My project is inspired by my love for old and “dumb” technology, as well as the physical media ecosystem. Unlike a smart device, a fridge or a blender doesn’t send me a notification on its own or otherwise bother me. However, when I was a kid, I was terrified of the TV turning on on its own late at night. This project brings that fear to life by creating a strange creature living inside a discarded DVD player.
Here’s a preliminary sketch I made: #
References #
- Jianing Cui, “Tame Me”, 2023: ++https://www.jianing.art/副本-副本-副本-beauty-finds-its-way++
Cui’s creature is inspired by a chapter from The Little Prince. Gentle approaches are rewarded, while sudden movements cause the creature to keep on twisting and stirring. This is probably the most similar project to my proposal, although it is rather fantastical in its design and quite alien overall.
- “La maison sensible”, Scenocosme, 2015: ++https://www.scenocosme.com/maison_sensible_e.htm++
An interactive installation that reacts to visitor’s behaviour in terms of movement and sound. Gentle movements and silence are rewarded, while quick actions and loud noises result in the projected dots “hiding” from the visitor.
- “Senster”, Edward Ihnatowicz, 1970: ++https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senster++
A robotic sculpture that reacts to its environment: it is attracted by sound, but loud noises cause it to back off.
Here’s a preliminary list of parts/materials for my project: #
- Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W
- Power source/battery
- Hollowed out old electronics device (ideally a DVD player for the disc tray mechanism)
- otherwise: mechanism from another device, self-built mechanism
- Motor controller
- Standard passive electronic components (wires, resistors…)
- LEDs, LED matrix (+ controller?)
- Distance sensor
- (Sound sensor/microphone)
- (Capacitive sensors)
- Other discarded electronic devices, hot glue, foil, tape, paint