Hello! For my final project I will be creating a interactive display that demonstrates how human communication could be in the future.

Concept:

I am really fascinated with Elon Musks Neuralink research (find more info here) which hints at the possibility of humans being able to communicated through a chip implanted in their brains. Currently being tested on pigs, the quarter-sized implant connects to the brain with tiny wires and has potential to cure blindness, paralysis, deafness, and mental illness. This got me thinking that in the future, with a piece of technology of this sort, humans could communicate to each other non-verbally. If the chip is able to read a part of the brain and then send that reading to another person’s chip, it could simulate “mind-reading”.

My concept is to show two brains interacting, sending messages to each other. I want to use a projector to show an animation on a wall. The animation will be of two brains facing each other. Then on the wall I will use conductive materials, most likely paint, to outline the lines inside of the brain. When a part of the brain on one is touched, it will trigger an animation on the projector of that part of the brain lighting up with color and then shooting that color to the same part of the other brain. I plan to just have to use the Makeymakey for this.

Research:

I will have to research the parts of the brain to try to get a somewhat accurate depiction of which parts of the brain correlate to different actions and emotions. I want to have music that goes along with the emotion, thought, or action being passed between the two brains.

Here is a rough sketch of how the tech interactions will work:

Artist Question: Currently, I am just planning to use conductive paint on the brain and the Makeymakey to trigger different animations and sounds as my interactive element – are there any suggestions for how I could incorporate my Arduino or other technical elements?