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HOPING TO GET IN THE CLASS

While waiting to see if i can get into this awesome class, i did the readings for this week.

The first reading: Origins of Consciousness by Julian Jaynes, was very interesting and provocative in its tone. The exercise were very useful to exemplify what Jaynes was talking about, since most texts regarding consciousness come out to be very empirical and not practical. Some quotes, like the famous latin quote "Cogito, ergo sum" reminded me of some of Seneca's quotes from his epistles. Very recently it hit me, although cliché and always taken for granted, that i should honestly be living as if i were preparing for dieing. I am not sure i know the right words to express this thought at the moment, but lots of recent experiences have been leading me to think of death extremely often, and i feel like it is a warning from within that i need to focus on the NOW and try to control my constant anxiety to move further, to look at the future, and never at the present moment. So indispensable. So important. So, all. And the concentration on the present will also make death look less scary, less powerful. I'll gather my thoughts and express them better later. It was like an epiphany and i don't know how to put into words without making it sound ridiculously cheesy and freaky.

The Power of Now, reminded me of a lot of great Shambhala Books by Pema Chodron, such as "The Wisdom of No Escape", or "When Things Fall Apart" and "Turning the Mind into an Ally" by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, now leader of the Shambhala sangha.
But this is specifically how i reacted to the readings:

I finally cleaned my room and set up my meditation corner and cleaned my shrine. A new beginning...

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PERFORMING TECHNOLOGY BEGINS

I was very curious about this class. I was trying to, and maybe i still am, figure out if it involves specifically people's as performers, or maybe performance in its broadest sense, or maybe technology as performance and performer. Regardless of what shape the class will take, all of the above have been interests of mine for quite some time. I stopped dancing and performing on stage in 1999, because after about 10 years, it started shaping up as a career choice, more than mere physical exercise and fun with friends. I wasn't ready , at 19 years old, to make that kind of commitment. Not only i stopped acting and dancing, but i changed country all together and moved to the states. I then studied photography, video and took a particular interest in the history of Cinema. Once i moved to installations and interactivity as a necessary medium for the concepts i was dealing with, i seemed to naturally come back to performance to recreate certain experiences, interactivity being performative, why not put myself back into the picture? I believe right now there are certain things that i could only express by using my own body and movements. I generally shy away from any type of definition. Definitions actually irritate me nowadays, and sometimes seem completely useless and futile to me. Everyone has one. I don't know how to define performance, i only know in this specific instant what i think my performance will be defined as, and maybe even that definition is bound to change in the course of the night. Representation. Sharing. Empathy. Those are the reasons that brought me here.

Yoko Ono's Cut Piece Critique

I am not really a fan of Yoko Ono's work, i have to admit, and let that be my disclaimer for this assignment. I know i should probably motivate it, but i don't think this is the context to do it in. Rather there is something extremely intriguing about Ono's Cut Piece. She is sitting on a stage in a meditation-like position and is allowing the audience to cut (and possibly take) a piece of her clothing, leaving her almost naked. The beauty of this piece, i believe, it's that it challenges the concepts of performance and possibly pushes the boundaries of what should and should not happen on a stage, as location. She is at the same time performing, and being performed. She is acting in a passive way and also she is been interacted upon. The scissors are almost the medium that connects these 2 aspects of the performance. It confuses the performer with the performed and lets the viewers become the protagonist without whom this even would not take place. Something that highly works for me is the format of this performance, it's her passivity and her allowing strangers to take a part of her, leaving her vulnerable. I read many different significants in that, from the fact that people are capable of exposing out most vulnerable sides as well as countries that have been exploited in history through colonialism. I also appreciate the location of the piece, Carneige Hall as a very important and traditional-looking performance space is a very interesting location for such a happening. The documentation of the performance is also very important, it almost shows in-camera editing and specific focal points to accentuate the ritual. Something that doesn't work for me is her body language, her complete immobility or and the fact that her eyes are scanning the space in front of her without making any direct eye-contact with the audience who's performing on her. I wish she had looked at them as if she was to remember those faces forever.

Performing Map

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FIRST WEEK ASSIGNMENT

The Next Design Icon in my opinion is...

