Blinded by the light

Everything from tech to new media always with a neuroscience point of view

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This is a late post and imported from the MuArts website about our performance at the “Brave New World | Has the Future Arrived to Soon? {Casa da Música, Porto, Portugal}”

We had the pleasure to be invited to present a joint project with NERRY (Neuro-Enchancement Responsible Research and Inovation) at the "Admirável Mundo Novo" (Brave New World Conferences) hosted by the Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos at Casa da Música (House of Music) here in our hometown, Porto. The conferences were about how the new hera of technology would shape the world in the future making reference to the well known book written by Aldous Huxley. The panels ranged between themes such as: the digital me; intelligent life; economy 2.0; the digital republic. This project was a collaboration between our group and the artist Maria Manuela Lopes (ID+; IBMC) as part of her Post-Doc Research project: Memory of me. "This project aims to develop cross-disciplinary relationships and encompass their evolving research to interrogated societal, artistic and ethical attitudes to neuro-enhancement, memory and the preservation of the body, exploring the potential of neuro-stimulation sound waves and EEG for artistic research. I intend to produce a series of Drawings following a neuroscientific/ psychological guideline for psychological assessment on identity and sense of self (i.e. The TST – twenty statements test protocol is to complete the 20 times in a row the sentence I am …). The drawings are produced by writing in graphite sentences starting by I am and after 20 sentences I interrupt the flow and erase partially the resulted drawing. Immediately after that effacing action I counteract enacting the procedure of writing another set of 20 sentences. The whole event will be performed while listening to memory stimulating sound tracks and while having my brain being sensed for the different waves it produces (through the technology of electroencephalogram - EEG - brainwave detecting sensor. EEG measures frequencies of my brain activity (Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Theta) relating to my state of ‘consciousness’ while wearing it. The data collected from EEG is translated in real-time to the computer and I can choose to record video images of it or using software programs to perform other actions (such as sending information into Processing or Arduino, which is linked with Max/MSP to receive data and generate sound or video or even controlling an embroidering machine that will produce further drawings). The EEG records in a video file the ‘drawings’ that my brain is producing while thinking who I am, and the whole set is recorded with an external video camera. The drawings will endure until exhaustion of either the material surface, my memory, the length of the soundtrack or other unpredictable enforcement." Spaces, places and objects hold presences, experiences, wishes and memories that are constantly reshaped. By interweaving metaphors of memory along history, with personal archival elements, site experience and public engagement, as well as scientific instruments/technics and notions of memory/identity in neropshychology understanding, my work responds into creating a suspended moment were simultaneously memories and images are both creating and evanescing. As this opportunity will represent a first time in Lithuania the myth of myself will be enriched with the formation of fresh memories as I experience As an artist or a designer, it can be challenge to express a certain narrative or feeling in your designs. But what if you could translate your emotions directly into an object as a memory of a certain moment? The idea behind Enhancing the Mind’s I is to design with the mind (both metaphorically and literally!) by using my brainwaves as tools for a new humanistic arts based-approach. The I is metaphor for an allegorical inverted Cartesian Theatre with neurons illuminating a search for the self." By Maria Manuela Lopes

Technically, the project consisted in translating the brain activity of the artist wile drawing analogically into a color projection of the same draw. Basically, the artist was drawing with the hand and painting with "the mind".

We have used the Emotiv Epoc HeadSet and a Max 7 patch for the data acquisition and another patch with Jitter for the color image manipulation.

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NEO-POPX

This last week we went to NEO-POPX  - Electronic Music Festival and it was amazing. The festival was celebrating it´s 10 anniversary and the party went crazy.

Gustavo Pereira was the host and we were all guests to celebrate electronic music on it´s maximum. 

First of all I have to say, the festival was amazingly well organized: 

.the environment was great and the staff team was perfect.

. the line-up was one of the greatest for the last years regarding electronic music in Portugal, with names such as: Sven Vath; The Martinez Brothers; Loco Dice; Mano Le Tough; Deep Dish; Recondite; Oscar Mulero.

.the debut of the anti-stage that was focused in a more experimental electronic music where national and international producers had the opportunity to premiere their performances. Very well known in the Oporto scene and close friends such as Alex FX (with Echomental Live Experience) and Gustavo Lima (with A Thousand Details) blowed the crowd off their heads.

