Jessica Timczyk – Looking Outwards 11

The Eigenharp is an electronic instrument made by Eigenlabs in 2008, based in the UK and invented by John Lambert. The instrument is essentially a highly flexible and portable controller, in which the sound or music is being generated in the software that it drives. I really like this project because I find it interesting that it visually looks like a wind instrument like a bassoon, but is in fact an electronic instrument. Each of the keys are velocity sensitive and act like a joystick. Although I am not entirely sure how the algorithm behind the instrument works, I suppose that it works by changing or altering the sound that comes out the intstrument based upon the keys that the player presses. The artistic influence of the creator can be seen in the array of different manipulations that a player can influence given the keys on the instrument.

Yoo Jin Shin-LookingOutwards-11

Sonic Playground

Sonic Playground by Yuri Suzuki is “an outdoor sound installation that features ingenious, colourful sculptures that modify and transmit sound in unusual, engaging and playful ways.” The colors used in the installation are so vibrant and really catch the eyes of those passing by.

The software behind this installation was designed by Luca Dellatorre using Grasshopper, as a parametric design plug-in in Rhinoceros. “The plug in he wrote is a 3D raytracing tool that allows the user to select a sound source and send sound in a certain direction or towards a certain geometry, in this case the shape of the acoustic mirrors or the bells at the start and end of the pipes to see how the sound is reflected and what is the interaction with the object.” It’s cool to see how such a seemingly simple installation can have such a complex architecture on the back-end.

Han Yu Looking Outward 11

Skirting on Thin Ice by Neotropic (Riz Maslen)

Riz Maslen is a British electronic music artist, producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist. She is one of the most recognized female composers in the field of post-techno experimental electronics. She first started out experimenting electronic music in 1996. Malsen had produced an extensive profile of music under the names Neotropic and Small Fish with Spine and performed in huge music festivals like Coachella.

Skirting on Thin Ice is performed by Riz Malsen on the Opening of London’s Artisit Quarter in 2011. Aside from making music and programming, Malsen also produces photographic slides and films as a live background during her performance as a complimentary medium to present a more holistic and multi-media experience for her audience. Just like the other tracks by Malsen I’ve came across when researching for this project, Skirting on Thin Ice has the same warm and mellow vibe that brings out the perfect amount of chill and energy. There are also slight variations nicely woven into the whole song which keep listeners eager to find out what’s next. I am impressed by the vast amount of creativity and innovation found in Malsen’s productions and I especially like this opening song as it somehow brings out my inner peace whenever I listen to it.

Lan Wei-Looking Outwards-11

The name of the project is ‘Mr Shadow’ and the project was created by Scientists at SONY CSL Research Laboratory in 2016.

I looked at lots of videos about computer music before decided to investigate this one. The reason is that for me most of the ‘computer music’ are only making use of computers to save time in producing the rhythms without digging into the specialities of computers. But this one produced by Artificial Intelligence is special in my perspective. It contains not only rhythms that lift people’s spirit, but also, most importantly, human motions. It’s exciting to see how a ‘dead’ computer can produce such vivid music with ups and downs through analysing precedents. And this leads to another question: whether computers will replace artists totally in the future? I can write an essay about this but I’m not going to discuss the topic here. I just want to say this project is very exciting and inspiring.

Besides the music itself, the graphic effect is also very good and it echoes with the music very well. In general, the computer-generated music really takes me into its world.

JJ Legelis Project 10

Boats and Waves

sketch

// John Legelis
// Section D

var boat = []

function setup() {
    createCanvas(480, 480);
    background(0);

}

function draw() {

    background(135, 206, 250)

    //Land terrain
    var land = 0.003;
    var landS = 0.00005;
    stroke("green");
    beginShape(); 
    for (i = 0; i < width; i++) {
        var h = (millis() * landS) + (i * land);
        var y = map(noise(h), 0, 1, 100, 0);
        line(i, y, i, height);
    }
    endShape();

    // Rear wave
    var back = 0.0051;
    var backS = 0.0002;
    stroke(0,142,170);
    beginShape(); 
    for (i = 0; i < width; i++) {
        var h = (millis() * backS) + (i * back);
        var y = map(noise(h), 0, 1, 200, 0);
        line(i, y, i, height);
    }
    endShape();

