User:Kenah/Unravel the Code V

Unravel the Code V Q9

Interesting works

Human Antenna
What I found interesting about this project, is that is has a whole new way of letting people interact with the installation that is basically a radio.
It uses the person and makes it a part of it.
http://www.kraeutli.com/index.php/2009/09/01/human-antenna/

A World Beyond the Loudspeaker
What I found interesting about this project, is that is has a whole new way of letting people interact with the installation that is basically a radio. It uses the person and makes it a part of it.
http://www.evdh.net/awbl/

Immateriality as Material
What I found interesting about this project, is that is has a whole new way of letting people interact with the installation that is basically a radio. It uses the person and makes it a part of it.
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/immateriality-as-material

Walkthrough
the simplicity is really dope in this project. its just 1500 speakers echt playing a certain frequency of sound. I like the way they let people experience the different octaves of sound.
https://vimeo.com/45225412

An Eerie Geiger Counter Chandelier That Flashes and Clicks When It Detects Nearby Radiation
Just like the Immateriality as Material project, I like the way they found to make radiation visible or noticeable. Also, the cultural relevance of the project is very interesting. It's like a warning and a tribute to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
http://laughingsquid.com/an-eerie-geiger-counter-chandelier-that-flashes-and-clicks-when-it-detects-nearby-radiation/

Wallwave Vibrations
I never really see science and art really crossover unless it's an interactive installation with lights and sound and mechanics. that is why I really like this project. making electromagnetic waves, visible through sculpting.
http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/loris-cecchini-wallwave-vibrations-extruding-bodies-sculptures#.V5_m8kpHWbU.pinterest

Analog Sensing Devices

a picture of the analog sensing Device my team made

Catching the signals
last year we learned a little bit about electronics and how to make your concepts come to life. But is was nowhere near what we had to do in our first workshop. In this workshop, we had to get a quick understanding of radio waves and how to make a receiver that catches a certain frequency. Me and two other students worked together on an amplified receiver. there was a simpler one but a big part of the group already choose to do it and I also looked at it as a challenge to see if we could figure out how to make it with little understanding of what we were making. The first thing we learned was that de size of the antenna had a big part in what it would receive. The second thing i learned is that soldering and reading schematics is still pretty hard to do right. I made one bad connection and the LED light responded but only if you touched it with your hands. it never responded to the signal. Simon eventually helped us out and then it worked like a charm.

Navigating the Hertzian Space

What are radiowaves

In the First real class we had with Roel he showed us how to work with the wiki. After that, we went in deep. Because none of us were really familiar with the science of radio waves (Because the last time we had lessons on it was in the middelbare school), he had to teach us it all over again. he explained what the different wavelengths are and explained more on how broad the radio wave spectrum really is. After that intense class, he gave us our own antenna so we could test it out. After we installed all the software needed I tried getting commercial radio stations to listen to just to test if I understood how it all worked.

Whats can i find in the air

The next class we had with Roel we had to go out en discover other signals and try to identify them. Jeroen and I Wanted to go to a high open area to see what we could find. So we choose to go to the roof of the V&D garage. We managed to get some interesting signals. Even getting one that almost getting a clear reading on a vocal transmission.

Sound Recording

Signals as sounds

The last Assignment we got was to look at the sound we found interesting and make something out of it. For me, all the audio signals were just noise. I'm acostumed to listen to music and it has structure en rhythm in it what makes it understandable for me and lets me enjoy it. If I am someone that has that opinion then there will certainly be more on this planet. So I tried to decode de signals by repurposing it to music or at least to the best of my abilities. in the link below you will find my experiment.

Soundwaves

An imaginary radio object

heart beat readio

Now-a-days people live into much of a rush. everything is fast pace and there is a lot of stress. Everybody pushes through till their body gives out. So my first version of my imaginary radio was device, that would allow you and your body to have a better connection. By using your bodies heart rate it would tune the radio to s specific channel or song. so if you are stress or excited the radio would play you something that uptempo. and if you are calm en relaxed to music would match that mood. If you here what your body is going threw you could eventually also learn to control it for example while exercising. But after some feedback and a discussion i came to the conclusion that listening to the heart beat also had a very deep and poetic effect. so i continues exploring options that would bring me closer to listening to the heart beat.

room installation & patch for radio

with listening to the heartbeat in mind i tried to think of something new. i came up with an installation that would be in a room. by moving through the space, you could tune the radio to a specific heart rate. but after consulting with Jon he told I got convinced that keeping it in a room would take away the interest of it because it would have needed more meaning to really make it relevant for such a space. another idea i had, was a patch that you would apply on you chest in the area of your heart and you could tune your heart to someone else's.

final vision heart beat radio and how to interact

Then I came up with my final idea for now. it's a shirt or a t-shirt or a vest with touch sensitive area over the heart. by using gestures over the pad you could control te radio simple swipes would let you navigate heartbeats or raise the heart beat and change the volume.