Download file

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GETTING READY FOR THE SHOW

With a pending deadline (the show opens on October 5th 2007 at the Etoile Space in Rome), Raphael and I are working super extra hard to have this piece ready, functioning and packaged to be shipped and then simply plugged in.

US (IN ITALIAN)

Benedetta è nata a cresciuta a Parma, ma vive negli Stati Uniti dal 1998. Si è laureata nel 2004 in Installazioni Audio-Visive alla Tufts University e School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Alcune delle sue esperienze lavorative includono uno stage presso l' MIT List Visual Arts Center e l'organizzazione del Padiglione Americano per la 50ª Biennale di Venezia. Ha insegnato all'Università corsi di nuove tecnologie digitali; si è poi trasferita a NYC per sperimentare un metodo di insegnamento dell'Italiano ai bambini attraverso l'Arte. Ha poi lavorato come grafica e come giornalista/corrispondente per quotidiani italiani e reti televisive locali. Dopo essere stata la Vice Direttrice della Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò presso la New York University, sta ora completando un Master alla NYU in Interactive Telecommunications Program. Ora insegna Lego-Robotica in scuole pubbliche elementari di NY, si sta specializzando in Interaction Design e collabora con la compagnia Tinker.it!

Raphael è nato a Johannesburg, Sud Africa. Ha ottenuto una laurea dal Pratt Institute in scultura e sta al momento completando un master presso la New York University in Interactive Telecommunications. Ha prima studiato presso l’Humboldt Universitaete zu Berlin ed Emory University. I suoi lavori sono stati esposti presso la Rush Arts Gallery in New York City, Ballroom Marfa in Texas, Jersey City Museum in New Jersey, Pratt Institute Sculpture Park, NY e Schafler Gallery, Brooklyn così come all'interno della mostra di ITP. Ha anche ricevuto una borsa di studio per frequentare la Skowhegan School nel 2002 e ha lavorato come assistente nel dipartimento di scultura nel 2007. Ha vinto il premio Giuliani, l'Art Student Fund Award e il Fine Arts Award. Raphael inoltre gestisce una sua compagnia di design architettonico e produzione a Brooklyn, NY.

THE CONCEPT

Crediamo che il tipico tombino romano con acronimo sia un esempio speciale di Design italiano. Con questa installazione volevamo restituire a questo elemento architettonico, che ci accompagna
da così tanto tempo, la sua voce. Volevamo che potesse finalmente risponderci, interagire con noi e possibilmente raccontarci un pezzo di storia.

We believe that the typical Roman grate with the famous acronym, is a very special example of Italian Design. With this installation we wanted to give this architectural element its voice back. We wanted to give it a chance to finally answer us, interact with us and possibly narrate to us a piece of its very long history.

HOW IT WORKS

Grazie a una serie di sensori ad infrarossi e ultrasuoni strategicamente posizionati, siamo in grado di calcolare non solo la presenza delle persone ma anche la vicininanza. I dati ricevuti dai sensori vengono così interpretati da un microprocessore, in questo caso un Arduino che utilizzando questi valori controlla una serie di LED RGB multicolore, e ha il potenziale di controllare file audio, immagini, video
se associato ad un computer portatile.

Thanks to a series of infrared and ultrasonic sensors, strategically located, we are able to calculate
not only the presence of visitors around the grate, but also calculate the actual distance from it.
The data collected by the sensors is then interpreted by a microcontroller, in this case of the Arduino family, which uses the collected values to control rows of multicolored RGB LEDs, and even has the potential of controlling audio files, images, and videos when accompanied by a laptop.

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WHERE WE ARE NOW

First we worked on making a model out of mdf. Thanks to Chiara, Rob, my brother Paolo and my friend Matteo, we were able to have precise measurements of the original Roman grate.

Then we made a rubber mold and a silicon replica with iron and nickel silver to give it color without taking away its transparency. It will glow.

Next steps:

- electronics circuit. Lamps, Arduino, IR sensors ordered.
- make and print image.
- buy and mount plexi.
- buy and test lamps at 220V.
- make the box for the object.
- Prepare cell phone voicemail.
- Assemble and ship.

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FIND & FIX

The first assignment was to find something on the floor and whether fix it or improve it. Everything i found that needed to be fixed, was rather trivial and dint need much electronics at all, including the dirty microwave, need for paint and toilet paper.

