Some pix from the Device Art Project:
• The Media Vehicle, from Hiroo Iwata, is a bulbous-shaped mode of transport
that allows the user to travel in real or virtual spaces with the help of
a wide-angle external camera feeding visuals to the inside of the capsule.
There can be a sense of displacement that may cause some to become queasy
if the outside motion of the camera is too jerky,
but the intention is to present more realistic imagery taken from differing angles.
For example, the camera can be mounted on the underside of the vehicle
and as the vehicle moves forward, you get the feeling
of being like a small animal traveling close to the ground.
• “Morpho Tower” series – toward a responsive and dynamic form of morphing art
Sachiko Kodama creates ferrofluid sculpture which becomes a dynamically fluid art form using an electromagnet with an iron core that is sculpted into a chosen shape. The ferrofluid covers the sculpted iron shape with it’s movements being controlled by adjusting the power of the electromagnet. Sensors and/or computer input may be used as a controlling mechanism.
(thanks to manf1234)
• I’m a bit reluctant to promote any kind of shooting or competitive game,
but this is an interesting all-around (eh, hem) concept nonetheless.
Ryota Kuwakubo has created the LoopScape which does away with the flat “left-right” appearance
of game displays and presents a cylindrical readout
whereby the players move around in circular patterns.
In some ways, it will tone down the number of shots that you may take
trying to hit your opponent because the “bullet” can make it’s way around the circle
and hit you from behind if you happen to miss. This also gets game-players off their butts and moving,
because you have to keep moving in a circle in order to
follow your actions as well as what your competitor is doing.
• Two other Kuwakubo works that I’m a bit more partial to are both very silly. A Nicodama is an electronic eyeball equipped with an infrared transceiver and mechanic apparatus. You attach two of them to any object and suddenly you have a face with randomly blinking eyes.
(thanks to nomurashi)
• …and true to it’s name, Kuwakubo’s SiliFulin is a robot tail
that takes us back to our prehensile days:
(thanks to DigInfo News)