Category Archives: Jeffrey Feddersen

Introduction to Physical Computing, Jedy Chen, Jeffrey Feddersen, Jonathan Han, Projects

Equilibrium 2.0

Jonathan Han, Jedy Chen

Inspired by the mechanics of an ancient Chinese plucked zither called the Guzheng, Equilibrium 2.0 is reimagined into a rhythmic sequencing game designed for a collaborative and conversational experience between two individuals.

http://jedychen.com/category/equilibrium/

Description

The first iteration of the game led us to design an interaction that had both players pluck their individual string, held by two piezo flex sensors connected to their individual micro controller. The physical interaction of plucking have to be timed perfectly by both players to bring the undulating movement of a sin wave to a standstill.

However, we felt that the physical interaction of did not fully correspond to the design of the UI. As a result, we ‘married’ the physical interaction to the design of the UI in our second iteration.

The Chinese plucked zither is a musical instrument ancient Chinese Aristocrats would learn to play. They would, through the playing of the instrument, converse their inner feelings with another individual. In the movie, Red Cliff, directed by Ang Lee, two warring generals were seen playing the instrument to converse and reveal their innermost feelings and thoughts.

Similar to our initial idea of equilibrium, we were inspired by the mechanics of the instrument and its intentional yet subtle conversational quality. Hence, the design of the UI took after the instrument. Players now have to ‘pluck’ at individual micro controllers to hit a node placed at a designated string on the UI. They can hit the node individually but will gain more (game points) from hitting it at the same time.

The design of the experience is minimalistic. The minimalistic design approach directed the decision towards the the industrial, typography, UI design and choice of materials. The minimalistic approach paralleled the intent of equilibrium. From an information design perspective, the formal choices were clear. The only difference in the UI design is the circular node that is the focus for both players.

Equipment: Dell 23 Inch Monitor, HDMI to HDMI Cable, Power Cords and White Table.

Classes

Introduction to Physical Computing

David Cihelna, Introduction to Physical Computing, Jeffrey Feddersen, Projects, Yurika Mulase

Terminus

David Cihelna, Yurika Mulase

A 3-Dimensional game controller for a 3D glitch world that is falling apart.

http://www.davidcihelna.com/terminus/

Description

Terminus is a 3D experience that is navigated with a hand controller. Using conductive stretch sensors, players place their fingers into a strange enclosure that moves them around in a virtual world full of sounds and glitch graphics. Players can move between “cubes” with different environments and sounds to explore the world. Each environment is accompanied by narrative fragments of a space traveller getting lost in the multiverse.

Classes

Introduction to Physical Computing

Chang Liu, Introduction to Physical Computing, Jeffrey Feddersen, Projects, Rubin Huang, Tom Igoe

Note Constellation

Rubin Huang, Chang Liu

Note Constellation is an interactive installation that provide an immersive environment to audiences, and it allows audiences use their fingers to draw note in the screen as draw a series of constellation in the sky .

http://www.rubinhuang.com/blog/?p=172

Description

Note Constellation is an interactive sound installation that allows people draw nebula in the ceiling screen and make a music note simultaneously.
Note Constellation is an interactive installation that provide an immersive environment to audiences, and it allows audiences use their fingers to draw note in the screen as draw a series of constellation in the sky . People could engage in this interaction process in terms of sound and visual part. People stand under a ceiling screen, and they look up at the starlit sky. When they intuitively point to the sky, they will automatically draw an element of constellation, and make a of note. When they finish draw a complete constellation, they simultaneously get a customized melody that composed by themselves.
We are inspired by the movie 《A Beautiful Mind》, protagonist John make a romantic scene for his lover Alicia Nash. In the movie, he hold her hand and point to sky, and they start to draw a series of beautiful constellation stars. It’s also a metaphor to represent the distance between human and galaxy. In the reality, we can not reach the distant galaxy, we even can not clearly see the constellation. We try to realize the romantic scene from the movie 《A Beautiful Mind》in our interactive work, and provide an experience for audiences to let them have a dynamic conversion between Tonze and themselves.

Classes

Introduction to Physical Computing, Introduction to Physical Computing

Introduction to Physical Computing, Jeffrey Feddersen, Joao Costa, Projects

and the wind was like the regret for what is no more.

Joao Costa

Bottle sounds created by the wind that surrounds us.

http://costajoao.com/wind.html

Description

The wind outside is the source of sound; it is the whisper that will disrupt silence. This work consists of a set of sixteen bottles – with air blowers attached to each one of them – and a wind vane. The vane is fixed on the outside of a window and detects the direction the wind is blowing. Inside of the room, the motor starts blowing air into the bottle that corresponds to that particular direction. This event generates a smooth sound, and each direction has its own pitch. The bottles are arranged in a circle, similar to the shape of the compass rose, depicting the eight principal winds and the eight half-winds.