So i came up with a not-to-clever idea to remind people to wear their goggles before entering the shop. Since everyone seems to forget them...

MATERIALS USED

* Arduino
* Ultrasonic Range Finder
* Superbright LED

INTERACTION

You get close to the door and the alarm goes off, then as you get closer a robotic voice reminds you of your goggles and as you get even closer an LED sign blinks repeatedly.

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RITUAL

I have a few rituals. Some more private than others. What i was interested in doing for this assignment was not to document an existing ritual, but rather initiate a new ritual, which for spiritual reasons should be a part of my daily routine.

I associate the term 'ritual' to religion or spirituality. It might be a limiting definition, but i think it's a very important one that we tend to forget and look down upon or completely ignore at times. Therefore i wanted to document the ritual of prostration. The kneeling process is repeated 7 times, 7 being a very important number in Buddhism, and is divided into 3 different gestures dedicated to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha which represent the 3 Jewels.
Once kneeling down, following a Tibetan tradition, the points of contact with the ground need to be 5, the palms, the knees and the forehead.

FROM WIKIPEDIA

Prostration (Buddhism)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Buddhism, a prostration (Pali: panipāta, Skt.: namas-kara, Ch.: li-pai, Jp.: raihai) is used to show reverence to the Triple Gem (the Buddha, his teachings and the spiritual community) and other objects of veneration.

In Buddhism, prostrating has multiple and overlapping benefits for practitioners including:

* an experience of giving and/or veneration
* an act to purify defilements
* a preparatory act for meditation
* an act that accumulates merit (see also karma)

In contemporary Western Buddhism, some teachers use prostrations as a practice unto itself,[1] while other teachers relegate prostrations to customary "rituals" ancillary to meditation.[2]

VIDEO

Here's the video of 5 days of prostration.

http://itp.nyu.edu/~bp432/movies/meditationwev.mov

OTHER OPTIONS

Other options of rituals for me:

- the salt over the shoulder Italian ritual
- the ritual of channeling bad energies that i developed when i was little and still do

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GLOW THAT LED

I managed to power the radio up! Assignment coming soon.

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HEY HEY HEY

The project i think i want to develop in this class is to create a sound piece that took advantage of some of the tsunami and earthquake algorithms that i came across last sememster while trying to create a device that would be able to control sound and video according to the movements of the waters it was "plugged" into. The soundpiece could be inserted as soundtrack to the performance.

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INGO MAURER AT THE COOPER-HEWITT

The Ingo Maurer show was a total blast. I was running late to get there, so i only had about 45 minutes to spend in the museum, but it was a great experience anyways. The best part of the visit was that Ingo Maurer was actually present in the museum giving a walk through with what i am assuming were graduate students. It was very interesting to see all of his models, some small, some really small, some a little bigger, and be able to peak into his process of both coming up with the ideas and starting to realize them.
He was talking about one of his pieces composed of broken plates and silverware, the one that in Italian says "Porca Miseria" (Damn). Someone had asked him if he made a model of that one as well, and he was explaining how for that specific chandelier it was more a matter of actually physically playing with the pieces making sure they were in harmony with each other. I believe he had sketches for that, but no prototype. I thought it was interesting to know that even such a designer, can fluctuate and change method depending on the nature of the object he is working with at that specific moment.

My favorite pieces:

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PROCESS

Reading about Fukasawa, i remembered about this ceiling lamp he created for Swarovski that i plan on re-making for my home, as a way to tap into his process and understand his great aesthetics a little better. Some EL wire, some metal wire and some beading and i think that's it!

Here are some sketches form my sketchbook about ideas on lamps i want to try to work on in the next few months. Ideas come every day and they work off of existing objects and concentrate on the type of gesture.

I thought that light should also tell time so I am working with my husband on creating a system of lamps that tell different portions of time.

Some technology i am really interested in using.

Speaking of design icons, Apple and light design i am thinking about concentrating a part of my time on re-inventing wall switches.

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PYRAMUS & THISBE

http://itp.nyu.edu/~bp432/perftech/narrative.mp3

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AND THE 'TOMBINO' SAGA CONTINUES

It was definitely a challenge to get the image printed on trasparency well.

