Alex Dumstorf

Intro to New Media Arts

Principle One: Reveal

Wall Ball. I thought about things that kids my age have probably never experienced before, and I came to the conclusion that nobody probably plays wall ball anymore. Kids nowadays are too busy on their iPads that probably have a wall ball app. So if I could find a way to make wall ball more appealing, I think it could motivate kids to get active and experience the great game of wall ball. My thoughts on making wall ball more interesting was to illuminate the wall when the ball were to hit it, alternating cool-looking patterns with correlating sound effects. I think to the kids, that can sustain them with some form of media while at the same time allowing them to be active. The inspiration for this idea spurned from a soccer training application called “Footbonaut”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhAyX81zP2M

Principle Two: Expand

Water Bottle overuse. I wanted to raise the issue on how much we overuse water bottles when tap water is easily available. It destroys out oceans, production pollutes the air, and the plastic destroys our bodies. I want to convey this idea using some form of New Media Technique, hopefully one that is simple enough to convey this idea. I want to use plastic bottle materials to help convey the idea of overconsumption. Maybe the sheer fact that I am making a water bottle sculpture means that water bottles are being produced so much that others are finding different uses for them, and that is an issue in itself. Perhaps it should be something simply aesthetically appealing rather than show a deeper function.

Principle Three: Reflect

When I thought about this theme, I thought about what makes me convey the strongest emotion. The thing that works best for me is music, so maybe I could do a project that plays music it different ways. I was thinking about how sometimes music reflects how we feel. So maybe I could list out bunch of genres and correlate them with different emotions. Then, those who want to convey an emotion through music can press a button or use some other trigger. This way, others can feel a different form of emotion, affected by others or more importantly themselves. I think this idea is a way to reflect something we take for granted and may not think about in depth all of the time. I may also find it interesting to use different forms of music playing devices and see if that coneys a stronger emotion than another. (ie. vinyl over mp3)

Project Four: Engage

I wanted to make a multitude of simple “icon” objects for this project. These icons will be shared with others, and will convey an idea to one another without speaking. Like a smiley face conveys that you are happy with the other person. I liked the idea of emojis being used now in everyday society and it would be really cool if we could bring that same idea into a natural world. I also thought about limiting the word choices to make it more difficult for the people involved in this type of icon experiment.

Project Five: Participate

I thought a good way to bring people together in Chicago would be to create a sculpture for the new ferris wheel that is going to be built in place of the famous one at Navy Pier. I want to make some circular form that rotates and may or may not have actual chairs that rotate as well. I do want to attach another form like LEDs or some form of interaction with it. I think this sculpture will commemorate a great icon for this great city, and I hope others enjoy turning it on or watching whatever kind of movement it will generate. 

Project Six: Evolve

I thought about Chia Pets for this one. I want to do something simple that evolves over time, and  that can be controlled easily not only by me, but by some for of trigger as well. I think this will be able to create some form of evolution over a short and possibly a long period of time. I also think it would be an interesting way something mechanical can affect something natural and actually alive. I think this trigger will add the water or whatever is necessary to grow the seeds, and the trigger can be affected at different times to make different styles of seed combinations.