    //probablity that determines if boat is drawn
    if (random() < 0.03){
        boat.push(makeBoat())
    }
    //Draw and move the boat if made
    for (var h = 0; h < boat.length; h++){
        boat[h].draw()
        boat[h].move() 
    }


    //middle wave terrain
    var mid = 0.0054;
    var midS = 0.0004;
    stroke(0,153,183);
    beginShape(); 
    for (j = 0; j < width; j++) {
        var h = (millis() * midS) + (j * mid);
        var y = map(noise(h), 0, 1, 300, 200);
        line(j, y, j, height);
    }
    endShape();

    //foreground wave
    var fore = 0.006;
    var foreS = 0.0007;
    stroke(0,172,206);
    beginShape(); 
    for (j = 0; j < width; j++) {
        var h = (millis() * foreS) + (j * fore);
        var y = map(noise(h), 0, 1, height, 300);
        line(j, y, j, height);
    }
    endShape();


}

//object containig boat
function makeBoat(){
    var bo = {x:480, y: 230, move: moveBoat, draw: drawBoat}
    return bo
}

//what boat looks like
function drawBoat(){
    var randsailH = random(30,50)
    noStroke()
    fill("brown")
    rect(this.x, this.y, 60,20)
    fill("white")
    triangle(this.x + 10, this.y, this.x + 35, this.y - randsailH, this.x + 25, this.y)
    triangle(this.x + 40, this.y, this.x + 65, this.y - randsailH, this.x + 55, this.y)
    }

// Move that boat
function moveBoat(){
    this.x = this.x - 4 
}

This week’s sketch was a rather large undertaking as it involved using objects on our own for the first time. It took quite some time to be able to properly implement an object without having my hand held through the lab but I eventually succeeded. I stumbled upon the random sail movement by accident but I loved the effect of billowing sails in the wind.

Yoo Jin Shin-Project-10-Generative Landscape

Project-10

// Yoo Jin Shin
// Section D
// yoojins@andrew.cmu.edu
// Project 10: Generative Landscape

var buildings = [];
var terrainSpeed = 0.0003;
var terrainSpeed2 = 0.0002;
var terrainSpeed3 = 0.0001;
var terrainDetail = 0.003;
var terrainDetail2 = 0.005;
var terrainDetail3 = 0.006;

function setup() {
    createCanvas(480, 450);

    // create an initial collection of buildings
    for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++){
        var rx = random(width);
        buildings[i] = makeBuilding(rx);
    }
    frameRate(10);
}
 
function draw() {
    background(255);
    terrain3();
    terrain2();
    terrain();
    building();
}

// blue terrain in front
function terrain() {
    push();
    var R = random(5, 40);
    var G = random(5, 40);
    fill(R, G, 80);
    stroke(255);
    strokeWeight(6);
    beginShape(); 
    for (var x = 0; x < width; x++) {
        var t = (x * terrainDetail) + (millis() * terrainSpeed);
        var y = map(noise(t), 0, 1, 0, height);
        vertex(x, y); 
    }
    endShape();
    pop();
}

// purple terrain in middle
function terrain2() {
    push();
    var R = random(40, 60);
    var G = random(0, 30);
    fill(R, G, 80);
    stroke(255);
    strokeWeight(3);
    beginShape(); 
    for (var x = 0; x < width; x++) {
        var t = (x * terrainDetail2) + (millis() * terrainSpeed2);
        var y = map(noise(t), 0, 2, 0, height);
        vertex(x, y); 
    }
    endShape();
    pop();
}

// pink terrain in back
function terrain3() {
    push();
    var G = random(0, 40);
    var B = random(90, 100);
    fill(120, G, B);
    stroke(255);
    strokeWeight(1);
    beginShape(); 
    for (var x = 0; x < width; x++) {
        var t = (x * terrainDetail3) + (millis() * terrainSpeed3);
        var y = map(noise(t), 0, 3, 0, height);
        vertex(x, y); 
    }
    endShape();
    pop();
}
    
function building() { 
    push();
    translate(0.1 * width, 0.1 * height); 
    scale(0.8);
    displayHorizon();
    updateAndDisplayBuildings();
    removeBuildingsThatHaveSlippedOutOfView();
    addNewBuildingsWithSomeRandomProbability(); 
    pop();
}


function updateAndDisplayBuildings(){
    // Update the building's positions, and display them.
    for (var i = 0; i < buildings.length; i++){
        buildings[i].move();
        buildings[i].display();
    }
}

function removeBuildingsThatHaveSlippedOutOfView(){
    var buildingsToKeep = [];
    for (var i = 0; i < buildings.length; i++){
        if (buildings[i].x + buildings[i].breadth > 0) {
            buildingsToKeep.push(buildings[i]);
        }
    }
    buildings = buildingsToKeep; 
}

function addNewBuildingsWithSomeRandomProbability() {
    // With a very tiny probability, add a new building to the end.
    var newBuildingLikelihood = 0.007; 
    if (random(0,1) < newBuildingLikelihood) {
        buildings.push(makeBuilding(width));
    }
}

function buildingMove() {
    this.x += this.speed;
}
    
// draw alien buildings with changing colors 
function buildingDisplay() {
    var floorHeight = 20;
    var bHeight = this.nFloors * floorHeight; 
    var B = random(100, 255);
    var R = random(100, 255);
    fill(R, 255, B); 
    stroke(0); 
    strokeWeight(2);

    push();
    translate(this.x, height - 40);
    ellipse(0, -bHeight + 20, this.breadth, bHeight * 2);

    // draw windows
    stroke(0); 
    strokeWeight(2);
    fill(0);
    for (var i = 0; i < this.nFloors; i++) {
        rect(-5, -15 - (i * floorHeight + 10), 10, 10);
    }
    pop();
}

function makeBuilding(birthLocationX) {
    var bldg = {x: birthLocationX,
                breadth: round(random(30, 80)),
                speed: -2,
                nFloors: round(random(3, 7)),
                move: buildingMove,
                display: buildingDisplay}
    return bldg;
}

function displayHorizon(){
    noStroke();
    fill(0, 43, 7);
    rect(-200, height - 150, width + 300, height - 150); 
}

I tried creating an alien world generative landscape. The sky portion of the landscape has three terrains varying in color and speed, looking somewhat like clouds. The buildings vary in size and color, looking almost like cacti. This project was rather challenging, but I would definitely experiment more with generative landscapes in the near future and try creating more elaborate ones.

Han Yu Project 10 Landscape

sketch

// Han Yu
// Section D
// hyu1@andrew.cmu.edu
// Project 10 Generative Landscape

var terrainSpeed = 0.0005;
var terrainDetail = 0.01;
var terrainD1 = 0.0005;
var terrainS1 = 0.0002;

var fish1 = "https://i.imgur.com/pw06Fwc.png";
var fish = [];
var fishy1;

function preload() {
	fishy1 = loadImage(fish1);
}

function setup() {
    createCanvas(480, 300);
    //create an initial collection of fish
    for (var i=0; i<10; i++) {
    	var rx = random(width*5);
    	fish[i] = makeFish(rx);
    }
    
    frameRate(10);
}
 
function draw() {
    background(255);
    //sun
    noStroke();
    fill(252,163,41);
    ellipse(80, 60, 70, 70);

    //mountain
    noFill(0); 
    stroke(135,120,108)
    beginShape(); 
    for (var x = 0; x < width; x++) {
        var t = (x * terrainDetail) + (millis() * terrainSpeed);
        var y = map(noise(t),0,1,20,height)-height/4;
                
        vertex(x, height);
        vertex(x, y); 
    }
    endShape();
    fill(135,120,108,100);
    noStroke();
    
    //water-top
    beginShape(); 

    stroke(119,209,249,150);
    for (var x1 = 0; x1 < width; x1++) {
        var t1 = (x1 * terrainD1) + (millis() * terrainS1); 
        var y1 = map(noise(t1),0,1,20,height);
        vertex(x1, height);
        vertex(x1,y1);
    }
    endShape();

    //water-bottom
	beginShape(); 

    stroke(119,209,259);
    for (var x1 = 0; x1 < width; x1++) {
        var t1 = (x1 * terrainD1) + (millis() * terrainS1); 
        var y1 = map(noise(t1),0,1,28,height);
        vertex(x1, height);
        vertex(x1,y1);
    }
    endShape();

    //fish
    push();
    translate(0.1 * width, 0.1 * height); 
    scale(0.8);

    scale(0.2,0.2);
    
    updateAndDisplayFish();
    addNewFishWithProbability();

}

function updateAndDisplayFish() {
	for (var i = 0; i < fish.length; i++) {
		fish[i].move();
		fish[i].display();
	}
}


function addNewFishWithProbability() {
	var newFishLikelihood = 0.05;
	if (random(1) < newFishLikelihood) {
		fish.push(makeFish(-300));
	}
}

function fishMove() {
	this.x += this.speed*(1/this.size);
}

function fishDisplay() {
	push();
	scale(this.size, this.size);
	translate(this.x*(1/this.size), this.y*(1/this.size));

	image(fishy1,0,0);
	pop();
}


function makeFish(birthLocationX) {

    var fishy = {x: birthLocationX,
    		size: random(0.3, 0.6),
    		y: random(0.8*height*(1/0.2), height*(1/0.2)),
            speed: random(1,5),
            move: fishMove,
            display: fishDisplay};
    return fishy;
}

I started out thinking to do a project on natural landscape with mountain, water and grassland. But as I dived into the project, I found the overall scene rather dull and lifeless so I decided to focus on the underwater scene with fish instead.

Jessica Timczyk – Project 10 Landscape

Landscape

// Jessica Timczyk
// Section D
// jtimczyk@andrew.cmu.edu
// Project-10-Landscape

var cacti = [];
var cactusClip;
var terrainSpeed = 0.0005;
var terrainDetail = 0.005;
var tumbleweed = [];

function preload() {
    cactusClip = loadImage("https://i.imgur.com/f4O5OGj.png?1");
}


function setup() {
    createCanvas(480, 240); 
    
    // create an initial collection of cacti
    for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++){
        var rx = random(width);
        cacti[i] = makeCactus(rx);
    }
    frameRate(10);

}


function draw() {

    background(212, 248, 251);  

    ////////// Mountains //////////
    stroke(129, 161, 164);
    beginShape(); 
    for (var x = 0; x < width; x++) {
        var t = (x * terrainDetail) + (millis() * terrainSpeed);
        var y = map(noise(t), 0,1, 0, height);
        line(x, y, x, height);
    }
    endShape();

    /////// sun beam ////////
    
    beginShape(); 
    for (var x = 0; x < width; x++) {
        fill(221, 204, 112); 
        var t = (x * terrainDetail) + (millis() * terrainSpeed);
        var y = map(noise(t), 0,1, 0, height);
        vertex(x, y); 
    }
    endShape();
    noFill();
    
    rect(0, 0, width - 1, height - 1);


    //// cactus //////
    
    displayHorizon();

    updateAndDisplayCacti();
    removeCactiThatHaveSlippedOutOfView();
    addNewCactiWithSomeRandomProbability(); 

    //// tumble weed ///////
   for (var k = 0; k < tumbleweed.length; k++){
        tumbleweed[k].draw();
        tumbleweed[k].move();
   }
    addNewTumbleWeedWithSomeRandomProbability();
   
}


function updateAndDisplayCacti(){
    // Update the cacti positions and display them
    for (var i = 0; i < cacti.length; i++){
        cacti[i].move();
        cacti[i].display();
    }
}


function removeCactiThatHaveSlippedOutOfView(){
    var cactiToKeep = [];
    for (var i = 0; i < cacti.length; i++){
        if (cacti[i].x + cacti[i].breadth > 0) {
            cactiToKeep.push(cacti[i]);
        }
    }
    cacti = cactiToKeep; // remember the cacti that stay
}


function addNewCactiWithSomeRandomProbability() {
    // With a very tiny probability, add a new cacti to the end
    var newBuildingLikelihood = 0.03; 
    if (random(0,1) < newBuildingLikelihood) {
        cacti.push(makeCactus(width));
    }
}


// method to update position of cactus every frame
function cactusMove() {
    this.x += this.speed;
}
    

// draw the cactus
function cactusDisplay() {
    var cHeight = this.cactusHeight; 
    fill(255); 
    stroke(0); 
    push();
    translate(this.x, height - this.cactusPlacement);
    image(cactusClip, 0, -cHeight);
    pop();
}


function makeCactus(birthLocationX) { // cactus object
    var cct = {x: birthLocationX,
                breadth: 50,
                speed: -3.0,
                cactusHeight: round(random(0, 175)),
                move: cactusMove,
                cactusPlacement: round(random(0,70)),
                display: cactusDisplay}
    return cct;
}




function makeTumbleWeed() { // random colors
    var tbwd = {x: width,
                y: -height + 100,
                move: moveTumbleWeed,
                draw: drawTumbleWeed,
                color: [random(50, 180), random(50, 165), random(20, 55)],
                }
    return tbwd;
    }

