked well. With the measurements it is possible to create a series of if and else statements to look for certain movements and manipulate/create sounds according to this.

My next task to address was to decide which sound library to use. At first I wanted to use a library called Jmetude – this sound library allows processing to create new notes at random and manipulate them. Problems occured when the library begun to build the midi file because it took a large amount of processing power it meant that the video capture would freeze and the program would end. Instead I have chosen to use another library called Krister ESS. This library allows me to import a number of sounds into audio channels and manipulate them in a series of ways.

The interface has changed a number of times over the programs development. Currently it now works by drawing a circle at the current X and Y location and fills it with a random colour.

       
Future Objectives:

My next step is to find a series of sounds to place within a variety of audio channels. These sounds will consist of a series of instrument notes I plan to download the sounds from http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/. The notes can then be manipulated and hopefully create a orchestra like effect.

Then find a way to begin the installation I was thinking of doing it so the participant has to tap the laptop twice to activate the camera and start the piece.

Mid-way Assessment:

In January I had my mid-way assessment with Dan L in which I presented my project so far. Dans feedback was that I was presenting two projects. One a cool little sound project and the other a confused interactive art piece and that I need to focus on just making this sound installation.

Gaming was handed in last thursday - woooooooo!!! Steve had to do an all nighter to finish the programming and we were all pretty darn stressed with it all. The presentation and game testing went ok but there were a few bugs in the programming. Oh well - it can all be checked out on www.absent-caller.co.uk

Due to gaming being a week on slaught of work my other projects sort of have hit a back burner and this week I am trying to bring them back to life.

We had a 4D presentation on Friday, which we actually got some good feedback on and we had only made it that morning. So now were basically turning internet talk into a poem some how! That should be fun and stressful.

Project is slowly driving me insane. I get one thing working and another fails. It runs quite slowly at the moment which is annoying as one of it’s perks is to be real time and if it doesn’t have that it sort of goes down the sh*t hole.

I have been applying for quite a few jobs and had to make up a portfoilo today to send off to a couple of companies. Hopefully it will give me some interviews and in the long run a job!

I think thats a bit it!! Project report due soon and my dissertation draft! argh.

I created this today when my stress levels were over the normal and my ‘in’ pile of work was getting no smaller!

worse01.swf

ARGH the gaming deadline is little over a week away! And the stress is kicking in. All the graphics are completed and now it basically rests on the shoulders of Steve to program it, it’s all been sort of left to the last minute which is worrying as we don’t know if it is something we can actually program in a week. Michelle and Steve are worried about being able to make the glove after the first attempt failed and are now on the second remote and once again time may prove against us! SO fingers crossed for it all.

This weekend I have been having a bash at creating my sound class. First problem came with the library and it linking to the class which i solved and now I have one bug which I cannot get rid of and it’s starting to drive me a tad insane. If anyone in the great wide world knows anything about programming with processing - HELP!!

Well it had to happen sometime and this morning was it. I went to open up my dissertation and wham the file is corrupt loosing all my work apart from my complete chapter 4 which was saved in another document. Sadly my back-up was also corrupted but am lucky enough to have a printed out version that is only a week or so old. So today my task is to re-write the 11 page document in time for the weekend. On the positive side I have learnt that I can touch type pretty well!!