"Euphonia" (Joseph Faber's Talking Head) "This machine, as recently described by writer David Lindsay, consisted of a bizarre-looking talking head that spoke in a "weird, ghostly monotone" as Faber manipulated it with foot pedals and a keyboard."
"Henry observed that sixteen levers or keys "like those of a piano" projected sixteen elementary sounds by which "every word in all European languages can be distinctly produced." A seventeenth key opened and closed the equivalent of the glottis, an aperture between the vocal cords. 'The plan of the machine is the same as that of the human organs of speech, the several parts being worked by strings and levers instead of tendons and muscles.'"
Here is a schematic of the Jitter patch used to invert the video feed back and forth at given time intervals. The patch displays the video at a 2 milli-seconds refresh rate. The video feed is then duplicated + inverted; this creates two live video outputs, one untouched, the other inverted. A timer + switch are used to change the video output back + forth. After a given amount of time, the 'metro' activates a switch changing the video output from normal to inverted or vice-versa. The video is then outputted to a seperate full screen window for projection.
In the image below the time intervals are 8000 (8 seconds) + 5000 (5 seconds); so the video output will be 5 seconds of inverted video and 8 seconds of untouched video. This output will continue to cycle back + forth. Equipment - max/msp + Jitter + Camera + Computer + Projector
Here are some images of the space/installation. Looking over wall form the side. Entering into the space/installation. Projection within the space/installation. Looking through transparent structure. Looking over the wall from the side, lights out.
Presentation - Lights Out Video - Lights Out + Sound
The Pneumatic/Electronic Installation
The pneumatic wall that the RPI group brought from NY had a strong sense of progression, and we decided early on that we should use this to our advantage. The space that we were working in at Concordia was a room typically used for blue screen filming and effects; the stark white walls and curved corners allowed for a more interesting niche at the end of our wall. As the pneumatic wall was curved on various planes, the walls of the room complemented this greatly.
The structure and the electrical components changed throughout the workshop, and this evolution informed our overall concept. The wall was therefore seen as an autonomous, living entity.
The pneumatic itself consisted of two separate air chambers, which allowed for the wall to curve in one of two directions, depending on the which side was inflated. An optical sensor and relay were connected to two vacuums, and as the projected light changed, the relay switched on one or the other vacuum. Each hose was connected to one of the separate air systems; when one air source was off and the other on, the wall gently curved.
As the wall curved, it set of a variety of sensors - some of which were connected to the elmonic-theramin creation, and others to the keys of the electronic typewriter. As elmo's sensors were set off, the motor rotated, and the sound of the theramin oscillated accordingly. A voice-distortion kit was wired into elmo to abstract his words, allowing for only a few distinguishable words each time he spoke. The key sensors of the electronic typewriter served to record the movement of the wall, but also as the opus of the entity. The magnetic tape head and tape were connected to the typewriter, and played distorted music as the machine completed a line and returned to the beginning. A video camera was set to record the typing, and projected in real-time the footage. We worked with some basic computer-programming to switch the footage from it's original black and white state to the inverse (negative) - ultimately white background with black text, to a black background with white text. The optical sensor connected to the relay was positioned to sense the light output from the projector, and informed the vacuums that inflated each side. Ultimately, the electronics were used so that they could interact with the pneumatic, and conceptually come full circle to allow the installation to act as one, autonomous piece. ~Chelsea Grant, lpb: studio documentation and reflection 2006
Workspace - Components + Materials + Tools Vacuum + Connection - Connection point for the air supply + audio outputs for the optical theremin and elmo. Light sensor + Comparator + Relay - The changing light qualities are compared by a sensor + chip; if the amount is low one vacuum turns on, if the amount is high the other vacuum turns on. Inflate - Each vacuum inflates one side of the wall; as one side fills with air the wall begins to curve inward. Alternating from vacuum to vacuum the wall begins to curve inward + outward. This movement is relatively slow requiring 5-10 mins per side. Elmo + Theremin - These devices are embedded within the first air chamber of the structure. When Elmo is activated the light sensors are moved creating fluxations of sound. Video + Typewriter + Tapehead - Contacts for the typewriter were place along the seams of the structure; as the wall is inflated + deflated letters would be typed. As the typewriter moves, an attached tapehead would slide along a strip of tape creating sound. A video camera records the letters being typed and projects them on the surrounding walls. Camera + Jitter + Projection - The video from the camera is processed through software (Jitter). At determined time intervals, the software inverts the live video back + forth. The video is projected. This creates the changing light qualities for the Comparator + Relay (activates one vacuum or the other) The wall + Projection - The wall erected with adjacent projection.
Here is a video of the optical theremin's light sensors attached to Elmo's motor. When Elmo is activated, the sensors rotate around a point. This device was used inside of the inflatable structure to produce sound/voice.
The phototransistor will sense the amount of light at a given moment in the space. If the quantity of light reaches a given level it will trigger a solenoid to open or close an air valve. ie: When the phototransistor senses a high level of light it will trigger the solenoid to open, which allows one of the chambers in the pneumatic structure to fill with air. If the light level changes the solenoid will close and another will open, filling a different chamber of the pneumatic structure.
The phototransistor determines which chambers of the pneumatic structure are filled with air. Changing level of light, within the space, will cause the pneumatic structure to move back and forth. These movements will trigger the switches + sensors of the other device, therefore activating them.
The original optical theremin can be attached to the structure as a type of noise/sound maker.
Here are some ideas... Optical Theremin w/light sensor inside balloon. As balloon is squeezed the material is stretched altering the lgith qualities within. Stay tuned for example. Mobile w/fans + optical theremins. Air-filled form propelled by two fans w/two optical theremins attached. The form would move about a fixed point allowing the light sensors to pick up different levels of light. These movements + light qualities would be translated into sound. Easy to press contact placed of flexible stand; object could easy bump and trigger the contacts to make an action.
Here is an experiement with the optical theremin + a cooling fan. The light sensor is placed within the fan casing. Half of the slits in the fan are blocked, to allow light in on one side and not the other. When the fan rotates, the sound forms a rhythm, due to the fluxuations in light.
Spacehogs by Marcelo Coelho + Steve Helsing "Space Hogs is an airborne robotic installation consisting of five autonomous air machines. The airbots are giant helium-filled, silver balloons that move through the air with grace and ease. They are equipped to sense objects in their immediate area, and use tiny onboard propellers to avoid collisions. A tranquil environment emerges as these large, peaceful objects roam with Zen inspired aimlessness." zukanter.com.
Here is a link to download a PDF about the three items I am currently looking at... objects_kylejanzen.pdf baby music toy optical theremin hand-powered radio
