Nature of Code

Nature of Code Final

Posted in Nature of Code on May 13th, 2012 by ajlazarow – Be the first to comment

 

For my Nature of Code Final, I continued some of the elements for my thesis.

 

1.   Mapping the major factors of Craig Reynold’s steering behaviors to theater terminology, using the 8 Laban efforts (LabanEfforts)

This was done by using Dan Shiffman’s flowfield and flocking examples as a reference tool.  And then building controls into ControlP5.

 

In the code attached here, it draws the results directly into the sketch. In the version for my thesis, it sends the drawing through Syphon.  Also included is my openNI tracking code, which you can work with.  It is built to track up to four users at a time, and color code them for recognition.  It is also built to calibrate quickly with any projector.

 

I should note that the tracking code also sends a calibrated image of any users infront of the Kinect over Syphon.  When interfaced with software like Isadora this can be used to provide an alpha mask, and project black over the users’ bodies to avoid spill and protect their eyes.

 

2. I continued my work with the textured cloth.  I made it so that the images could be changed out while the code is running.  I also made it easier to restart the animation to allow for a more iterative rehearsal process with less setup time.

 

Again, In the code attached here, it draws the results directly into the sketch. In the version for my thesis, it sends the drawing through Syphon.  This code is greatly indepbted to the toxiclibs library for Processing, and the 3d cloth example.

3.  Lastly, the director I worked with wanted to see a design that felt like weightlessness.  So I made a quick sketch with Box2D, where elements from an apartment could float around and fall on command.  This uses Dan Shiffmans Processing library for Box 2d, and was based upon his falling boxes example.
A video of my thesis demo, which included these elements, can be seen here.
(password  ’anythingcanhappen’)

The code:

Nature of Code: Final Proposal

Posted in Nature of Code on April 3rd, 2012 by ajlazarow – Be the first to comment

 

The primary goal of my final is to explore two main questions:

  1. How do qualities of movement help define characters’ personalities, and internal states in a given moment?
  2. What are the benefits (for live performance) of exploring movement through code rather than rendered assets?

Drawing from the world of performance theory/training, I want to explore Rudolf Laban’s “8 efforts” of movement through code.  You can find my breakdown of Laban’s efforts in the attached PDF here:  Laban Movement Notes

 

The simple version of my final would be to:

  • Create a class of moving objects
  • Have system of the class relate to a specific person/character on stage
  • Be able to change the Laban Effort of each system while the program is running.

 

The more complex version is to build it into different methods of interacting with the characters onstage.  These include:

  • Having the objects respond to multiple performers’ bodies as attractors.
  • Placing moving elements onto the bodies of the performer
  • Having the physics of the external world respond to a given characters internal state.

 

I would also like to build in ways of changing the images of these objects via key commands, or gui buttons.  Lastly I would like to explore using Syphon to “export” tge visuals from my Processing code into Isadora to allow for scalability/combining sketches.

 

You can view a video of my initial experiments here: