OMNIPRESENCE OMNIPRESENCE OMNIPRESENCE
After revising the form that I created during T1, Galaxy Beta Maker, and simplifying the narrative to focus a lot more on dark matter, I was testing different aspects to see if I was on the right track.
Figure 61 Pop-up show T1 prototype.
So, I tested new aesthetics, narrative and spatial setting.
Aesthetics Test
Figure 62 Galaxy particles.
To create the abstraction of the galaxy, I aim to use luminous elements that will be placed in space and react to the user’s interaction. I wanted to see how the users responded to the visual texture, reflections and volume.
Figure 63 Galaxy reflection test.
Narrative Test
Figure 64 Mechanism sketches showing motion.
The core of the narrative is the meaning of presence or absence of dark matter. As far as the simplification of the narrative goes,right now the user will encounter two different stages. First, the static galaxy on the physical tridimensional space held by a closed mechanism. The user sees multiple elements suspended on the area surrounding him/her. Secondly, after the users’ interaction with the void space by gestures, the mechanism will open, and it will bring all the elements into stage two (absence of dark matter). A second interaction will bring the dark matter back; consequently, the mechanism will return to Stage 1.
Figure 65 Mechanism prototype.
Figure 66 Stage 1 upper view.
Figure 67 Stage 2 upper view.
Spatial Setting Test
Figure 68 Initial sketch of the experience.
Figure 69 3d model of the experience setting.
Figure 70 Spatial setting prototype
Science Fair Aesthetics, narrative and spatial setting needed to be tested before moving forward. I took quick notes of all users’ feedback while asking them questions and observing them inside the space. The queries were about their knowledge on dark matter, their understanding of the narrative, the impressions and the interaction with space (Figure 70); In general, I got very positive reactions to the new narrative and aesthetics. For some people, the spatial setting needed the help of the 3d visual images provided above (Figure 69) to be wholly understood, but given the stage of the prototype, I believe it was fine. I gave a brief introduction about the piece, and I let the users jump into conclusions. Some of them told me exactly what I was expecting about the relationship between dark matter and the visible effects of the galaxy. Others were pleased about what I was proposing but not able to relate to dark matter yet. I plan on keep asking the same questions to new users until the experience is more polished. As I’m still defining the user’s interaction with dark matter, I asked everyone: “how would you like to remove dark matter?”. I got very similar answers in terms of gestural movement within the void space around the “galaxy”. Therefore, I’ll keep exploring that in a future test. I’m glad I had the chance to talk to both people that knew what my thesis was about and people who started from scratch. It gave a wide variety of perspectives that were similar in multiple points of their feedback. After the user testing, I feel more confident about the current form and narrative that I’m developing. Even though some parts of the mechanism are subject to change due to technicalities, I want to keep focused on maintaining as much as I can the current path.
Defining Aesthetics Being aware of the quality of all these references, I relate to all of them in some aesthetic and quality components towards my line of work. Whereas geometry is a constant, I believe that the color palette is also relatable to my current project visual style.
Building the mechanism
The mechanism is a core component of the installation as it will physically allow the expansion and contraction of the abstraction of the galaxy.
Figure 71 Fabricating a new mechanism stronger. Modifying thickness and joints.
The need to improve the functionality and resistance of all elements required different iterations showed in the following images.
Figure 72 Designing Frame.
Figure 73 Inspiration : Hoeberman Sphere.
Figure 74 Structure hanging above the installation.
Figure 75 Structure + mechanism v2.
Figure 76 Motorized mechanism sketch
Figure 77 Programmed Timing Belt + stepper motor v1.
Figure 77 Programmed Timing Belt + stepper motor v1
On a second phase, the design of the frame that will not only hold but allow for hanging from the ceiling was a decisive step to achieve motion while suspended from the air. It required ordering new heavy-duty hardware that provided enough sturdiness to the whole system that allowed a smooth movement.
Figure 79 Aluminum support sketch
Figure 80 1 inch aluminium frame
This new addition brought new challenges in the construction that had to be addressed.
Figure 81 Custom aligner for idler’s rods.
Figure 82 Zip-tie flexible system + timing belt.
Figure 83 Custom fixture for Nema 17 + rods.
