Mathematical Sequences/Functions/Patterns

• Prime numbers (sieve of eratosthenes), visualizing proofs
• Perfect squares
• Fibonacci
• Pi (each color is a number)
• Cantor set

There are many mathematical sequences, functions, and patterns which could be elegantly translated onto the Pausch Bridge. We would not only show the patterns themselves, but the process of arriving at those patterns. For example, the prime numbers can be derived by starting with all numbers, then removing those divisible by 2, those divisible by 3, and so on. We could make a visual representation of this on the Pausch Bridge, which would be both an artistic display and an explanation of mathematical concepts. We would explore color, patterns, and motion in light as representations of math. Mathematics is very important to computer science, engineering, and many other fields, and we think that CMU students would appreciate this display.

How to Make a Cake

• Cracking an egg
• Measuring
• Mixing
• Baking/rising

One possible approach to this project would be to use the Pausch Bridge Lighting to tell the narrative of baking a cake. Our group believes that it would be interesting to represent the various steps of baking a cake, such as preparing the ingredients, mixing them and the actual baking process itself, visually through lighting. These steps not only involve motion but also represent transformation over time. While the overall narrative would thematically be about the process of creation, there are opportunities to represent more specific abstract concepts, such as enjoyment after consuming the baked cake and uncertainties or difficulties during the process of baking the cake. 

How Education Has Changed in the Past Year/COVID

• In person to online
• Lasting effects
• Pick a few significant events and tell story for each event
  • March 2020 with the quick switch to online learning

One of the most drastic recent changes to CMU lifestyle was the switch from in-person learning to online. It was a common belief that online learning could simply not measure up to in-person, but now that it has been forced upon us, we hope to depict its effect on education. We think that this would be a great opportunity to capture specific turning point moments, such as the two-week transition from in-person to online during Spring Break 2020. Online learning has also had significant mental/emotional impact on both professors and students, which we hope to capture in our light show. Lastly, not only was the transition to online quite abrupt, but this may have a lasting effect on learning in the future. Perhaps education will forever be more reliant on online learning.