Physical Computing Projects:

-- I recently created an interactive video installation. The project is called, "A Mirror of Eye." Here is more detailed explanation and some photos of the project.

Technical Research for The Mirror of Eye:

-- 4/11/01 "Small Successes"
I purchased the Devantech SRFO4 Ultrasonic Range Finder from Acroname. It seemed like a good shot because it was optimized for use with robotics. (It came a bit late, but that is UPS's fault. grr) Anyway, it has good documentation created by Acroname, including code written for the basic stamp but easily portable to the bx24. I translated the code and have included a copy here.

I had some initial problems communicating with MAX. I was using a Midi station and it got supremely grumpy when I attempted to use the modem port. So I used a Belkin serial to USB adapter and froze the computer 4 times until Courtney (helpful fellow that he is) recommended that I set the serial port to "B" in MAX. Smooth sailing from there on out.

I bought a Keyspan PDA serial to USB adapter to try and introduce the ranger to my computer at home. It was initially cranky, but I restarted the computer a few times and it eventually worked. $40. Not bad. Now, on to MAX.

-- 4/20/01 "Changes..."
I have changed my concept. Because of a lack of time and a general discomfort with my concept, I am now interviewing people about their initial reactions to panhandlers. The window will no longer be a window, but a mirror. The technical aspects of the project will not change, however.

-- 5/9/01 "Post Show"
Okay, so I haven't written in a while. Most things have gone quite well.

The Rangefinder:
I ran into two problems with the rangefinder.

• It seemed to have a poor connection somewhere. It spits out a lot of the number "4" when at rest, but is fine when I squeeze it. Got me... It caused me some grief initially, but didn't hold me up long.
  
• Either the ranger or my board does not like to be too warm. I got some strange numbers when I left it on all night. I turned it off for ten minutes and it was fine. It started doing it again during the middle of the second day of the show and I turned it off for two minutes and it worked fine again for an hour. Other than those two problems, the thing worked like a charm. Consistant, fast numbers.

• I rotated the movie in NATO to maximize the throw of the projector. Rotating the movie via matrix in NATO distorted the movie. I corrected this by multiplying the x and y values of the movie, but then it got all joggly as NATO made the corrections in real time. I didn't try too hard to fix it, as most people said they thought the effect was appropriate.
  
• There was a point where people could stand that confused the patch. It would cycle through movies and still frames. I need to smooth that out. It requires adding some flags and testing for intentionality. ie. direction.

• I made the mask for the NATO patch as a three second (90 frame) movie in AfterEffects. It worked great. The frame of the mask movie was dependant on the position of the viewer. It went forward with the user and vice versa. Worked like a charm.
  
• The projection surface was rear projection material behind plexiglass. It looked like a cheap plasma display. The effect was really nice.
  
• Stand with your project for both days. I didn't quite realize that the students are on display as much as the projects, and I regret standing next to my project only for the second day.

All in all, I had a great time. Much thanks to (in very little order): Aaron Gallemore, My Family, David Bianciardi, Craig Robbilard, Josh Goldberg, Courtney Connell, Dan O'Sullivan, Dan Palkowski, Tirtza Even, Marianne Petit, Red Burns, Ben Gonzalez, Rob Ryan, and Michael Wright, Helen Epstein, Jason Fitzgerald et al., Scott, Todd, Will etc., Mary Walling-Blackburn and the rest of my video class, and every one else who I have been ungrateful enough to forget. And as always, Leah and John Donald.

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