Here are a few things I have done recently, I think all for my setPixel class. My thesis work is in other posts and my data vis class is still getting rolling work-wise (expect a first project from there by next week), so most of the work I have done this semester is from this class.
I won’t go crazy into descriptions, but basically the images here use algorithms I wrote to accomplish “square-packing” and “circle-packing” by finding the largest square or circle that would fit in each image, drawing it, then finding the next largest, so on and so forth till the image is recreated using squares or circles. Really hard for me to figure out but the effect is awesome and was well worth the effort I think!
These videos are made by averaging the pixels of two movies (The Darjeeling Limited) and reproducing the colors of the frames from every second of the movie. Really interesting how a movie as colorful as the Darjeeling Limited reduces to a lot of browns (most likely due to complimentary colors)
Here is a really interesting study on multi-touch interfaces with tips on how you can create great/usable interaction and limit the amount of user frustration. Really helpful to me as a person who is just getting started with multiple inputs. Multitouch Maven: Proof that Multitouch Isn’t Intuitive
This is a summary of the research and experimentation I did this summer in preparation for thesis. A lot of hard work has started to pay off as my concept is beginning to take shape!
Here is a quick edit I made of 5 pixel-based simple animations I made as an intro assignment for the class setPixel() at Parsons.
Each number is executed in a different language and animated in some way. Some came out more successful than others, not super happy with the processing one but there wasn’t a lot of time to work on them.
Languages used (in order): PHP, openFrameworks, Processing, AS3, Javascript
Here’s a new toolkit for multimedia stuff using a multitouch table. Overall its been done before but just nice to have a good reference video with everything together. Awesome to see methods for using multitouch to my advantage. One thing i’m quickly realizing about multitouch is that unlike print or even a traditional computer screen, there is no real orientation unless you place it against a wall or something. I’m quickly finding out that you have to account for 360 degrees of interaction which is both challenging and awesome at the same time!
So I started buying the things I’m gonna need for my multitouch table after doing a shitload of research…
I have decided upon a Diffused Illumination setup vs a FTIR setup so that I have the option of doing fiducial tracking, which I really want to do. Its also a lot less work as far as soldering/powering/etc although I think its tough to get real good/even lighting.
Its actually pretty cheap to build a table, with the exception of the projector, which even at a heavy discount through an ebay purchase is still a pretty swift kick to my financial groin….
I settled on a BenQ MP522 Short Throw projector for both the ridiculously short throw distance (1.2 feet?!?!?) as well as the 1024×768 native resolution so I don’t get a super pixellated image. Its capable of 1280×1024 but I don’t know how that will looks since its not native. It also has 2500 lumen brightness, so it should be plenty bright for most indoor lighting. The projector goes for $870.00 new on Ebay but I got a unopened refurbished version with 0 hours on the bulb from ebay for $650.00 (plus shipping). Hopefully this will be by far the most expensive thing I purchase for thesis and I can build this table and concentrate on making software!
I also ordered some IR flood lights for the table here. $18 a piece for arrays of 30 powered infrared super brights, not a terrible deal. I found another site with $16 arrays of 48 but the site has bad reviews and the lights didn’t look as nice.
I need to get wood and plexi once I decide on dimensions and screen size. I’m thinking something around 50 inches diagonal would be pretty nice, not too big but not too small either.
Take apart a PS3 eye and install an infrared filter on it. Also probably should get a wide angle lens for it
Lee 225 lighting film for the projection surface and also diffusing film for the box
power strips
I think thats it, getting there slowly but surely!
I really love the timeline element present here, this is something I really want to explore with my project. I am very interesting in how the addition of time as a dimension in visualizing data can be used effectively in interactive data projects. I think that this is the big separation between traditional data viz and computer based visualization, and all interaction past basic navigation should affect this in some way.
This setup, featured in Wired magazine (found online through Engadget), is at the very least really amazing conceptually. It basically takes a live video feed of your living room and combines it with a multi-touch interface coffee table to allow you to control everything from your media (sent to tv), your lights (swipe lights in room to dim and turn off on), and even program a path for your Roomba!
Here is a multi touch application which is basically a tribute to ben fry and casey reas. While the app in general isn’t super amazing, I think that the interface ideas are pretty cool and the way its tilted towards the user is really awesome
