Final Projects, Past Student Work

Interactive Final Project

Posted by Sabrina on
Project Title:

Collapse


Project Members:
Ari Granados & Kati Rzepka

Project Materials:
  • Fabric
  • Arduino & processor materials
  • Hoop
  • String
  • Staples
  • Laptop
  • Motion Sensor
  • Sound producing element
  • Tape

(First Attempt) Project Instructions:
  1. Put together the code connecting the sound producing element to the stepper.
  2. Connect the stepper to an extended pole.
  3. Paint the fabric to symbolise a tree.
  4. Attach fabric to the hoop by sewing velcro.
  5. Attach the LED lights to the fabric.
  6. Create the monologue that will be played.

(Final Product) Project Instructions:
  1. Cut the fabric into strips
  2. Staple fabric around the hoop
  3. Connect the strips, leaving one opening
  4. Hang the hoop by fishing wire and metal chain
  5. Place stool inside the fabric cylinder
  6. Set-up code connecting motion sensor to sounds of nature
  7. Attach motion sensor to stool
  8. Place laptop under the stool
  9. Layer fabric onto the stool

Initial Project Concept:
A large scale abstract tree collapses in on itself as the viewers listen to a monologue of destructive human nature.

Final Project Concept:
A large scale abstract tree which reacts to movement made by the viewer, once viewer sits inside the structure, sounds of nature will produce.

Project Concerns from the beginning:
  • We are still finalizing how the tree collapses into itself. We’ll be running through tests on Tuesday once the project is set up, depending on how difficult it is to tear down or twist and how exactly we would be able to make this happen. It all depends on how the material reacts to the stepper and how it can be destroyed.
  • We are also still deciding on what exactly the monologue will be and how it will sound.
  • How it will be interactive with the audience. Will they just listen to it self destruct or should there be more ways to engage and prevent? What action would help them prevent?
    • We considered using twitter and having the class tweet information within a certain amount of time, but then we were worried about the information being too general and then not having a direct correlation to the class. Which is fine, but we want the class to see the tree self destruct and if other tweets come through, it won’t do that. We could possibly use a specific hashtag.

  • Ultimately, we found that the material was too heavy for the power from the motor. We opted for interaction with light and sound instead.