Monday, April 7, 2008

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Thesis Critique

I chose these two project as a thesis critique related to my thesis project
One is 2007 Spring thesis(Cousteau by Terence Arjo) and the other one is called Dune 4.0 and 4.1.
These two projects are the references that I am working with right now and it was really good to read because it helps me to have dlearer ideas in my project as well as it gives me a good approach such as mechanical part and similar concept I can develop from.
After analyzing these two projects, I came up with several questions for my project.

1. Where can I put my work to give users the most effective experience?
2. What type of application qualities does this project have?
3. How can I organize the inputs and outputs of the underlying circuitry?
4. What is the good definition of ultimate interaction?
5. How clear is the meaning conveyed in my project “Loyalty?
6. How can I go one step further as a developed project?

Cousteau by Terence Arjo (2007 Spring thesis in ITP)

http://arjothesis.blogspot.com/

This was a very interesting thesis that I found in the archives of ITP. I think this is a very good reference for my thesis project. When I tried to write about my project in my thesis, I was concerned about finding good references which were similar or have the same type of merits because my project was artwork and not a technology invention. After reading this thesis, I found that there were many similarities in the development of this project. This Thesis, Cousteau written by Terence Arjo was inspired by aquatic life and the movements of sea grass swaying in the ocean current. In this thesis project the background research and references consists of Sensell and Dune 4.0 which are also good references for my project. The research consisted of taking Dune 4.0’s ideas and taking advantage of two weaknesses of Sensacell. He found that developing his project into modular units (1) and independent units (2) that are able to communicate with other modules would greatly extend the size and scope of his project with little limitations.
By using these two weaknesses he was able to successfully come up with non-repetitive movements for his sea-creatures, but something more random. I felt that the Cousteau project was successful in conveying his concepts by using simple modular and scalable designs in his portrayal of the randomly moving sea-creatures. The only part I felt that the project didn’t quite deliver was the visual aesthetics and the natural or organic type of responses by the sea-creatures. It was also mentioned in Cousteau’s thesis about his focusing on two inputs and one output. This would ensure that he would have a controlled outcome to a specific input. By limiting the inputs and outputs of this project he could make interaction more subtle and finesse. In conclusion I felt that Cousteau was successful in creating and delivering on the concept of modularity and mechanical response to inputs (stimuli), but failed to create any sort of meaningful interaction between the project and the user. Because he limited his inputs and outputs, he was not able to deliver on the many varieties of inputs and outputs that make user participation more interactive. And because aesthetics were not the priority in this project, sea-creatures that inspired this project were depicted by small metal rods that move back and forth and side to side. I think aesthetics integrated with technology promotes interaction and thus promotes the type of desired expression, and in this case it is my opinion that the Cousteau project lacks the type of aesthetics that promote interaction.

Dune 4.0 by Roosegaarde

http://www.studioroosegaarde.nl/

When I found this article, I thought it was the perfect reference for my thesis as well.
I am not only fascinated by his work but also by his way of thinking that infuses art and technology. Even though this is not a published article (actually this was an interview), there were good definitions about interactivity, and it helps me to have clear definitions about ultimate interaction that was difficult to explain in my personal statement.

In very similar ways to my project and my concepts, the Dune 4.0 project researches on the human aspects of interactivity. His art projects are tied to architecture and technology, and also with interaction and user participation. In terms of interaction, he mentioned that the main ingredient is the human interaction itself. While watching how people react on his work, he realized that:

“Sometimes, even though I set the user scenarios in the project, the real users appreciated their own point of view and felt differently by interacting with the artwork.”

In similar view to Roosegaarde’s realization, my project invites the observer to participate and interact with the artwork and also this project takes interaction one step further by making his artwork mediate between people’s behavior. In one instance people’s behavior such as clapping and shouting provokes a reaction from the artwork. It shows advanced interaction between the artwork and the participant and turns the participant into a performer of sorts. These types of advanced interaction possibilities provide the framework new types of application that might be extended to my projects.

My project “Loyalty,” in an interesting way goes maybe a half step towards advanced interaction in letting the participant become the main character of the set scenario.
It was also mentioned in interview that in its best case the artwork becomes a mediator between people and becomes a place for communication by human interaction.

In my artwork, I would like for my project to be a mediator that convey a certain message or concept and also something that can be used to communicate by free human interaction. Finally, I hope that people can find their own loyalty to my project.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Thesis Abstract

Loyalty is an interactive artwork that expresses the human condition by incorporating art with technology. This is the final development of my two previous projects, Affection and Emotion. This final project is the evolution of both “Affection” and “Emotion” concepts and technological design. As a third and final development in the three part series of human expression, this project depicts loyalty as the main concept. This concept of “Loyalty,” was inspired by the story of the Bottle Gentian Flower also known as the (Loyalty Flower), and by expanding on the two previous concepts of expressing the various human dimensions, this project depicts and expresses loyalty. Every element of this project has specific reactions and outputs that depend on certain inputs such as distance and touch and shows expression by the use of lighting, sound, and movement. In addition to the many elements a wireless transponder technology has been added. With the addition of this technology, the concept of “Loyalty,” is depicted by the physical expression of “Selective Acknowledgement.” This artwork is based on interactive user scenarios that convey awareness and realization which are reflected as the dimensions in various human interactions and relationships by the use of lighting, sound, movement, and “Selective Acknowledgement.” “Loyalty” is the newly evolved of the previous concepts and delivers more dynamic interaction and user participation.

Context and Personal statement

Personal Statement

My project “Loyalty” was inspired by the
I believe that in order to define and express “ultimate interaction” to you must understand relationships, an understanding of relationships between people, people and machine, or people and things, also I think participation is something that is needed you can say that relationships depend on people or “people and their counterparts”. In my project I want to pursue and express the ultimate interaction between humans and machines by using artwork to express human qualities of relationships and interaction.

As a designer and artist, most of my inspirations in my projects have come from human relationships and living things (creatures) in nature. In my development of interactive artwork, I like to incorporate the human condition with technology. My project focuses on relationships between humans and living things. In the past I have worked on two projects in direct relation to this final project and I want to work on one more project as my thesis by incorporating my new ideas with the previous two projects. For the theme of this final project have used the story of the “Bottle Gentian” flower, I was very interested in bottle gentian flower story last semester and decided to use the story of the “Loyalty Flower” for this project. The story of the “Bottle Gentian,” states that this flower is also called a closed flower or “Loyalty Flower,” because it doesn’t open their flower petals to any other insects except for the Bumble Bee. In my project I would like to express this type of loyalty in an abstract, human to artwork interaction based on the story of this “Loyalty Flower” as a metaphor. The expression of loyalty will be shown in a scenario similar to the Loyalty flower story in this project. This project will portray “selective acknowledgement” as the key point by the use of a wireless transponder during the interaction of the user scenario. I would like to show the portrayal of loyalty or express loyalty by the use of interactive artwork (human and art interaction) so that I may be able to redefine the context of loyalty in the human condition as a portrayal of abstract expression through interactive artwork and technology.

Keyword

Relationship, Behavior, User Scenario, Selective Acknowledgement (transponder), recognition, gesture based interaction, independent and specific reactions, Interactivity, affection, attention, distance, User experience based on scenario, Metaphor,

Background Research

1. Affection
2. Emotion
3. Cousteau
4. http://users.design.ucla.edu/~djaiyo/html/whisper.html : Whisper
5. Dune 4.0

What is ultimate interaction

understanding of relationships
understanding interaction (action and reaction, input and output)
Relationship between people People and machine
People and things
Portrayal of human nature or emotion by interactive artwork

Reading for my thesis

1. The age of spiritual machines”
Ray Kurzwell (Author of the age of intelligent machines)
2. The future of narrative in cyberspace
Janet H.Murray

Representative project

Cousteau by Terence Arjo, Thesis Spring 2007

Cousteau is a kinetic interactive sculpture, a meditation on the intersection of Nature and Technology



Representative projects are:

Cousteau - Kinetic interactive sculpture by Terence Arjo
Emotion - Interactive expression of human emotion by Youjeong Paik

Goal of Cousteau: To portray living aquatic life by the use of technology, giving the sculpture(sea eels) simple movement and characteristcs.
Goal of Emotion: To portray human characteristics of emotion by using art, technology and metaphors(flower) that users can directly interacts with. The portrayal of the emotions are done by sound, light, movement and independent and specific reactions.

How it works: Cousteau u
The project is a collection of modules, where each unit acts independently and randomly by the use of sensors(inputs) and motorized fiber (sea eels) that react to sensor stimulus.
The sculpture moves “back and forth” as well as “up and down”, depending on the type of inputs it receives from the sensors.

How it works: Emotion

The project is an interactive art piece that react to certain interactive stimuli.
The flowers (Metaphor) react to individual attention, neglect and distance. It portrays various emotions such as jealousy, sadness, anger, and happiness by specific reaction by the flower in the expression of light, sound and organic movement

How did they attempt to realize this goal: Cousteau
By the use of sensors for input on surrounding activity and user proximity, it attempts to portray living aquatic life by the movement of metallic fibers (rods) in the directions of “back and forth” and “up and down” in various sequences according to the type of inputs.
How did they attempt to realize this goal: Emotion
Using artwork integrated with technology for expressing specific lighting, sounds, and movement, the flowers react individually or as a whole to specific individual interaction between the user and the flower. The response from the interaction is derived by using input sensor, such as IR for distance and fiber optic panels(lighting), servo motors (movement) and sound as output

Why / How did this project succeed or fail: Cousteau

It succeeded because - it succeeded in portraying specific movements for various inputs - it succeeded in portraying a believable reaction according to surrounding stimuli - it succeeded because the concepts for this thesis is delivered in the project

Why / How did this project succeed or fail: Emotion

It succeeded because - presents unique artwork based on new materials - organic and elegant movement - One motor pulling lots of leaves.

What didn’t work or fail : Emotion

- not consistent electric current when using light and movement at the same time
- It is complicated

My draft plan for thesis project

Thesis description

Thesis_Interactive Artwork

Proposed title _ Loyalty

Based on story of the Loyalty flower(bottle gentian)

- Open only for Bumble Bee
- Does not open for any other insects
- Physical expression of loyalty

Problem trying to address or solve

Trying to express loyalty by showing a scenario similar to the Loyalty Flower story

- Would like to show the flower and it's interaction
- Would like to show flower and bee scenario as human and flower interaction
- I would like to show the portrayal of loyalty or express loyalty by the use of interactive artwork ( human and art interaction)

Why it's a good thesis

- Unique way of portraying human emotions with light, sound, and movement
- The concept of the Loyalty Flower portrays human qualities and dimensions that can be expressed in interactive artwork.
- It is the final extension and evolution of my last two projects " Affection" and " Emotion"
- I will incorporate the concepts and techniques of both Affection and Emotion, and include one more final dimension for this project ( a special Awareness)
- For my final project and Thesis, I would like to express the final evolution to my human interaction story as "Loyalty"

Ideas on how to implement this project

Inspirations:

- Affection " Peace lily at home"


- Emotion " Water lily"



- The Loyalty Flower story "Bottle Gentian"



How to implement

- Use Lighting, Sound, Movement and Wireless
- Incorporate concepts from Affection and Emotion
- Add additional final concept
Possible use of transponder (ex: wireless detector?)
SHOW selective acknowledgement






Draft Mirror Shape for the bottom
(Different angle of reflection)



Related work

1. Affection



Concept: to express relationship between people and living things
Has two dimensions such as lighting and sound
Fiber Optic Panel
Multiple sensor (IR/Touch sensor)

Scenairo is,

Interaction with plant, 3 levels of distance between people and counterpart, a metaphor of cause and effect including lighting and sound for describing the 3 levels of interaction.

Withering plant, desperately trying to keep alive. Moving it from sunny places to sunny places. Watering it every day and giving it as much attention as possible. The plant is still withering...

2. Emotion



Concept: developed project from Affection
I want to give this artwork a sense of awareness like human beings such as jealousy, angry, sad and pleasure
Has three dimensions such as lighting, sound and movement
The same materials as Affection

User scenario is,

I want to give this artwork a sense of awareness like human beings such as
jealousy, angry, sad, pleasure, and lonely.

I tried to portray the awareness emotions for the individual flowers
by certain expressive characteristics when I approach
them. When I approach one of them, it will opens the leaves beautifully(affection/joyous), but at
the same time, rest of the flowers will reacts differently by blinking(angry),
making noise(jealous), and dimming light(sad) something like that...

It's like human instinct delivered in artwork.
I would like to grow my flowers, and as they mature, I would like for my artwork to be able to portray more emotions