// draw tumbleweed
function drawTumbleWeed(){
    stroke(this.color);
    strokeWeight(4);
    noFill();
    ellipse(this.x, height - this.y - 60, 30, 30,);
    ellipse(this.x + 5, height - this.y - 62, 20, 20);
    ellipse(this.x + 2, height - this.y - 57, 5, 5);
    ellipse(this.x - 4, height - this.y - 61, 15, 15);
    ellipse(this.x -1, height - this.y - 60, 20, 20);
}

function moveTumbleWeed(){ //tumble weed moves more quickle than cacti
    this.x -= 10;
    this.y = random(10);
}


function addNewTumbleWeedWithSomeRandomProbability() {
    // tumble weeds are alot less likely than cacti
    var newTumbleWeedLikelihood = 0.007; 
    if (random(0,1) < newTumbleWeedLikelihood) {
        tumbleweed.push(makeTumbleWeed(width));
    }
}


function displayHorizon(){
    stroke(162, 126, 78);
    fill(201, 160, 106);
    rect(0, height - 75, width, height - 75);
}

I enjoyed doing this project because it allowed me to make my own landscape, where as in the past we have always been given a template for them. I struggled a bit to enter in new moving objects, and took me awhile to understand all the commands and what each function was doing. Some things, like the sunlight beam, happened by accident because I was messing with different variables but I’m very happy with how it turned out. If I were to do this again I would probably want to add more details to the sky, or figure out how to make more complicated generated landscapes besides the mountain like line that we were offered with. Overall I’m happy with how it came out.

Han Yu Looking Outwards 10

Tega Brain is an Australian critical new media artist and provocateur as well as an environmental engineer. She is famous for creatively using information systems to present data, taking the form of online interventions and experimental infrastructures. Brain is able to explore the strengths of multiple platforms and utilize them in eccentric engineering which intersects art, engineering and ecology. She is currently an assistant professor teaching at Integrated Digital Media department of New York University. Her works are exhibited in a number of museums around the world. One of her works that I found most interesting is called Smell Dating, which is the world’s first smell based dating service that matches people based on feedback of smelling each other’s odor.

Smell Dating exhibition in Shanghai, China.

According to a number of research, it shows that smell is the most evocative experience by human and can be used to find links to a number of information such as age, gender and even predisposition to illness. Brain’s Smell Dating service invites people to trust their olfactory intuition and choose the other halves based on their smell signatures. In order to participate the service, people will need to exchange their worn smelly shirts which are designed by the smell dating team. They will receive random shirts by other participants and if both participants mutually liked the smell of each other, they will exchange phone numbers and ready to move on to the next stage of their relationships. I like how Brain can realize such a vague scientific connection between scent and romantic attractions into a project that is very practical and quantifiable.

Participants of Smell Dating.

Yoo Jin Shin-LookingOutwards-10

Shin’m 2.0

Shin’m 2.0 (2011) is an interactive installation and performance by media artist Eunsu Kang, in collaboration with software engineer Donald Craig and dancer and choreographer, Diana Garcia-Snyder. The project portrays “how we communicate with the space, how we connect into it, and how we and the space reshape each other.” The space is filled with nebula bubbles constantly circulating through a black hole in the center. Both light and sound follow the participant’s movements using the GLUT application with C++ along with kinetic sensors.

The still image of the Shin’m 2.0 was enough to catch my attention. It’s simply stunning and looks like something out of a movie. This effect is emphasized in the video of the installation— it seriously looks like CG. I think it’s admirable that Kang started the Shin’m project back in 2008 and has repeatedly made adjustments and improved on her design to get to this point.

Kang received her BFA and MFA at Ewha Womans University in South Korea, MA in Media Arts and Technology from UC Santa Barbara, and a PHD in Digital Arts and Experimental Media from University of Washington. She currently works as a associate professor of art at University of Akron and regularly holds exhibitions of her various media designs.