Volume
by Drew Cogbill, Carrie Mae Kreyche, and Jia Zhang
volume is research into a projection-based sanctuary in a public space. It uses Processing software, the Minim sound library, computer vision, a song by Nico Muhly , and lots of love.
Our interactive installation, volume, is a sanctuary and playground that gives users a break from everyday routines. When the movement of a person is sensed, piano music begins playing and an image of a slow galloping Muybridge activates. This balanced combination of auditory and visual input envelopes the passerby into a moment of pause, engages a playful spirit and offers an opportunity to transcend the confines of a mundane path.
Our starting inspirations were the simple and very alive interactions that one can experience with a natural environment. The flashing and catching of fireflies, the ripples water makes from a stepped in a puddle or thrown a rock and the movements of clouds in the wind. We were looking for particular ways to 'soothe' or create sanctuary in the space.
After experimenting and prototyping fireflies, ripples and abstract cloud particles we decided upon the Muybridge horse movement. The image of a trotting horse is not a common New York City observance in 2008, yet most people find a certain familiarity with this scene through the influence of television and movies. Some culturally common references are of green pastures and of a cowboy galloping into the sunset.
For a complete description of "volume", please download volume.doc or volume.pdf .
Video 1:
Volume condensed from jia zhang on Vimeo.
Video 2:
Extended Version
volume from drewcogbill on Vimeo.
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