Research on the heart

Defibrillators
in this video, I found an infographic video on how the heartbeats gets controlled by a Defibrillators. It gives the heart little electrical shocks for if the tempo has to stay up. But if the heartbeat runs too fast it gives a big electrical pulse to shock it back to an slower rhythm. it also gives a clear view of how one looks.

effect of listening to heartbeats
In this artical they explaine the effects of listening to heartbeats. It appears to have a really intimate feeling to the listener. they explain it to be the same as looking into someones eyes

Recording heartbeats
I found a video explaining how to get your computer to record the heartbeat using a stethoscope.

MICA Workshop

Yeeey we got visitors!! Several American students from MICA came to the Netherlands. Together with the fourth year students we got the do a workshop. The workshop was again all about radio waves. all the students were divided in four groups and each got their own assignment to work on. The First day was an introduction day. Everyone gathered in front of the Markthal so we could give a little tour of it. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay to see all the presentations given.

The second day was when the workshop really started. I was in the first team and the team assignment was called "Inter-galactic communication". We had to think of a message that we could transmit into space, so it was a really conceptual project. Teachers that came by gave us a few examples. One being a golden plate with sound recordings of de artist girlfriend engraved in it and some additional information on human race. We found the romantic and poetic idea of it really interesting. VOYAGER GOLDEN RECORD.
Another project send into space was more scientific. they made a system where they used binary code and colors to make an image that would explain what the human race is. ARECIBO MESSAGE

an illustrated explanation of our concept and installation

So we started thinking and trying to find insights that could lead to a strong concept. First thing we noticed in the other two project was that they were both a representation of human told by one person perspective. and we found it too big of a task to do it our selfs. because what are you going to focus on is you have to tell it and if you explain is it going to be an honest representation of the human race. So we wanted to find a way to let everyone tell what the human race is about. Twitter was a good medium to use that was easily accessible to get the type of information we needed. By Giving out or collecting hashtags we could collect a massive about of data. But that was also the problem. the information could be overwhelming.

the end result at the exhibition

So we looked further. Next medium we came up with was google. google already collects data and gives you the top suggestions when searching. When we found out if it was possible to collect de top suggestions we just had to figure out what the question starters could be. we made list, of questions to test. We noticed that "Am i" "Should I" "Does he" "Does she" all gave interesting results. So we set a team up to write the code so we had everything ready and that the computer could read the questions out loud. After that, we came together again to find a good context to present our idea. We tried to find places or moments where you were confronted with questions. we could have just put a laptop with speakers in the exhibition and we found that it would have an impact. But everyone agreed that making an installation out of it would bring it to a next level. There were some ideas like for example to make it a religious thing, But we couldn't find a good way to visualise it. The next thing we came up with is that the only other place where question float around, is in your own mind. So we wanted to bring out that voice and not only let whatever is out there see who and how we are at that moment in time, but also let the people experiencing the installation have a reflective moment. Eventually, we decided on making a physical google search bar with a blinking cursor. Together with the audio that read the questions out loud, it demonstrated the insecurities and the thought process we as humans deal in our everyday lives.

Q10

Group Chat

1. What theme are they investigating?

Human relation with technique (in frequency / sound)

2. What would be an appropriate question/challenge to answer in this project?

What is your context? Is this project about the future? Now? Is it something online?

3. Name an interesting reference project that has yet to be mentioned (what does this work remind you of?)

4. In what context do you forsee the final result situated in (commercial product/service, gallery object/installation, public intervention, experimental publication…. ?

Depends a lot on the way Kenah chooses to go. It can be some sort of performance captured in film, presented as an short movie in a gallery. It also could be an advertising campaign, or just a really really cool art project.

5. What weakness or threat should be urgently addressed?

A focus point. What is going to make this project interesting?

6. What would you propose as a logical next step?

Make up your mind in what way you want to go and start making experiments.

7. What might you be able to offer in terms of expertise/common interest that could be potentially useful for this project.

Battling about concepts

Researching and connecting the dots

8. How does/could the project connect with radio / electromagnetic spectrum?

Streaming heartbeats

Translating pulse frequency into art?

