Physical Computing - Week 9 (24-11-05)

"Where You Linger" - A brainstorming session

For this final assignment, I want to make a combined project between Hypercinema and Pcomp. 

I'm interested in exploring our individual relationships with time and how fleeting it feels when we are focused on the task at hand.

Through the transformation of the objects in a scene, we can explore the speed in which time is flying by depending on "where you linger".

In Hypercinema, we are tasked to create a Cornell Box and instead of creating an interactive shadow box, I will be making a diorama of objects laid out on a desk surface. The objects consist of literal objects (clock, calendar, sandglass) and symbolic representations (plant, birthday balloon, desk lamp) of time.

The diorama will be a white model of all the objects with a projection that is "filling in" the various time stamps. 
To further confine the view, the viewer will look through a peephole to limit the interaction to a single person engagement as our relationships with time are so personal and can be quite vulnerable. 

In terms of interaction:
The basic version has dial or joycon allows the user to move forward or back in time to change the state of the diorama. (clock time change, calendar flips, plant grows or wilts, light turns on or off, lighting through the window changes etc...)

The ultimate goal would be presenting how fleeting time can be when we are focused on the task at hand. 
Adding on a pepper's ghost effect, a reflection of a person is sitting at the desk, and what the user is doing changes the acceleration of time. For example, ​

• if the reflection is on the computer, we see the time fly by quickly. If the reflection is writing in the journal, time is passing less fast. And if the reflection is just sitting with a cup of coffee, the time is passing at a normal rate.
• In this version, there is ambient audio that correlates to the different actions.

What input sensors and controls?

To engage the audio portion, I image there being a sensor that detects a user's presence. So above the peephole, there might be a Passive Infrared (PIR) sensor, or maybe Time of Flight distance sensor.  
Then there is the audio output portion of the experience, wether it is speakers with very quiet audio or headphones for a truly private experience.

The basic interaction with time would allow the user to transition through time in a forward or backward motion. The tactile tools would either consist of a rotary encoder with a substantial knob or a joystick. These two controllers do not pose physical limitations to directional movement like a potentiometer would.  

Then finally, for the ultimate interaction, I was thinking that the user would have to hold a physical object which would trigger the reflected person to interact with the respective object in the diorama. I think there is a lot to explore here, but would love to discuss more before diving into the deep end with this.