PART OF BLOG SERIES: Seven groups of creatives are currently working on building each their project for the PLAYFORM Mobile Art & Technology Exhibition to be unveiled in early May. In this blogging series the participants give some small glimpses into their current project work - joy, frustrations, changes in concepts and technologies - towards their goal and deadline (Read more about the open call we sent out - and the forthcoming exhibition.)
HANDDRAWING
By Pernille Kofoed
"HANDDRAWING is a pair of gloves that allows you to draw/paint digitally. They measure your finger movements and process the movements into directions – where one finger controles one direction, colour or an additional parameter – creating a digital colourful painting.
It redefines the traditional way we uses our hands and the way we paint. This creates a new link between digital and analog. At the same time it challenges the way we make a painting, using the new media.
The painting will be shown on a screen, and will be saved when the person creating the painting takes of the gloves. Making a catalogue of digital paintings, which possibly will be either printed or uploaded to a website (to be determined)."
The project is an experiment of how to reinterpret painting within the digial media, through the use of new materials and technologies. Using conductive fabric as stretch sensors, enables it users to create a digital drawing. It is not easy to control, but forces you to use your hand and fingers in a new way in order to make a good painting."
Technical setup:
"The project consists of two glows, made of fabric and conductive material, that are interactive and are wireless connected to at computer, using an Arduino board or similar, and projected onto a screen (dimmed light will be preferred)
The project will use the programs: Arduino & Processing
Materials needed: conductive fabric and velcro, 1 Lilypad Arduino + Xbee board, computer, projector + wall to project on (alternatively a relatively large screen).
First update:
"I have in the past weeks focused on collecting all the materials needed for the project. I have hired a tailor, that are sowing the gloves. This will give them a much better finish, than I would be able to do. They will hopefully be finished at the of the week.
The technical part, is coming along nicely. I will be using a DUL-radio – sensor board concept created by Aarhus University's DD lab and Digital Urban Living. I will be using this instead of an Arduino board, because it is easier and more stable as wireless unit. The programming is also coming along, but cannot be tested, before the gloves are sowed.
I am still considering, wether I should incorporate a printer. By doing so, will it enable the users to automatic print the drawings and thereby letting them keep the artworks they have created, when taking of the gloves. I have a busy couple of weeks ahead, but hopefully I will have i done in time."
Second update:
"I have in the past week focused on the programming in order to get the gloves working with the DUL-radio and last night I succeed. I am therefore now starting testing, calibrating and experimenting in order to get the best result. Most important ‐ it now functions on a basic level.
The first painting/drawing made late last night. Its no way perfect, and it will hopefully be much better, but it’s the first!"
"I will use the next week to make it more refined and easier to control. Additionally I will try and make a folder watch, so that the pictures make will be printed automatically. However it is not as easy as I was hoping for. So if you know how to do it, please let me know. I will not buyt the printer before I have made it work. I have bought a small cabinet (W: 36 cm x D: 58 cm x H: 70 cm), witha door which I will use as the podium. The reason for buying one is due to lack of tools, skills, time and materials."
"Inside the cabinet I will place both the printer and the computer, so that it will be out of the way. It is at the moment all white but perhaps it can be painted in a nice color fitting the exhibition. There was some problems choosing between a projector and a flat screen, but I have ended up choosing a 32" flat screen after a talk with Christian and Thomas. It is being ordered today, so hopefully it will arrive before the weekend."
