Goals
Create interactive artistic environments/installations that react to users in interesting and exciting ways, for use/exhibition at GA Tech or a public space. Sensors in the environment will detect participants’ actions or sequences of actions; Computer programs will process sensor input and produce control commands to change the shape, color, textures and/or sound in the environment. Projects can span a wide range of complexity, media, and sizes. Possible ideas include: a “light dome” with densely embedded with LED lights, audio speakers, and sensors that can recognize participant position and hand movements under the dome, creating beautiful lighting and sound effects in response; an abstract sculpture that changes its shape in response to participant touches or nearby movements; an overhead display with hanging light-guiding fibers that change colors when the fibers are touched. The team will be composed of members with complementary strengths, and everyone will learn, grow, and create.
Issues Involved or Addressed
The concept is modular in that each environment or display will have similar subsystems, including sensors, actuators, programs that detect and interpret sensor inputs, programs that control the actuators, and a local area network to connect controllers and actuators. The team will decide what the first project or projects will be using design thinking, early and simple prototypes, and seek early feedback on the concepts from potential viewers. Beginners can work together to make a small and simple prototypes of subsystems and progress to prototypes with more complexity. Design considerations include safety, style and artistic appeal, ruggedness, synchronization of effects, latency (that is, the duration between the participant action and the environmental response), cost and practicality.
Methods and Technologies
Academic Majors of Interest
Preferred Interests and Preparation
Experience or interest in working in project teams Experience or interest in embedded systems programming (e.g., C++) Experience or interest in design CAD software (Illustrator, Photoshop, 3-D rendering) Experience or interest in mechanical CAD software (AutoCAD, SOLIDWORKS) Experience or interest in Computer/Local Area Networking
Meeting Schedule & Location
Team Advisors
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Georgia Tech Research Institute