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  • Author Author: fraktalize
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tEChnOLOGICal communion: Introduction to SoftLab and early design sketches

fraktalize

Hello again!

 

I've been waiting to begin most of my work until my kit arrives, but as I am still waiting for it to arrive I realized I need to get some work done. Since our local SoftLab has opened up about a week ago, I began working at the same time as it opened up. In the video below you will be introduced to the working place and what potential it carries.

 


 

(For all fellow Flash refusers out there: https://goblinrefuge.com/mediagoblin/u/fraktalize/m/intro-to-softlab/  )

 

What I've been working with recently is mainly conceptualizing and trying to put the ideas down on paper. I've been making some early sketches on how the suit might look, and how I can expand on the concept. Since the kit still has not arrived I have decided to focus primarily on the music suit for this challenge, as I have been stumped on quite a bit of time. If the time allows, I will add the plant music into the equation and finish a prototype of the complete vision, but for now I've chosen to put most of my energy on the suit. It feels like it is the part most related to the challenge.

 

image

     First design sketch of the suit

 

Since the beginning of the project I have been thinking a lot about how to manifest what I truly want to. The idea is that the biological life of humans and the biological life of plants are unified through electronic music. Thus, I have considered adding things such as EEGs, heartbeat monitors and other things that could mirror the aspects of biological life. The neopixel setup at the chest would, conceptually, make a light show in conjunction with the heartbeat, and the pace of the music would follow the pace of the heart. I have also been thinking about how the suit should look, and since I love colors I want it to be a very colorful and geometrical suit. This sketch is just a very early sketch, and it is bound to change with time.

 

I have also been looking up different ways to create stretch sensors. There are a bunch of instructables that describe how to create stretch sensors - I believe I will have to try out some different ones and find which ones work best for my needs. I want the suit to smoothly read full body movements, so that the dancer can move fully intuitively without being distracted by trying to trigger the sensors. I want it to be a seamless experience. I'm thinking about where to place the stretch sensors, and below is a sketch of my initial ideas. I will have to experiment further before making a decision.

image

 

I am also considering other ways that movement can be used as a way to manipulate music. Altimeters, accelerometers, tilt sensors... There are a lot of fun tools out there which can be used to track different types of movement, and it is a field I will need to explore further!

 

So that is what I've been up to! More to come in a future update!

  • in reply to jc2048

    Ah, cool! Puts in in the area of possibilites then image I'll see if it can have any use. Thanks a lot!

  • in reply to fraktalize

    I don't have any experience of altimeter chips either and I'm quite wrong in what I said (I should have looked first before posting - sorry).

     

    As an example, the MPL3115 datasheet says it can manage "resolution of better than 1m at sea level" which I find quite amazing. Whether that's usable to you I don't know? It's still pretty crude compared to the data you'll get from other sources, but it might be worth experimenting with.

     

    http://cache.freescale.com/files/sensors/doc/data_sheet/MPL3115A2.pdf

  • in reply to jc2048

    Wow! Very interesting to see some similarities between my initial design and that antique one. It made me think of perhaps intergrating some kind of mask into the suit..? I'll have to think further about this!

     

    Thank you for your inputs regarding the altimeters - I have never used one before so I'm glad to recieve some input from somebody with more knowledge. About the placement of the accelerometers, your ideas seem very similar to what I'd been envisioning! I hadn't thought about the ankles though - that would really spice things up!

  • in reply to agerber

    Thanks for your ideas! Yes, I would like them to somehow be integrated into the visual design of the suit. We have some stretch sensing fabric in the SoftLab which I've been considering using, but I've also been looking around at some other alternatives. A crocheted/knitted stretch sensor would probably work nicely as well! I believe I will have to make different stretch sensors and see how well they function before I can make a final decision. I'm very grateful for your input!

  • When you said "...I want it to be a very colorful and geometrical suit" I immediately thought of this

     

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin#/media/File:SAND_Maurice_Masques_et_bouffons_01.jpg

     

    Of course that's very theatrical whilst your vision seems to be more fluid and dance orientated, but it's interesting that yours holds an echo of the past in it.

     

    Not sure about the altimeters - wouldn't someone have to jump extremely high for it to register on an altimeter? [Symphony for a Music Performance Suit and High-Speed Lift, perhaps?] I suspect you'll do better with the accelerometers; one at each ankle and one at each wrist and you (and the performer in the suit) will be able to develop a whole language of gestures that can be pieced together to make a performance.