But we managed to end up with a good result.

Here are some close ups of the somewhat final product!

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WE START THE ELECTRONICS CIRCUIT DESIGN

Here is the very first step f the prototype using single LEDs and IR sensors.

These are the hacked up Home Depot LED spot lights to see if the sould be used.

Hacking a switch we could control them digitally.

We then replaced the single LEDs with the LED systems.

Now the are all on, simply powered by 5V dc

And then tested the full prototype system.

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FROM THE GREAT ENNIO MORRICONE

I figured whatever i could do in Csound to this piece, it would still sound good since it's such an amazing track. I thought it would be a good starting point and an encouraging one too. Sorry, Ennio.
The track is called The Mission (Gabriel's Theme).

Here are a few tests i did, still unsure of what it is i am actually doing, at least i am not receiving any errors, and that is aways good news.

Variation 1

Variation 2

Variation 3

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HERE'S MY NAME AND WHY!

You can watch my presentation online!

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ZIGBEE PROGRESS>

Grant it was 5,30am when i finally decided to stop playing with the Zigbees, but still, i struggled so much with the processing code giving me an error message, the arduino 10000 needing Adruino009 or it won't run and the adressing to be done in Zterm since the processing terminal wasn't an option...
but i am, thanks to Rob Faludi's incredible patience, a lot further than before.

The problems that seem to persist are: 9v battery plug (need to get), the fact that when the power sources change from let's say usb to battery, the arduino diecimila seems to forget the code. They are still acting weird, hope to fix that soon.

Here is testimony of my progress:

Board number 1, Zigbee ID 1000, PANID 0911, DH 0 with IR sensor.

Board numer 2, Zigbee ID 2000, PANID 0911, DH 0 with Potentiometer.

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Towards the end of the Sewer grate project...

We built a box for the electronics and for the top to sit on. Raphael showed me how to use the tools and forced me to do some manual labor... eheheh.

The final electronics circuit includes 4 LED clusters and 4 IR sensor, arduino and hacked NOKIA charger for power supply. The power supply experience was definitely a hard and bumpy one. We'll see what happend when it gets there.

It is very nice in the dark...

This is what the final product looks like. Now it is only a matter of some few code changes and a good 240V power source.

It's getting picked up on Saturday, so it's ready to be packaged and shipped!

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SCENARIOS

* walking into a dark house/room
* in the kitchen, when cooking, when one has full hands and needs to turn on or off lights
* when one needs ladders to change bulbs or regulate direction of spotlights
* medical environment
* when around the dinner table and need to dim lights

NEEDS

* a need for a certain aesthetic (contemporary, retro, modern, baroque etc...)
* medical and hygiene related needs
* better accessibility
* more playfulness
* less power consumption
* smaller
* a need to reinvent the gesture
* my personal need to do so

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

* back lit/glow in the dark/night light inserted in wall switch
* activated with something other than hands (i find the clapper very ironic)
* more ubiquitous, such as on tables, embedded in lighting, in chandeliers
* networked
* aesthetically more pleasing
* could me more playful, less played out, more innovative, with a touch of sarcasm to help people gain perspective when home
* should use less electricity by usign DC powered LEDs or LED bulbs
* could always be smaller in size

THINGS THAT BUG ME WITH HOME LIGHTING

* the lack of attention we put into the act of turning on the lights
* how ugly some light fixtures and especially low energy ones are
* the amount of space wall switches take to fulfill only one or two functions

PROJECT

I am known for making useless objects, like a gigantic bracelet, an interactive sewer grate and a musical bazooka. My process does start with need finding, but it only generally revolves around me and solely me. I have the need to make this object and i am going to make. That's it.

My process changes everytime and sometimes the purpose comes half way through the prototyping. In this case i am not sure yet what scenario i am going to focus on, but what i plan on doing is, by the end of the semester, creating a new light control system, a new lamp and maybe a chandelier. I want to see if i can build a lamp or a wall socket and then see if i can add or re design any aspect of it.

MATERIALS NEEDED

* Tinker.it MP3 player module
* Qprox sensors like the Qwheel and Qslide
* Ultrabright LEDs
* LED light bulbs and lamp bases

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