Prototype Reflections

Anamorphic Reflections

Description :

The goal of this piece was to intrigue the user to consider the way they usually perceive a mirror.  A mirror is usually thought of as a way to see yourself, to show yourself what is on you and behind you.  This piece, in contrast takes something that is not "normal" in the real world and makes it look "normal" in the mirror.  We are used to fun house mirrors making reality strange, but not the other way around.  

This prototype was made by stretching a 3D model of a bird along a circular path, then 3D printing that warped model.  When the model is placed in front of a cylindrical mirror of the right radius the bird appears “normal” in the mirror in comparison the shape of the bird in real life. 

After interacting with this piece a visitor might think…about mirrors creating illusions, not just reflecting reality. 

Ways it’s successful :

This piece definitely produces a moment of excitement and disbelief when the user is able to properly position the piece in relation to the mirror. 

Ways it’s not successful :

The bird form is not skewed enough to make it unrecognizable before it’s placed in front of the mirror.  I had imagined the interaction with this piece to take place with three different radii of cylinders giving the user the opportunity to see how the radii and distance from piece of the cylinder affect the success of the phenomenon.  I don’t think this interchangeability of cylindrical mirrors is interesting or different enough to be the interaction of the exhibit.

Potential improvements :

The discovery could be made stronger by using pieces that were skewed into forms the person playing with the exhibit could not recognize until they were properly positioned in front of the cylindrical mirror.  It would also be stronger if there were multiple skewed pieces to explore with one mirror. 

Pseudoscope 

Description :       

The pseudoscope is meant to change your depth perception. The brain is wired hard to recognize normalcy and familiarity in what you perceive and has great difficulty reconciling disorienting ways of seeing. 

After interacting with this piece a visitor might think…about the way your brain processes images (would need a good description/diagram for this).

Ways it’s successful :

It elicits a fairly obvious act on the part of the viewer. 

Ways it’s not successful :

It doesn’t really work.  It is disorienting, but did not significantly change perception because the brain is so resistant to those confusions. 

Potential improvements :

I think this experiment would work better if the mirrors were places farther away from each other to create a more dramatic stereo effect. 

Harmonograph

Description :       

The harmonograph is a way of translating the motion of two pendulums swinging in sine wave patterns at a right angle from each other into an elliptical drawing. 

After interacting with this piece a visitor might think… that the motion looks really cool when it’s drawn out.  (But I think it would require a solid exhibit description in order to explain the phenomenon a bit more)

Ways it’s successful :

It demonstrates this phenomenon of two sign waves working in three dimensions to become an elliptical form. 

Ways it’s not successful :

The difficulty in this piece comes from the required level of precision it mandates in order to work.  With time and material constraints I was able to build a harmonograph that works when it has assistance swinging, but wasn’t calibrated finely enough to maintain the rhythmic swinging motion I was hoping for.  It also lacks refinement in determining what exactly the interaction would be.  I’m not sure if someone would swing the pendulum to get it going or whether it is more something you just watch and don’t physically interact with. 

Potential improvements :

I think the biggest improvement would just be improved calibration at this point. 

Sine Wave Generator

Description :

The sine wave generator is a piece aimed at creating a complex mechanical set up that translates into something beautiful and simple : a sine wave. 

After interacting with this piece a visitor might think…about the complexity behind simple technologies.    

Ways it’s successful :

It allows the user to directly interact with the piece by cranking the cams to make the mechanics move. 

Ways it’s not successful :

It doesn’t do anything wowing, just a translation of motion into a different form. 

Potential improvements :

This could be improved by making the mechanics much more complex and creating some sort of mechanical version of Rube Goldberg machine that would translate into a simple and beautiful motion.  In order to improve this I would also need to think more about how to design the interaction so it would be more than turning a crank and so it could be properly placed to allow the person interacting to both instigate the motion and see that final translation of the motion.    

IR Camera

Description :

This exhibit allows you to see thing that are only visible in infrared which is not part of the visible spectrum. 

After interacting with this piece a visitor might think…that there’s a lot more to the world that we don’t notice. 

Ways it’s successful :

It allows the user to see the world in a different way.  It also has a strong WOW factor. 

Ways it’s not successful :

It doesn’t actually work yet…

Potential improvements :

Getting it to work! Designing a dark box that allowed for straight-forward and interesting user interaction with the camera. 

    

                                                           

Spinning Color Wheel

Description :

This exhibit encourages the visual mixing of color.  We are all used to mixing color with liquids and paints, but mixing colors with our perception itself is an unfamiliar concept. 

After interacting with this piece a visitor might think…that we can’t see motion as discreetly as they had thought. 

Ways it’s successful :

It allows for a playful interaction and unexpected discovery. 

Ways it’s not successful :

It doesn’t work very well because I need to properly design the colors to mix together. 

Potential improvements :

Make it easier to spin and make that motion obvious when you pick it up.  Create colors so they mix together fluidly.