Posts filed in ‘TECHNOLOGY’
DATA VISUALISATION
At THATCAMP we’re looking at the quagmire of looking for information in today’s world of data overload. Looking at the limitations of accessing data by using the search function, the slot and button. The standard search interface assumes the starting point is a query but users don’t necessarily have a query but are rather browsing or surfing for information.
A powerful simile - it’s like opening your shop door and saying to the person, “what do you want?” as opposed to opening the door and saying, “this is what we have what would you like?” What data visualisation enables is the reverse engineering of the search engine - showing the user everything and then offering them the tools to filter and deal with the complexity of the data. Data visualisation makes data more spatial, it becomes multi-dimensional. It allows us to discover relationships between data more easily by illustrating the patterns between data sets.
Some of the applications that have been suggested that will allow you to go deep into your data dynamically:
Manyeyes - looks for patterns in data supporting visual intelligence. Good for stats
Freebase gridworks - (java built) designed to work with excel, splits composite fields into multiple fields, allows you to load data, understand it, clean it up, reconcile it internally, and augment it
DBPedia - shows relationships between wikipedia entries + allows you to add your own data.
Dapper - a platform for understanding content from the top down, turning simple HTML websites into semantically aware applications with a few simple clicks of a mouse
Visualcomplexity - describes itself as a “unified resource space for anyone interested in the visualization of complex networks”.
Infosthetics - this site, created by Andrew Vande Moere of the University of Sydney, illustrates some interesting and creative visualisations of a broad selection of data.
Touchgraph - this free Java application allows you to explore the connections between related websites.
BREATH CAR
Nice use of the Yamaha MIDI breath controller to make the breath car do three point turns and other fancy maneuvers using your breath.
Irvine Brown has then had the breathing directions of these maneuvers translated into musical notation. (dynamics, tempo, duration of notes, phrasing, breath marks - but no key or pitch). Even a movement of a Hummel trumpet concerto has also been transcribed as a track layout.
MAGIC FLUTE
This is the cutest video - it shows the first time the magic flute was played by Glenn, a young boy with limited arm movement. The breath controller changes pitch as it is tilted, quite intuitively it would seem, as Glenn lifts his head the pitch increases.
STAR WARS MIC
This simple microphone, used as a breath controller, modifies the volume of the keyboard with real sensitivity. Quite Kenny G-esque actually. May the force be with him!
TAMPOPO BREATH CONTROLLED INSTALLATION
[ http://www.kentaroyamada.com/works_tampopo.php ]
Trying to launch all the seeds of a dandelion into the air with a single breath is a common experience most people can relate to, especially as a nostalgic activity recalled from childhood. Blowing dandelions is a simple action that occupies folklore in many cultures and is often a metaphor for ‘making a wish’.
Tampopo (Japanese for dandelion) is an interactive video installation where viewers are able to interact with the projector screen by blowing. It also creates echoed blowing sounds in the space, creating a mystical experience of blowing giant dandelions. In this work, the microphone acts not only as a metaphor between the real and virtual, but also creates a simple sculptural interface between the user and the screen. It acts like a conduit from one world to another while the work becomes a portal to the mystical domain of myth, memories and youthful emotions.
In a multi-screen setup, viewers can interact with other viewers by blowing each other’s dandelions, as each microphone input affects not only one but other dandelions through the use of multi-user networking system. This multi-user capability could be used over the internet, blowing each other’s dandelions from remote locations.
Kentaro would like to thank Takeshi Shimada from SNAP Japan, a collaborator on this project. Without his special talent, this project couldn’t be realized.
Exhibitions
Share Prize, Turin Italy March 2008
Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland New Zealand Nov 28 2007
RAMP Gallery Hamilton, New Zealand Oct 7 - 28 2005 [Link]
RM103 Gallery, Auckland New Zealand 29 Jun - 9 Jul 2005
Awards
Share Prize 2008 Finalist (Winner to be announced March 2008) [Link]
2005 TUANZ Interactive Awards Experimental Category Winner
Articles
Contemporary Art of Science and Technology, Page 407, ISBN:978-7-03-020415-8
Waikato Times Oct 2005
DANDELION LIGHT
The "Secret Of Light" lamp responds to your breath mimicking the delicate flower of the dandelion weed. Where you blow on it the yellow lights gently fade. Turn it on by gently shaking it.
It was created by designers Qin Xue, Cao iXiaoxiao & Wei Hangshuai.
BREATH SCARF
Hilary Hayes’ ‘The Breathe Project’ reminds us to focus on the delicacy of life by lighting up each and every time you breathe.
BREATH POWERED USB CHARGER
Are you breathing? Do you have a gadget that can be charged via a USB port? Well if you answered yes to both, then you are in luck. This instructable shows how to make a device that will charge your USB-capable devices while you do what you do best. Breathe.
BREATHE TABLE
It senses each person's breathing via a newly designed breath sensor, a make micro-controller and netConnect software.
The table acts not only as a display but also as the source of light in an otherwise dark room, so you can see yourself in the light of your collective breathing.
BOIJAMS MUSEUM ESPRESSOBAR
My favourite is his espressobar in Beuningen Museum Rotterdam where he uses optical software in the ceiling to read and interpret words that appear on the magazines and brochures left by patrons on the tables of the cafe, and transforms them into ceiling ornaments that word by word grow over the days and weeks, fed by the words on the table.