'BUILD YOUR OWN HEART MONITOR' Circuito Monitor de Batimentos Cardíacos

Monitor circuit Heartbeats

http://blog.novaeletronica.com.br/circuito-monitor-de-batimentos-cardiacos/

Measuring a pulse with infrared light

http://hackaday.com/2012/09/13/measuring-a-pulse-with-infrared-light/

Turn your computer into a pulse monitor

The easy to follow video tutorial is set to a funky beat that is sure to get your blood (and feet) moving.

http://science.wonderhowto.com/how-to/turn-your-computer-into-pulse-monitor-294605/

Easy pulse sensor (lots more of usefull next steps on that website!!)

http://embedded-lab.com/blog/easy-pulse-version-1-1-sensor-overview-part-1/

'REFERENTIE -PROJECTS' Smartwatches for soldiers: This wearable monitors vital signs of the wounded

http://www.wareable.com/saves-the-day/smartwatches-soldiers-vital-signs-the-wounded-555

This smart baby hat could save newborn lives in Uganda

Neopenda measures temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation.

http://www.wareable.com/saves-the-day/neopenda-smart-baby-hat-save-newborn-lives-uganda-2599

Wi-Fi pacemaker can call doctor at 2AM

"In the future, these pacemakers may be placed not just for people with slow heartbeats. We may be monitoring high blood pressure, we may be measuring glucose, we may be monitoring heart failure," he said. "There are literally dozens of physiological parameters that now, with this wireless technology, we can leverage for the future of monitoring. So it is not just a rhythm monitor but a disease monitor." Such systems have also been shown on the likes of the iPhone, with the LifeScan App from Johnson and Johnson one of the flagship demonstrations at the recent iPhone 3.0 firmware upgrade presentation.

http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/wi-fi-pacemaker-can-call-doctor-at-2am-624634

The best heart rate monitor apps | MEASURE YOUR HEART RATE USING THE FLASH ON YOUR IPHONE

http://www.livescience.com/49653-best-heart-rate-monitor-apps.html

'FOLKLORE'

Queen of hearts, tv-series once upon a time

I’m the Queen of Hearts. Do you really think I’d be so careless as to keep my heart where everyone else does?

http://onceuponatime.wikia.com/wiki/Queen_of_Hearts_(Episode)

Tales and/or folklore about the forcible taking of hearts?

http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/boardarchives/2006/aug2006/takinghearts.html

Sympathetic Magic Of The Ainu - The Native People Of Japan

The Legend of the Water-Ousel

‘The water-ousel came down from heaven. He is of a black color and lives along the water-courses. His heart is exceedingly wise, and in speech he is most eloquent. When therefore he is killed he should immediately torn open, and his heart wrenched out and swallowed. This should me done before it gets cold or damaged in any way. If a man swallows it at once, he will become very fluent and wise, and will also be able to overcome al his opponents in arguments. But the water-ousel has power to help in other way. For not only does he make people eloquent, but he also makes all who swallow his heart prosper in wealth far above their neighbours. The person who is fortunate enough to swallow one is called by the special name of Chikoshinninip epirika guru, i.e. ‘the person who has gained a charm’. For this reason the water-ousel is to be worshipped and has inao offered to him.’

https://books.google.nl/books?id=tmx8CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT12&lpg=PT12&dq=ripping+out+a+heart+in+folklore&source=bl&ots=jtQ-QKg-BP&sig=t4agjppzX2WtkuPnjIl8fKsY_I0&hl=nl&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiYlJ3N36rQAhWDCBoKHcxqC3EQ6AEILDAC#v=onepage&q=ripping%20out%20a%20heart%20in%20folklore&f=false

SUPERPOWER WIKI | The ability to rip out the heart. Sub-power of Cardiology Manipulation.

http://powerlisting.wikia.com/wiki/Heart_Rip

'QUESTIONS '

Why would we want this personal data online?

Intrigue

Spiritual life source

What would it mean if we can monitor each others heartbeat?

Control over loved ones?

Feeling comfort in each others heartbeat? >> some spiritual meaning?

How could the data be used?

By government?

Health insurance?

A ‘SMART’ house? << Lights turning on and off / Music related to your pulse / mood lights

As an social status (the better your heart rate the more options for succes)

What would be the consequences?

Is there a scenario where this technique would be used worldwide?

For instance war, people are disconnected from loved ones. The only way to see if they are okay is to check their heartbeat.

Heartfelt

At the start of the tenth quarter, I was still fascinated by the idea a broadcasting heartbeat sounds.
So I continued looking into it t maybe find some context or social impact it could have.
Here you can see the research and experiments I did that lead to my final result.

'speaker installation' https://vimeo.com/46536144

At first, I looked into building a big scale speaker/amplifier. The installation by itself would already be intriguing. But what I wanted to do is put it in the school's hallway in the Blaak building during the openday.
the acoustics there also echo the sound and thereby amplified it even more. I wanted to collect heartbeats of students and play them in a sequence.
This would be the symbolic metaphor saying that the students of WDKA are the beating heart of the school. But this would have meant losing the intimacy because the visitors don't know what students they are listening to.

