Acoustic Barcodes // HCII CMU

Straight out of Carnegie Mellon, an interesting interaction using structured patterns of physical notches as Acoustic Barcodes. Swiping the barcodes with for example a fingernail produce a complex sound that can be resolved to a binary ID. A single, inexpensive contact microphone attached to a surface or object is used to capture the waveform. While the applications might be a bit odd, I think it’s an very interesting approach by making the interaction more tangible compared to scanning an RFID.
 

Heat Map // onformative

A translation between sight and touch merges human sensing abilities. Projecting imaginary heat on top of human skin and its surrounding to create a virtual thermo reactive surface. I think this is an interesting concept of giving the illusion and perception of heat on a surface, because we are so used to the visual representation of thermo colors for temperature. The smudge effect really reenforces the illusion of heat being transferred on a surface and the heat dissipates over time. I would love to test and interact with the system for myself and see how it would play tricks on my senses.
 

Zimoun: Sound Sculptures & Installations, Sound Architectrues

Using simple and functional components, Zimoun builds architecturally-minded platforms of sound. Exploring mechanical rhythm and flow in prepared systems, his installations incorporate commonplace industrial objects. In an obsessive display of simple and functional materials, these works articulate a tension between the orderly patterns of Modernism and the chaotic forces of life. I love the simplicity of the work, and how rich and mesmerizing the experience is. It’s just something stuck onto a servo, but the compositions and sounds that the sculptures create have a very elegant feeling to it.