• Concept

In this project, I want to look into the abstract ideas of different kinds of connections. There are three connections particularly I want to play with. One is the physical connection between two people. One is the connection between humans and computers, a sort of interface-like connection. The third one could be a bit abstract.

So here is a short story. I’m from Shenzhen, a Chinese mainland city right next to Hongkong. Not sure if everyone has heard of this, but there was a lot of political rivalry going on between Hongkong and the Chinese mainland. Being a mainlander, I often feel the sense of being an outsider and some sort of exclusion every time I visit Hongkong. But there is one time I went to a concert on Wednesday Campanella (if you are interested in Japanese music go check them out!). And the moment when everyone was just singing and dancing along, there were no more Hongkongers and mainlanders. And that is the moment I felt that eccentric but fascinating connection between people, that we are all brought together by music. So that is the third kind of connection I want to recreate, and this is going to be the focus of this project.

The main idea is to use my body as a controller/ interface. And input on my body would be reflected on a disco floor (not sure yet, but it is going to be related to music) on the screen behind.

• Sketch / technical information:

1. The clap: this is the main input of this project and is the part where it needs to be performed in a duo. I will be holding up my hand with a clip mic connected behind my wrist. So when the audience clap my hand with their hand each time, there would be an input. And depending on how hard they clap my hand there could be different input values. (not sure about the Makey Makey part, but it is kind of cool of completing a circuit by two people clapping their hands together.)
2. The light sensor: this is more straightforward: I hold a light sensor in my hand and connect it to arduino. And opening and closing my palm would result in different input values.
3. The footstep: this one is also straightforward: I stick a force sensor on the bottom of my feet, and each time I move my feet there will be different input values.

• Reasearch plan

I am planning to add some random patterns generated by parameters in my work like that one in the Cycle Delic demo but probably simpler. So I would look into some codes of those pattern generators and max tutorials to figure out how this thing works. I will also look into how could I output video files with transparent parts to mess around with some layering things.

• a tech demo that shows a proof of concept for how your final project will function. You can use placeholder art for this, but you should be able to demonstrate the basic interactions you will use.

• Artist Question:

Are there any other sensors I could install on my body to complete an interaction? I am also thinking of adding LEDs to my project. Are there any ways I could connect multiple LEDs at the same time along with the sensors? Can I code Arduino to do both sensor input and LEDs?