'Directional speaker' https://vimeo.com/46536144

I also look into the use of directional speakers but I couldn't find any good reason why I could use it or what added value it would have given.
It could have been a surprise but after that there isn't a great deal why people would have wanted to interact with it.

DIY Digital Stethoscope

To record the heartbeat I need to build a device or mic that will capture the low frequencies. Doctors use Stethoscope to amplify the sounds to have a clearer sound. Nowadays you can buy digital stethoscopes but they can be very pricey. In order to find alternatives that I could build or make myself, I started to look around on youtube. In the video below there is a DIY stethoscope that looks easy to make and is versatile. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFEvfgLTblo https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8M1_VWf4lS2LVVEMEZvTnVreTA

I found myself a stethoscope to work with and bought a microphone. So I followed the tutorial as instructed in de video to the extent that it was possible with the stuff I had. My first attempt I managed to record sound but it was unclear because of the way I constructed it. I cut up the tube so I could fit the mic in that was too big to squeeze it in. This resulted in the recording in a lot of noise and a very ugly looking mic. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8M1_VWf4lS2bXlPSm5kNEk3Z0E

After this, I had to find a smaller mic to fit in. after breaking two mics by trying to force it in the tube. I figured out that I could open the stethoscope where the membrane is. I made the tube shorter and pulled the wire through it. after that, I added a knot to secure the wire and protect the mic. after soldering the mic I could screw it back on and test it out again. the sound was faint but clearer than the first mic. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8M1_VWf4lS2ZmZFTEtPbWNQUzA/view?usp=sharing

Low pass filter

To make the heartbeat sound a little clearer I had to play around with an EQ. what I had to do is make the audio file sound like it was underwater.
You do this by dimming down all the high-frequency sounds so you can only hear the low frequency aka the heartbeat.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8M1_VWf4lS2Y2RkcUdJSVI0ZmM/view?usp=sharing

Wearable

I wanted to make a strap that holds the stethoscope microphone in its place. What I noticed during the testing was that movement is that holding it with your hands also creates noise when recording because you move.
so by creating the strap, the user could move freely in a comfortable manner without having the inconsistencies that holding it with your hands have.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Scenarios

To give the project meaning/context I made up two scenarios how the heartbeat recorder could be used.
Both the scenarios have other implications and give a different sensation during use.

the pick

Most of the people choose the scenario where you got the pick and choose who you want to give it to. I also found that scenario more interesting because it had a more intense feeling.
Because you get to listen to some you care about whenever you want. you could also give it to a loved one that lives far away of a partner that has to travel.
It also had benefits for the elderly because you can listen to their heart to see if they are still alive.

Transmition

Mobile Phone

The perfect transmitter is something almost everyone already has in his or her pocket.
A mobile phone already does all the work so it is accessible for everyone and you could choose who you would send the recordings to or let someone call you and listen to you heartbeat.
You could also use social media like Whatsapp, twitter, Instagram and facebook to broadcast and share it. and show people your most honest representation of yourself.

Raspberry Pi

The raspberry Pi is a mini computer that you can programme to your liking. My initial plan was to make it an add-on that would also stream but in a more private manner.
with to raspberry pi, I could make a streaming broadcast host and let select people access the stream via a web portal. this could give me more possibilities to add to the experience.
for example, I could add visuals or let the owner of the device record a sample for a later time and he could make his own collection so he could select who he would listen to.

Streaming

I had the Idea that it would have been easy to make a streaming platform but I was horribly wrong.
I looked into different ways of streaming and different platforms. PulseAudio, Icecast and VLC.

VLC was the easiest to let audio stream, but I couldn't find anywhere how to make it record audio so that fell off quickly.

Pulse audio was recommended to me and look promising. I had everything that I needed to make my Raspberry Pi stream but my lack of knowledge on programming hindered me.
there were no clear tutorials that could help me figure it all out. so I continued with Icecast.

IceCast also required me to figure out some coding and working in the terminal. But it had a lot fo video tutorials en forms that had explinations to work with.
I gave it a go, but it my knowledge took to much time to learns it and to get it to work.

Conclution

During Q10 I struggled to give context to my project. I had ideas but none of them really made an impact.
Looking back on it all I had an intriguing idea from te start but I started overthinking it. This held me back and made me struggle on my experiments.
but when I finally decided on making the wearable the main object to work with it went really quick.
I made the scenarios and the started researching what was needed. I really liked that I got a glimpse into what is possible with the raspberry, and I would like to do more with it.
I also like that I got to sew for the first time. What I would have done differently is start earlier on figuring out how broadcasting was possible so that i could build of of that instead of teh recording of heartbeats.
But after these two quarters i feel like i have learned a lot.