Figure 78 Final mechanism including tensors + Arduino platform.
Building luminous elements The luminous elements that represent the particles of the galaxy are one of the primary visual components of the installation. While working the aesthetics I wanted to explore a way to diffuse light using some texture. After a material exploration, natural roving was the material selected for that purpose.
Figure 85 Natural roving ( natural color and blue-dyed) ready to be wet felted.
In addition, lighting was studied meticulously so it could create a wider range of light. So I looked for a way to achieve a 360 ring of light that would be nicely diffused by the felted outer case. Therefore I crafted a particular shape of LEDs that would allow that result.
Figure 86 360 degrees soldered LEDs
Figure 87 Testing 360 LEDs
Figure 88 Mounting “balls�.
Figure 89 Metallic outer structure + roving inner case + 360 LEDs for the luminous elements.
Figure 90 Final form luminous elements.
Figure 91 Black spiralized outer structure + roving inner case + 360 LEDs for the luminous elements.
Creating Interactions To achieve the desired interaction the system needed to be planned thoroughly. My needs included Arduino and Processing controlling a Kinect connected through serial connection to allow communication and update between the different stages.
Figure 92 Interaction system flow.
To be able to test the structure of the system including different stages, I created a demo using an Arduino application and LEDs to emulate the different peripherical such as motor and LEDs. Also, I created a Matrix that could be controlled with the mouse before integrating any system of gesture capture ( Kinect).
Figure 93 Test system Arduino + processing (serial connection).
To achieve the desired interaction the system needed to be planned thoroughly. My needs included Arduino and Processing controlling a Kinect conne That test system allowed me to create an elaborate but reliable stage system that included the following states: 1. User not present = Lights Idle. 2. User entering the installation = turn on sound and change state lights. 3. User activating the different regions = each area changes light pattern. 4. All regions activated = triggering the motor to open mechanism and dimming lights 5. User activating the different regions = each area changes light pattern. 6. All regions activated = triggering the motor to close mechanism and brighten lights 7. Sound turns off indicating the end of interaction = Lights Idle The Arduino program kept evolving from an initial version to a stable version including all the elements that I’ll describe in the following steps.
Figure 94 First Arduino system structure.
Figure 95 Final Arduino System.
Also, Processing needed to be sending reliable data to Arduino to update all stages properly. In order to do so, the serial connection had to be also trustworthy. I mainly used the processing console to debug, but it helped me to visualize the progress of the stages in the early prototypes.
Figure 96 Arduino- Processing serial connection
Next step was creating a region detection using Kinect and processing. The process required a lot of debugging to remove noise and to create a proper threshold for the scenario needed.
Figure 97 Testing Kinect region detection.
Once I figured out the Kinect detection, I went to define the different elements that needed to be triggered. One was the motor that I already had running from the mechanism’s tests runs. The second one was the light animations. I decided to use PWM to control the pulse of the LEDs. Even though it was more complex to control it created beautiful animations to show the different stages visually. I ended up acquiring an Adafruit 16-Channel 12-bit PWM/Servo Driver - I2C interface - PCA9685 to control 16 outputs at the same time with fewer Arduino pins. After multiple bugs when merging the code, the animations started working with the interaction.
Figure 98 Arduino + Steppet Motor + PWM driver
Figure 99 Arduino + Stepper Motor + PWM driver + LEDS in motion
Providing the context and instructions As the topic of Dark Matter is so often decontextualized, I decided to create a short animated infographics video that will allow my audience to grasp some concepts either before or after the experience.
Figure 100 Storyboard sample. Omnipresence context video.
Figure 101 Arduino + Stepper Motor + PWM driver + LEDS in motion
The video will be displayed in an Ipad next to the installation. As stated before, the installation will include some elements to provide context. Also, some instructions will be provided to visually demonstrate how to safely interact while inside the installation.
Figure 102 Poster showing the movement expected inside the installation.
Experience The final setting includes multiple elements illustrated in the images below:
Figure 103 Floorplan proposal.
Figure 104 Lighting proposal.
Figure 105 Automated demo of the system with multiple users.
Figure 106 Interactive setting testing.
Figure 107 Final user testing sessions.
VOLUME 8/9