I finally got my act together and ripped the streaming video of my lecture at the University of Wales. For anyone who is interested in the details of my PhD research, or wants another explanation of the Operational Space Formulation, well this video may help.
Operational Space Control, Robotics Seminar from Ad Spiers on Vimeo.
Unfortunately the connection to the server dropped out about 10minutes before I finished talking, but all the maths get a bit heavy after that so maybe it was for the best.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Thursday, 13 May 2010
The Question Interview Video
I neglected to mention that recently the website for the haptic theatre project went live. Renamed 'The Question' this project is something rather unique I've been working on with Extant, a visually impaired theatre company based in London. The project aims to create an immersive theatre experience set in a pitch black environment. More details are available on the site.
A video is being made as part of the project and during the last steering meeting most of the team was interviewed. Here I am talking about the technical side of the project and this unique application of haptic navigation technology.
The Question - Team Interviews from Alex Eisenberg on Vimeo.
As Maria says we've all been working quite independantly up until recently and things are really starting to get interesting now. However the final deadline approaches and there is still lots to be done. Watch this space!
A video is being made as part of the project and during the last steering meeting most of the team was interviewed. Here I am talking about the technical side of the project and this unique application of haptic navigation technology.
The Question - Team Interviews from Alex Eisenberg on Vimeo.
As Maria says we've all been working quite independantly up until recently and things are really starting to get interesting now. However the final deadline approaches and there is still lots to be done. Watch this space!
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Milk Pixel Arts Trail videos
Last weekend a highly improved Milk Pixel featured on the Southbank Bristol Arts Trail. The system was installated in the studio of the Creative Glass Guild, a brightly lit white-walled space filled with colourful glasswork. As Milk Pixel works best in the dark was necessary to build an enclosure. Being on a tight (i.e. non-existing budget) can be fun sometimes as a tent was quickly cobbled together out of a £15 Gazebo and a roll of cheap 'Halloween' fabric.
The system was working on some new 'autonomous', semi-random code whereby it would automatically change between different modes of responsiveness, sometimes overlaying colours onto it's video/motion/sound derived patterns while at other times ignoring what was happening in the tent and just doing it's own thing (i.e. displaying and moving pretty colours around). The idea was that:
1. The audience never actually knew what the system was doing
2. No two visits to the tent were the same
As I result we got some interesting behaviours out of both the system and the audience! Some of the most interesting comments went something like "It seemed to be watching me walk around, then it got bored and did something else".
Here's a video of the sort of interaction you get with the system, as you can see it's alot of fun (ignore the flickering, my camera went weird at the weekend, it doesn't actually flicker in real life):
I couldn't resist making a timelapse of the dissamembly:
Perhaps the most rewarding comments came from about 4 different people who all compared Milk Pixel to some of the installation work by Brian Eno and all said we should aim for more exposure in larger venues. Obviously, we were flattered!
The system was working on some new 'autonomous', semi-random code whereby it would automatically change between different modes of responsiveness, sometimes overlaying colours onto it's video/motion/sound derived patterns while at other times ignoring what was happening in the tent and just doing it's own thing (i.e. displaying and moving pretty colours around). The idea was that:
1. The audience never actually knew what the system was doing
2. No two visits to the tent were the same
As I result we got some interesting behaviours out of both the system and the audience! Some of the most interesting comments went something like "It seemed to be watching me walk around, then it got bored and did something else".
Here's a video of the sort of interaction you get with the system, as you can see it's alot of fun (ignore the flickering, my camera went weird at the weekend, it doesn't actually flicker in real life):
I couldn't resist making a timelapse of the dissamembly:
Perhaps the most rewarding comments came from about 4 different people who all compared Milk Pixel to some of the installation work by Brian Eno and all said we should aim for more exposure in larger venues. Obviously, we were flattered!
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Milk Pixel on arts trail this weekend
An improved version of Milk Pixel interactive digital art installation will be featuring on Southbank Bristol Arts trail this Saturday and Sunday (8th-9th May) between 10am-4pm.
Since the Arnolfini installation we've managed to improve the structure of the system, iron out the (flickering and latency) bugs in the code and automate the software (which will save me curating the peice like last time for two exhausting days). This should all improve the experience of watching or interacting with the system.
We will be installing the system in the Creative Glass Guild, (No 16. Whitehouse Street, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4AY) where there will also be a number of other artists showing paintings, drawings ceramics and glass sculptures.
There was an embedded Google Street View Map of the location here but I removed it as it was confusing my browser. A map of the other venues on the trail can be found here.
Entry is of course free so if you're are in Bristol come and have a look and a play (don't forget it's an interactive piece). Feel free to take photos / videos. One of my biggest kicks at first installation was seeing so many people taking photos of the system then finding some of the images and videos online via flickr and youtube. So share your media (leave a comment on this blog if you like to tell us where it is) and make us happy.
Since the Arnolfini installation we've managed to improve the structure of the system, iron out the (flickering and latency) bugs in the code and automate the software (which will save me curating the peice like last time for two exhausting days). This should all improve the experience of watching or interacting with the system.
We will be installing the system in the Creative Glass Guild, (No 16. Whitehouse Street, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4AY) where there will also be a number of other artists showing paintings, drawings ceramics and glass sculptures.
There was an embedded Google Street View Map of the location here but I removed it as it was confusing my browser. A map of the other venues on the trail can be found here.
Entry is of course free so if you're are in Bristol come and have a look and a play (don't forget it's an interactive piece). Feel free to take photos / videos. One of my biggest kicks at first installation was seeing so many people taking photos of the system then finding some of the images and videos online via flickr and youtube. So share your media (leave a comment on this blog if you like to tell us where it is) and make us happy.
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