Audio Interactions

I've been spending the last month or so developing a number of concepts for this project. Most are publically situated interactive sculptures that utilise sound and light. In the past couple of days i've been learning about the theremin, for various project related reasons (that i'm not going to give away just yet). Here's a video explaining how they work, where they come from and how they were used in late 50's sci-fi cinema.

Also, here's the first-person perspective video research i did, but forgot to post;

Experience Probe A

'The Effects of Selected Frequencies'
Last month i set up a frequency experiment to investigate how sound affects mood. Each participant listened to a selection of frequencies (ranging from 30hz-15khz) and, using a scale of 1-10, marked their like/dislike for the noise and any other relevant information - such as where they may have experienced that sound before. I intend to use the results of this experiment in the development of sound specific concepts that both comfort and irritate the participant.

Semester 1 Hand-In

On the 15th of January (this past Monday) we handed in/presented our first semesters work. This included all investigation and research and the bulk of our concepts. Being that a lot of my research looks at interactive multimedia and public art, i opted to present my work as a multi-sensory interactive experience. I first built a large white tent to isolate my workspace from the rest of the room (like they do in 'MASH') - this would block outside sensory stimuli and allow me to control the environment. I filled the tent with a variety of sense related activities, including a DVD playing some of the first person perspective video research I’d done, a wall mounted speaker playing the DVD’s audio, smell box - a small scent dispensing prototype, and two bowls of sweets (one sweet, the other sour).

Interviews

You may be wondering why i've only just started posting here - well, up until the end of the first semester (oct-jan) i had been posting project related goings-on in my regular blog (over at http://talkbook.blogspot.com). However, in order to make sense of what i'm doing, i (and a couple of other people) thought it would be best to seperate things out. Ok..?

Right then. Primary research/Interviews (tbu);

Interview/Visit at Duncan & Todd Opticians;
When looking at the biological workings of each sense i thought it might be interesting to visit my local optician and ask a few questions. Although the visit resulted in an awkward silence, and then a phone call from the police, it did give me a better understanding of how our eyes work. I have another visit scheduled this month, this time to take some photographs - so as soon as i have them, i'll stick them up here.

Interview with Jim Buckley;
Jim Buckley is a Sculpture Lecturer at Grays. When i started looking at public art and interactive sculpture i needed to know more about the whole commissioning/funding process. As a practicing artist, Jim Buckley was able to walk me through the whole thing, explaining in great detail the role go-beween organisations like PACE and Art In Partnership play and explaining the benifits of working to contracts that cover everything from intellectual property/reproduction rites to face payment.

Introduction/Research

Hello, all (who?)

My name is Joe Hearty - i'm a fourth year product design student studying at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen, Scotland. This blog has been set up to document the progress of my honours year project, entitled 'Sensory Exploration'. To give you an idea of what i've been looking at, here's a brief summary of secondary research sources;

Senses/General
- biology
- sense related medical conditions

Senses/Technology
- Haptics
- Digital Scent Generators
- Organic Light Emitting Diodes

Interactive Design
- Greyworld(.org)
- Haque Design + Research
- Toshio Iwai

Audio Artists
- Maryanne Amacher
- Magik Markers
- Fennesz
- Double Leopards
- Wolf Eyes
- Autechre

Public Art/Sculpture
- Pace Projects
- Art in Partnership
- Aberdeen Royal Childrens Hospital