So here's my progress in making a max patch for the non-traditional drum we are working on for the midterm. Some work as oscillators, making strange sounds or more drum-like. Another one makes polyphonic music, very very very nice!!!! (Thanks Leif!)
Part 1
Part 2
The UFO moves across the screen and canges the background while changing density.
The program picks a random background that changes each time. The pot changes the hue.
So, i tought and thought and thought and nothing would come out. Until i realized that today was going to be less than a week from Halloween. So, as an excercise for this class, i decided to play with enclosing the electronics in a different kind of way and using, MAX-MSP for the spooky sounds and Processing for some lame Bat-flying-around animation. But, although, lame, it took a long long time!
It was nice to work with the family on this project...
This is my husband John... thrilled to work with me...
And here's my curious cat Cindy Crawford.
The final cut... John didn't approve...
And then the final product:
There is even a hole for the USB cable!!!
Thanks John...
And then, here's some funny user testing
Pumpkin and Max:
Pumpkin and Processing:
James and I teamed up for our ICM final (the concept of pair-programming really rubbed on) and decided that we were both interested in creating an interactive experience that dealt with propaganda. What aspect or kind of propaganda has not yet been decided, but we ideally would like to have some examples of all different kinds: political, commercial, informative, religious or psychological.
The ideal interaction would take place in some type of booth where the user faces a tv screen; whether a modern flat screen or a tv with more personality like an old tube. There will be buttons as main interface tool, since we felt that in the case of propaganda, it would be the most obvious and intuitive choice: when you vote, you press a button, when you watch tv, you press buttons on a remote control, when you select a product out of a vending machine, you press big lit buttons and the list goes on.
The buttons will have some kind of indication of the topic/product/idea. When pressed, the viewer will be bombarded with a combination of images from videos, adds, commercials and other medias related to the button.
At the end of this experience we want the user to walk out with something physical, like a memento, a souvenir, a product of this process. He/she will be asked to select a product to receive outside of the booth. In the next cubicle, infact, James and i will be at busy at work, as in both an assembly line and also as the detached-from-society masterminds behind most propaganda you the user has just viewed/hear. The space needs to be eclosed so that he/she cannot interact with us directly, but only thru the machine, the view will limited to only parts of our bodies in order to not being able to identify us. We will be manifacturing or packaging your product and will promptly hand it to you or place it on a conveier belt/ramp, very much like the mouth of a vending machine, that will deliver it straight to you. Maybe miniture objects. Maybe logos.
The first resource material, mostly because driven by curiosity, was a collection of cheaply reproduced commercials between the 1950's and 70's.
And Mr.Clean looked as great then, as he does now!
The use of cartoons characters was particularly interesting.
The Chevrolet commercial portrayed the stereotypical American happy rich couple, which sets the model for all kinds of future commercials.
And Lava sopa was as strong as it is now!
Hairspray with conditioner!
And of course, we had to include Coke.
Another important resource was http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda
CHOICE CONTROL
Propaganda Machine
The machine represents political, commercial, informative, religious and psychological propaganda with a vending machine asthetic and slot machine reward system. The interaction takes place in a booth where the user faces a screen, on both sides a set of hands are hard at work producing the users future product. There are two buttons for the main interface tool. By pressing either one of two large lit buttons you promt a series of questions followed by flashing propagandistic images leading to the result in Reward or Try Again. At the end of this experience the user will walk away with something physical, like a memento, a souvenir, a product of this process.
The applet for a beginning test is also on-line. First you click the mouse on the image to start it and then by pressing any keyboard key you'll receive a random question.
http://itp.nyu.edu/~bp432/icm/icm_final/Icons_test_applet/
A better more random applet is at this link:
http://itp.nyu.edu/~jcd318/icm/final/index.html
Here's a quote from Marshall McLuhan:
"The environment as a processor of information is propaganda. Propaganda ends where dialogue begins. You must talk to the media, not to the programmer. To talk to the programmer is like complaining to a hot dog vendor at a ballpark about how badly your favorite team is playing".
ARDUINO MEETS PROPAGANDA
We ordered some sturdy and playful buttons. Here's a close up:
First components that go on the board are tje transistors, which i had never worked with before. Actually I mistook them a few times for a voltage regulators and fried my circuit. Good times.
A better view of the beginning circuit:
Buttons side view:
Now we have to encase the electronics in a box and try to adapt the color of the buttons to match the visuals.
Applet coming soon.
IN CLASS PRESENTATION
Building a case for it
For our ICM Final Class we built a basic casing for the Arduino and the Huge buttons which we hacked to be Orange and Purple, like the images on screen.
And the inside was taped and secured to the box, leaving enough room for the wires.
And here's the applet that substitues the buttons with key presses: