All posts by ayk267

The city that everyone loves to write about

Final Project

I was juggling several ideas for this final project like painting with light or building an interactive playlist you can share with people, but boy, did I have trouble figuring that out. I haven’t let go of those dreams completely, just momentarily, and decided to work with a concept I call “poetic data” — subverting how data is being used these days to target you with ads or to spy on you. Recently, the NY Times selected and published submissions of haikus about New York livin’. I created a generator that would mashup some of the published haikus I liked often nonsensically but still capture the human heart behind each carefully crafted line.

Instructions: Hold down and move around your mouse to see the haikus (fast-paced on purpose, but maybe too fast so I’m going to work on a variable for the speed). Release to see an animation of your mouse path (I explored PGraphics a bit).

-Ashley

int frames = 20;
PGraphics pg[] = new PGraphics[frames]; //a PGraphics collection of 20 frames
PFont myFont;
int y = 300;

//Haikus consist of three lines of 5, 7, then 5 syllables.
String[] firstLn = {
  "Beware the puddle", 
  "Our eyes avoid but", 
  "Mistrust grips the heart", 
  "If build and destroy",
  "Coffee by myself",
  "The New Yorker is",
  "The City's timeless",
  "We can spend the night",
  "Hidden among the",
  "As we leave for work",
  "I know you, don't I"
};

String[] secondLn = {
  "of indeterminate depth", 
  "If we looked we would see that", 
  "Thought we travel in large packs",
  "Are music notes, our island",
  "The wind whispers names of friends",
  "Not kind, they say. I say, he",
  "But still, don't let it fool you",
  "together, but I expect",
  "Sleepwalking, caffeine zombies",
  "Youngsters head home from parties",
  "You were me five years ago"
};

String[] thirdLn = {
  "that swallows boots whole", 
  "We might just be friends", 
  "we are still alone",
  "Is a symphony",
  "Yet alone I sit",
  "Just left it at home",
  "It's never the same",
  "bagels in morning",
  "A morning person",
  "Eras intersect",
  "Dreaming of New York"
};

void setup(){
  size(600,600);
  background(0,0,100);
  for(int i = 0; i < frames; i++) {
    pg[i] = createGraphics(width,height);
    pg[i].beginDraw();
    pg[i].background(0,0,100);
    pg[i].stroke(255,150); //color of stroke
    pg[i].strokeWeight(5); //thickeness of stroke
    pg[i].endDraw();
  }

  noStroke();
  fill(#ffffff);
  myFont = createFont("Futura", 16, true);
  newHaiku();
}

void writeLine(String[] words) {
  int n = int(random(words.length));
  text(words[n], 300, y);
  y = y + 40;
}

void newHaiku() {
  background(0,0,100);

  y = 50;

  writeLine(firstLn);
  writeLine(secondLn);
  writeLine(thirdLn);

  textFont(myFont);
}

void draw(){  
  //background(0,0,100);

  int currentFrame = frameCount % frames; //0-19 frames
  if(mousePressed){
    pg[currentFrame].beginDraw();
    pg[currentFrame].line(mouseX,mouseY,pmouseX,pmouseY);
    pg[currentFrame].endDraw();
  }
  image(pg[currentFrame],0,0);

  if (mousePressed){
    newHaiku();
  }
}

What the heck is “computational media”?

Characteristics

My Gallatin IAPC (Intellectual Autobiography and Plan for Concentration)  is due in 2 weeks (*resumes hyperventilating*) so I’ve been thinking very hard about everything I’ve done and plan to do as a kid in college and why. I hope that after I write this post I can give a I-know-exactly-what-I’m-talking-about explanation to curious ones who ask what I’m studying instead of shriveling up and answering to avoid further questions, “Art and computer science.”

I am not exaggerating when I say that checking out the Guggenheim’s Gutai: Splendid Playground exhibition last spring, through a lovely friend’s recommendation, change the course of my intellectual life. A collective of Japanese artists formed in the alienating shadows of World War II and Hiroshima, the Gutai were focused on questioning and understanding the nature of humans’ relationships to everyday materials, physical space, and technology. I don’t remember everything I saw but something I read on that walls of the Gugg still remains, that the Gutai aspired to “break down barriers between art, the public, and everyday life.”

A year after the exhibition, I’m taking classes in digital media and computer programming and I’m pondering on the same questions as the Gutai did. In 1974, following the end of an active Gutai, Ted Nelson (the “Tom Paine of the person-computer revolution,” wrote Stewart Brand) loudly and urgently proclaimed in Computer Lib/Dream Machines that the chasm between computer insiders (in the industry and academia) and the ordinary public be closed so that computers can be understood in essence as “versatile gizmos which may be turned to any purpose, in any style.”

“People have legitimate complaints about the way computers are used, and legitimate ideas for ways they should be used, which should no longer be shunted aside.”

He uttered this concern at the dawn of a new media revolution that would become as, if not more, significant as the impact of the printing press and analog photography — “the shift of all of our culture to computer-mediated forms of production, distribution and communication,” as Lev Manovich puts it. Nelson dreamed of a new human experience with computers, one that would “enable new generations of media” in a “radical, open publishing network.”

The computer had a very dull beginning as a calculator of math too frustratingly complex for humans. Then people started thinking and materializing what else the computer can do better and thus for humans, and now we’re either obsessed or terrified over its power over us and the language it understands but most of us can’t, its “artificial intelligence.”

But Ira Greenberg assures us that the computer is inherently dumb and it will “do only and exactly as [it is] told, without any assumption, reflection, or self-awareness.” It is us humans who give it a purpose, for capturing and translating our actions and thoughts into new forms of expression — “intelligence amplification.” The computer is a machine for making your dreams come true, big or small. Alright, maybe Snapchatting or sending emoticons to show is a weird dream, but knowing that we have a tool to not only create but to share, remake, rip apart, and become a part of a culture is breathtaking to me. Abe Hamoid, the saint behind funprogramming.org, displays on his blog: “Code allows me to see the things I imagine.”

But it is also us imperfect, self-centered, and biased humans who, as much as we may assert otherwise, give the computer a meaning that isn’t perfectly neutral or innocent. Ted Nelson was aware of this and hence all the more urgent that people realize this potential of the computer to do good and bad in both our physical reality and, increasingly relevant, the one made of bits.

“It matters because we live in media, as fish live in water…we can and must design the media, design the molecules of our new water.”

“The things people try to do with movies, TV and the more glamorous uses of the computer, whereby it makes pictures on screens–are strange inversions and foldovers of the rest of the mind and heart. That’s the peculiar origami of the self.”

Gee, that’s lovely. Something Red Burns once said in an interview with John Maeda comes to mind.

“It has never been about the tools. It has always been about people — how people use technology, and how these technologies can help people communicate.”

I’ll end for now with the hope that more and more people, including myself, would not stay intimidated and alienated by the language of technology because some of those we entrust to lead the way into our future depend on us remaining oblivious or feeling powerless. Maybe I’m naive in saying this but let’s trust our own hopes and dreams a bit more, even if we start off by sitting on our beds and staring at a computer screen. That computer screen is home to what Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee describe today’s digital environment in The Second Machine Age, the “playground for large-scale recombination [of ideas].”

(I still don’t really know what I’m talking about.)

If you ever need crazy colorful circles for whatever reason

Many Things

(But where is my shooting star?)

//float sizeX;
int x = 0;
int y = 0;
int xspeed = 30;
int yspeed = 10;
int count = 500;
Circles [] circles;

//INITIALIZE VARIABLE
void setup(){
  size(800,800);
  background(255);
  //cloudX = width/2;
  //cloudY = height/2;
  circles = new Circles[count];
  for (int k = 0; k < count; k++){
    circles[k] = new Circles();
  }
}

//USE VARIABLE
void draw(){
  for (int i = 0; i < count; i++){
    circles[i].draw();
  }

  //shootingStar();
  //Dan's code:
  //fill(0,0,0,10); 
  //rect(0,0,width,height);
}

void shootingStar(){
  x = x + xspeed;
  y = y + yspeed;

  if (x > width || x < 0){
    xspeed = xspeed * -1;
  }

  if (y > height || y < 0){
    yspeed = yspeed * -1;
  }

  if(mousePressed){
  stroke(255,215,10,100);
  fill(255,215,10,100);
  //ellipse(x,y,32,32);
  beginShape();
  vertex(x,   y-50);
  vertex(x+14,y-20);
  vertex(x+47,y-15);
  vertex(x+23,y+7);
  vertex(x+29,y+40);
  vertex(x,   y+25);
  vertex(x-29,y+40);
  vertex(x-23,y+7);
  vertex(x-47,y-15);
  vertex(x-14,y-20);
  endShape(CLOSE);
  }
}

class Circles{
  float cloudX = random(0,255);
  float cloudY= random(0,255);

  float r = random(0,255);
  float g = random(0,255);
  float b = random(0,255);
  float a = random(0,255);

  void draw(){
  cloudX = random(width);
  cloudY = random(height);
  stroke(r,g,b,a);
  fill(r,g,b,a);
  ellipse(cloudX,cloudY,200,100);
  }
}

 

Party in the sky

Organized

I organized my last code into three main functions — consumingClouds, confettiTrail, and shootingStar — and added the bouncing ball effect and borrowed Shiffman’s code for a star shape. Can I add some ’80s disco music later on?

//What's happening conceptually?
//void draw(){
//consumingClouds();
//twinklingStars();
//shootingStar();
//}

//DECLARING VARIABLE
float cloudX;
float cloudY;
int x = 0;
int y = 0;
int xspeed = 30;
int yspeed = 10;

//INITIALIZE VARIABLE
void setup(){
size(800,800);
background(255);
}

//USE VARIABLE
void draw(){
consumingClouds();
confettiTrail();
shootingStar();
}

void consumingClouds(){
cloudX = random(width);
cloudY = random(height);
stroke(135,206,235,20);
fill(135,206,235,70);
ellipse(cloudX,cloudY,200,100);
}

void confettiTrail(){
if (mousePressed) {
float r = random(0,255);
float g = random(0,255);
float b = random(0,255);
float a = random(0,255);
fill(r,g,b,a); //fill(random(255),random(255),random(255),random(255));
ellipse(mouseX,mouseY,30,30);
}
}

void shootingStar(){
x = x + xspeed;
y = y + yspeed;

if (x > width || x < 0){
xspeed = xspeed * -1;
}

if (y > height || y < 0){
yspeed = yspeed * -1;
}

if(mousePressed){
stroke(255,215,10,100);
fill(255,215,10,100);
beginShape();
vertex(x, y-50);
vertex(x+14,y-20);
vertex(x+47,y-15);
vertex(x+23,y+7);
vertex(x+29,y+40);
vertex(x, y+25);
vertex(x-29,y+40);
vertex(x-23,y+7);
vertex(x-47,y-15);
vertex(x-14,y-20);
endShape(CLOSE);
}
}

Confetti-eating clouds

Animation

I was trying to create a game with Kat’s code of falling glitter (something like Catch the Falling Glitter with the Bucket) but I didn’t know how to make the glitter disappear into the bucket.

For now, here’s a very simple screensaver inspired by Kat’s random color variable. I had a lot of fun playing with this.

The code:

//DECLARING VARIABLE
float cloudX;
float cloudY;
//float sizeX;

//INITIALIZE VARIABLE
void setup(){
size(800,800);
background(255);
//cloudX = width/2;
//cloudY = height/2;
}

//USE VARIABLE
void draw(){
cloudX = random(width);
cloudY = random(height);
//sizeX = random(width);
//background(255);
stroke(135,206,235,20);
fill(135,206,235,70);
ellipse(cloudX,cloudY,200,100);

if (mousePressed) {
float r = random(0,255);
float g = random(0,255);
float b = random(0,255);
float a = random(0,255);
fill(r,g,b,a);
ellipse(mouseX,mouseY,30,30);
}

}

Rothko toast

Paint By Numbers

(Excuse for not doing the other assignment…yet:

Strange way to explain things but I think the neural pathways in my brain tie themselves into knots each time I try to figure out how variation in the Arduino software works so I’m putting off the stupid pet trick for some doodling.)

