Author: Pangna Sun

Hi, linked is my proposal: Proposal

 

The most interesting point that I conceptulized from reading these two texts is the involvement of our bodies in the interactive installation. For instance, Nathaniel Stern points out that “with enter, for example, we move-think-feel the making of bodies and meaning, together” to emphasize the importance of our bodies to create meaningful experiences. And in the “Interactive Installation” chapter, the author also brings up the point how the audience is placed in an “awkward” situation with they are placed in an interactive installation as a result. As a result, they are forced to  use their bodies in unfamiliar ground to explore something new from the installation.

In addition, I want to bring up the first interactive installation the Nathaniel Stern had installed. I think it is very simple but “interactive” in the sense that it fits well with the definitions that are brought up the two articles. The installation clearly focuses on the involvement of the body as well as gives room of exploration to the audience who wants figure out what is going on on the screen in front of them. Thus, they will use their bodies and be active instead of being inactive.

From these two articles, the main points that I get include the importance of the involvement of the audience in the installations and the audience should be the one who is placed on the spot in the installation. 

I am not quite sure what my midterm project will look like, but I am able to come up with these kind-of-legit ideas for my midterm interactive project:

1. 1. Making a game

When thinking of making an interactive project, the first thing that comes in mind is a game because the audience would be able to interact by playing the game itself. For this game, I want to have a big screen where the user can stand in front. I will use some sensors like human body sensor, infrared camera, and thermal camera to detect the presence of the user. And with the help of openFrameworks, I will be able to create flying boxes/3D objects that fly in the big toward the user. The user’s goal is to dodge those 3D objects by moving left and right, jumping up and down. In addition, the user  will also have the ability to destroy those objects by hitting them. This project can be detected by having the user wearing some distinctive object so the camera/sensor can detect it. 

I think that there are many more things that I can add on to this idea as I start working on it. For instance, I could use a thermal camera to create user’s outline in the game, so it would be easier for them to dodge the objects.

2. Making not a game but also something interactive

My second idea is inspired by our class reading Interactive Art and Embodiement. I find the author’s first enter, “large scale interactive installation,” fascinating, so I want to do something similar to what he had done. The users can interact in the piece by using their bodies to “grab animated words that constantly run away from them on a large screen projection screen.” When the users touch any of those words, it will turns red, and recites spoken word in the space. Here is a video of what I’m trying to explain:

I think his project is quite simple and creative, and it opens so many things that I can add on to his project. For example, it would be even more fun if the words are related to the body gesture of the person instead of just posing out random words on the screen. In addition, I like the the spoken part of this project, so I want to make it more interactive by making it seem like it’s talking to the user.