shadowRecordPlayerSm from Claire Mitchell on Vimeo.
In Makematics we looked at using Principal Component Analysis to determine orientation of objects. I was especially interested in interactive PCA Orientation. As I was considering appropriate applications for the approach, I thought about the arm of a record player and the change in orientation that happens when the needle is placed on the vinyl. I decided to create the illusion of a record player with shadows to see if I could create a convincing interaction between unrelated objects.
orientationCalibration from Claire Mitchell on Vimeo.
The first video shows calibration for the record player “arm” which is actually the base for a desk lamp. (We have no more desk lamps in my apt because I find them really great for taking apart and using them in projects !) The second is the shadow player at work. I can imagine creating this kind of effect on a larger scale with an entire room of objects that create the shadows of what they are meant to represent. Each shadow object would have its own interactive element that produces a sound or movement to heighten the visual effect.