Kaleido
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Kaleido is an interactive interface that mixes the virtual with the real by allowing the user to draw their own mandala patterns solely based on the interaction between their fingers and knobs.
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Completed in 2019
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Interaction design
Computer graphics
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Ana-Maria Arrese
Nikola Mitrovic
Vito Lapolla
Technology
MaxMSP
MaxMSP is a visual programming language that allowed us to develop a generative pattern based on the interaction of the user. The software creates mandala shape visuals from the environment input.
Open Sound Control
Open Source Control is a communication protocol for technological tools. In this instance, we used it to send hardware information to the front-end interface in MaxMSP.
Arduino
Arduino is a hardware and software development ecosystem for physical computing. For our project, we used it to read user inputs with a Circuit Playground Express (CPE).
Problem
Drawing
There are different ways to express our drawing creativity around us. We develop our own natural way of drawing by practicing and, over time, increasing our abilities to draw.
But, How could we enhance drawing with technology? Is there a style of creation that goes beyond the natural approach of drawing such as using a pen and paper? What could be a new way that allows anyone to showcase their drawing creativity with an unexpected technique.
Challenge
We were given the challenge to mix the virtual with the real as they both share the same space. We had to create an interface that has limited points of interaction where the automated system meets and interacts with the user. We were only allowed to use a single sensor in order to explore multiple possibilities of creativity.
Solution
We were inspired by madala shapes. From there, we started building a physical interface which allows the user to create an unexpected sketch by going away from our traditional perception of drawing. The user has the ability to create complex shapes by drawing something that is always unique from everyone else.
The user starts by laying their fingers on the knobs and, by instinct, starts twisting them left and right, realizing that every twist corresponds to the X and Y location of the line and creates a stroke on the screen. This stroke is generated on the whole display where the drawing resembles a mandala pattern.
As the drawing starts to fade away, the user continues twisting the knobs in order to carry on with the drawing.
User interaction
The user can express control with a personal drawing intention.
Installation
The installation consists of a hardware interface which contains potentiometers and a Circuit Playground Express (CPE).
The CPE is programmed in the Arduino IDE. It captures real-time data from the user's interactions and sends the information to MaxMsp through OSC communication protocol. They establish a real-time communication between the hardware and software.
Then, MaxMSP receives the information with per-defined drawing settings for the user to create mandala shapes.
As the information changes, the mandala shapes evolve simultaneously with the information triggered by the user on the hardware interface.
Finally, it is possible to notice a constant feedback between the user and the interactive drawings in real-time.