The work explores the interaction of two invisible factors, sound and wind. It deals with the dialectics of scattered and shapeless coefficients that cannot be seen, but have an intrinsic need of existence, of being, and nothing more. To articulate these elements is to deal with the unknown, the unpredictable. It is a failed attempt to tame them, as they have an urge for expression. Gabriele d’Annunzio have said about the meaning of the wind, in a passage that named the present work:

‘And the wind was like the regret for what is no more, like the anxiety of creatures not yet formed, laden with memories, swollen with forebodings, made up of wounded souls and useless wings.’

Classes

Introduction to Physical Computing

Introduction to Physical Computing, Isabel Paez, Jeffrey Feddersen, Maya Tal, Projects

Music Bench

Isabel Paez, Maya Tal

The Music Bench is an art piece designed for public space that persuades human collaboration through music and lights. It is intended to question the way technology should be present in our everyday life.

http://www.mayamoosh.com/

Description

The bench is designed to encourage human collaboration through an interactive experience. When someone sits on the bench it activates the melody of one instrument and when the bench is full and all sensors are triggered, the whole symphony sounds. Each person contributes to the symphony, empowering his or her sitting on the bench with others. The anticipation of seeing what the next person will trigger is rewarded with an additional sound piece, completing the beautiful unification of symphonic melody.

Music: W.A. Mozart Overture to the Opera The Marriage of Figaro

The music has been digitally orchestrated by graduate students from the Film Scoring department at NYU Steinhardt:

Bryson Gordon Barnes , Suri He, Justin Ward Weber, Zachary Lavender, Eunkyung Ellie Kim

Produced by Sergi Casanelles (Adjunct Professor)

Classes

Introduction to Physical Computing

Daria Bojko, Introduction to Physical Computing, Jeffrey Feddersen, Projects, Tanya Campbell

CarmaTRON

Daria Bojko, Tanya Campbell

This is a servo powered robotic arm on wheels.

http://www.tanyacampbell.org/category/p-comp

Description

For this project, forces were united to bring forth a robotic arm on wheels. The robotic arm moves with its servo motors for each joint (i.e. elbow, wrist and gripper). Each joint was 3D printed so that the motors can be mounted up properly. The carmaTRON dock is where its movements can be controlled.

Classes

Introduction to Physical Computing

Comm Lab: Networked Media, Daniel Shiffman, Hub Uy, Introduction to Computational Media, Introduction to Physical Computing, Jeffrey Feddersen, Luke Kao, Mimi (Yue) Yin, Projects, Xi Liu

Missy

Luke Kao, Xi Liu, Hub Uy

Missy is a physical smart photo frame that reminds users to contact their loved ones in different cities.

http://missy.strikingly.com/

Description

{We want to tackle the communication problems between family members}

*/What problem are we solving? /*

Grow up in Asian family; we are not used to express love to our family member. Relationships between family members grow apart because of bad communications.

*/What is our solution/*

Reconcile the relationship of family members by hacking communication technology. The smart photo frame will remind user to call their loved ones by gradually opaque the photo using micro-controller and switchable Glass.

Classes

Comm Lab: Networked Media, Introduction to Computational Media, Introduction to Physical Computing

Introduction to Physical Computing, Jeffrey Feddersen, Kat Sullivan, Projects

otHELLO_WORLD

Kat Sullivan

A three dimensional Othello board game that allows a human player to play a computer using artificial intelligence.

http://katsully.com/othello_world-update/

Description

Using a reinforcement learning algorithm, my board game will be able to play Othello against a human player. Hall effect sensors are used to detect the pieces, lights will light up the see-through discs to show how the pieces are flipped, and I will act as a proxy for the computer and put the computer pieces on (a light will indicate where to put the piece).

Classes

Introduction to Physical Computing

David Cihelna, Gabriel Weintraub, Introduction to Physical Computing, Jeffrey Feddersen, Projects

Dod3ca

David Cihelna, Gabriel Weintraub

A large-scale sculptural color organ, with abstract sound and light emanating from within.

www.gabeweintraub.com

Description

The notion of a “color organ” dates as far back as the late 16th century, when inventors first began designing machines that would produce modulated colored light in some manner that corresponded with a piece of music. I've been fascinated by these devices for a long time, but I am not a musician, so I designed a device that would let me “play” the color, not the music. Using an array of momentary switches and pressure sensors, I've created a controller that modulates color that emanates from within the device – the piece contains 12 separate channels of RGB LED strips – and that can be played as though it were a musical instrument.

Since beginning this project, I've also collaborated with David Cihelna on a pressure-sensitive MIDI controller. Because the control schemes are very similar, we've chosen to combine the two projects in order to create a fully-fledged color organ that produces both color and sound and also integrates the experience of “performing” with a musical instrument.

I've also brought my experience as a sculptor to bear on this project. Historically, pipe organs, beyond being elaborate musical instruments, have incorporated a great deal of sculptural and architectural acumen as part of their overall experience. In that vein, I've presented my color organ in a sculptural form, taking a more contemporary geometric form that matches the characteristics of the LEDs it contains, but also incorporating fine woodworking like many musical instruments of the past.

Classes

Introduction to Physical Computing