February 01, 2006
week.3
Finite State Machines:
A finite state Machine (FSM) is a series of states, input events, output events, and a state transition function.
ASSIGNMENT
Build a finite State Machine
MATTER
PRODUCT
black box
Unfortunately, during the final stages of this mock-up, the VCR that I've spent a good portion of the my first year hacking into temporarily died. I say temporarily, as a case of wishful thinking.
Synopsis: the case contains a hacked-into VCR that, when closed, fast-forwards through a physically spliced 30-second loop of video tape containing images of the construction of the World Trade Center. When the case is opened the tape pauses while the rotating play head keeps spinning, eventually leaving subtle wear in the places the loop is paused.
The lid of the case is physically attached by a thin wire to a box housing a monitor on which the images from the tape-loop play. When the case is opened and the loop is paused, the front of the housing cracks open enough for a viewer to peer in. This state-dependence is reversed as the case is closed - the tape-loop begins to play as the housing slowly closes, obscuring the image from the viewer.
I finally settled on the content of the World Trade Center construction on the physical tape-loop as a way to properly tie-in to the tangibility of memory, the effect of media on memory, as well as to give the piece an inherent feeling of inevitability.
I hope to revive the VCR and continue with the piece.
Posted by andrew schneider at February 1, 2006 12:44 PM