The idea:

One day I came across a post from San Francisco Museum of Art (SFMOMA)’s Tumblr on their pastry team’s (yep, they have one) art-inspired treats (check them out). I was inspired by their recreation of a Mark Rothko piece using toast and jam and since I’m all about making art engaging and enjoyable, if not edible, I present to you two slices of ROTHKO TOAST:

Screen Shot 2014-02-23 at 11.18.48 PM

The code (or recipe?):

size(640,360); 
  //(width,height of screen)
background(100,100,200); //periwinkle, I guess

//ROTHKO NO.10 ON WHITE
stroke(110,50,0); //bread crust
  //(Red,Green,Blue) 
fill(230,160,90); //white wheat toast
rect(100,75,210,200,65,65,15,15); 
  //rect(x,y,width,height,top left radius,top right,bottom left,bottom right) 
  //more rounded on top left and right edges

stroke(220,255,205);
fill(220,255,205); //maybe...sour cream and onion cream cheese?
rect(120,90,170,5);
  //(x,y,w,h,radius of all edges - because can you apply condiments neatly?)

stroke(25,45,130,230); 
  //(R,B,G,A for transparency)
fill(25,45,130,230); //blueberry jam
rect(110,100,190,20,5);

stroke(255,205,0);
fill(255,205,0); //BUTTER!
rect(110,125,190,80,5);

stroke(220,255,205);
fill(220,255,205);
rect(110,210,190,60,5);

//ROTHKO NO.14 ON WHOLE WHEAT
stroke(110,50,0); //the crust
fill(170,90,20); //whole wheat toast
rect(350,75,210,200,65,65,15,15); 

stroke(210,30,40);
fill(210,30,40); //strawberry or raspberry jam
rect(360,100,190,100,5);

stroke(25,45,100,230);
fill(25,45,100,230); //blueberry jam
rect(360,205,190,65,5);

You better do your reading

Mstr Atoms and Bits

The idea:

(Still don’t know what to do with the two ugly yellow wires…)

This time, I decided that having a red “warning” light on would remind me of past horrors of falling behind on readings and thus give me enough anxiety to open to the page marked by the Starbucks sleeve. When I reach the page marked by The Bean sleeve, I would tuck the Starbucks sleeve inside, turning the red light off and turning on a blue “strobe” light. Time to treat myself to a coffee break AND a dance party in my room.

Better do your reading (Yes, I slapped an Instagram filter over it, whatever.)

The code:

void setup(){
pinMode(7,OUTPUT);
pinMode(4,OUTPUT);
pinMode(8,INPUT);
}

void loop(){
if (digitalRead(8) == LOW){
digitalWrite(7,LOW);
digitalWrite(4,HIGH);
}

if (digitalRead(8) == HIGH){
digitalWrite(7,HIGH);
delay(100);
digitalWrite(7,LOW);
delay(100);
digitalWrite(4,LOW);
}
}

Light (and a coffee break) at the end of a reading

The Rest Of You

(I think I cheated because there’s a human hand involved. Oh well, here goes…)

I had some coffee cup sleeves lying around (I was in Intro to Sculpture last semester and to avoid paying more than the required $350 studio fee, I recycled and repurposed my materials) as well as a book I’ve been struggling to read for a class this Tuesday (how typical). Then I had an idea: Why don’t I turn the sleeves into bookmarks that help me track my progress in completing my reading assignments?

20140203-122200.jpg

20140203-122251.jpg

So I spent 3 hours attaching a gangly wire (which may be, regrettably, ugly and distracting) to the Starbucks sleeve, to be used for a page I start off reading, and the other to The Bean sleeve, for a page I want to read up to (the goal being, on the same day). When I reach “the finish line,” I would tuck The Bean sleeve into the Starbucks sleeve, which would turn on the pretty blue light! Then I would help myself to a dirty chai from The Bean because I deserve it — reading is an intense workout.

(Don’t play around with the sleeves and turn on the light if you haven’t finished reading for the day.)

-Ashley