The Interactive Void

For the final submission for Produino a connection between the analogue and the digital is created with the use of serial communication to connect Arduino with Processing. An Interactive tool is made to create music by simulating movement through a fabric of space.

The Produino assignment is visualized and translated into an interactive act of play. It is a fun way of combining data and visuals. The Arduino sends information with analogue tools – all part of a closed circuit with a flow of electrical energy – and Processing receives the digital results and visualizes this on the screen. The open source culture of both Arduino and Processing helped to get inspiration for this project.

The Arduino Uno, the breadboard, jumping wires, a resistor and a Photoresistor are used for input of the functions and commands supported by a light sensor. For the output and the visual display the Processing software is used. Java is an object-oriented programming language which needs variables and functions to be able to make transformations. In the Processing file classes are part of the coding to organize the script and as a method to give functions to the main tab.

The meaning of the interaction is to collect objects to change the speed and to activate different sounds. This is achieved by allowing more or less light to reach the face of the Photoresistor. The process develops and transforms as soon as you proceed and the amount of spheres adopted by the void will be added to the data information meter in the top left corner. The Photoresistor is a light dependent photocell. With manual control, it is possible to direct the interactive void up and down the screen.

The result is seen in 2D with objects moving from left to right. The interactive void moves in a vertical direction. Displayed is a visualization of an odyssey through space. the further the journey advances, the more complex it becomes. ‘Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it’, a quote by Greg Anderson which has been an inspiration for the concept of this prototype.

The Interactive Void is a project of IaaC, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia
developed at Master in Advanced Architecture in 2016/2017 by:

Students:

Nasser Ghannam
Gelder van Limburg Stirum
Javier Lopez-Alascio Hervas

Faculty:

Angelos Chronis
Angel Muñoz