My experience wouldn’t have been the same without my colleague and close friend RUMEX and the exquisite and a master on the Portuguese music scene Alvaro Costa. Hope to see you NEO-POP on your 11th anniversary. And long live the Techno.

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Finding Something Sounding Bonding was the project that me and my team (Horácio and Fanny) presented on the late Music Tech Fest Scandi (MTFScandi). We had the pleasure to win the #MusicBricks Incubation Award as I have already posted on a former blog. As firmed in the MusicBricks newsletter: 

“The #MusicBricks project packages exclusive new technologies from top European research institutions as a series of APIs, Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) and Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs). These APIs, GUIs and TUIs are the 21st century equivalent of Lego bricks - simple components that combine to build ingenious projects. #MusicBricks places those building blocks of innovation into the hands of hackers, and provides microfinance for the best ideas to further develop to commercial prototypes.”

“#MusicBricks is a collaboration between Stromatolite, Sigma-Orionis, Ircam-Centre Pompidou, Music Technology Group, Vienna University of Technology, and Fraunhofer IDMT, and has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 644871.”

“Four innovative seed ideas developed at the #MTFScandi hack camp last month and four more from last weekend's Music Hack Day Barcelona at Sonar+D have been selected by expert industry judges to go the next step and prepare their ideas for a real world market.”

Our project is based on the challenge theme proposed on the MTFScandi Hackathon: Music communication. 

We aim to represent a duality between the mind and the body. There is constant fight between the mental & the physical fulfillment to achieve an enlightenment state of being. As Napoleon said: "There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit." In this performance what mediates this fight is the sound. The mind will control audio and video samples organized in a mental playlist according to it´s activation or relaxation and the body will control the effects according to its position, acceleration and angle. Let´s see who wins this war.

We have used technologies such as: the Emotiv Epoc headset; . HoMy_EmoRAW; R-IoT sensors (from IRCAM); Max MSP7; Jitter; Adobe After Effects; Adobe Premier Pro; Ableton Live; an Audio Interface; a Dj Mixer and a Video Projector.

For the MTFScandi Hackathon social platform: http://www.hackathon.io/findingsomething-bondingsounding

....

We will have 4 months to develop even further our project so we can present it on the MTFCentral in Ljubljana on the 18-19-20 of September.

Our goals during the incubation period are:

1. Improve the Max/MSP patches for the Dj and Vj playlist control:

calibrate electrode sensibility; calibrate electrode impedances; implement — and possibly rethink — new and better neuroscientific algorithms and mental metrics for the mind playlist control system;

2. Improve the Max/MSP patches that uses the R-IoT sensors for the Kinectic Sound and Visual effector control system;

3. The implementation of this prototype in Max/MSP is not exclusive. In a long run we pretend to develop iOS and/or Andoid Apps. This means that we will need a C, C++ and Objective C skills to acomplish this goal;

4. Following the same criteria of non Max dependency, the future developped apps should be able to control headset devices other than Emotiv;

5. The development should focus on modularity and platform abstraction so we could make it able to connect to other devices — e.g., R-IoT — and properly use their data;

6. To make video and audio sample libraries for the future performances, e.g.:

vocals; low-frequency; drones;

7. To improve the performance/choreography per se.

Hope to see you all on the MTFCentral in September :)

[myxicoteixeira]

This past weekend was a breakthrough in my life and in my vision. I went to Be-In Gathering at the land of Boom for a In experience of how We have everything we need inside of us. I have learned that Be-in is: Be-in yourself, Breath in and Breath out and it makes all sense.  Through this journey I had the opportunity to experience and practice 4 therapies\workshops: 5 Rhythms dancing a mind blowing Dj set journey guided and facilitated by the Dj´s where a sound narrative was composed with the purpose of letting the crowd go by 5 natural rhythms from calm and relaxation to kaos and lyric.

Here is the description: “The movement is free and everyone is welcome !Participants follow their own movement impulse through the 5Rhythms.  We catalyse movement primarily through organic and Earthy music. As we move, we stir things up. Creative movement opens the door to the alchemy of this practice.We pace ourselves. We honour our own body and physical energy. We respect our body’s needs and limitations. We practice respect.  Mindfulness in relation to others is a basic tenet of this moving meditation.We practice silence. This meditation is an invitation to drop the words, speak with your body, turn your being into a moving work of art, let your very self become a dance.We stay present. As with any meditative practice, you will deal continuously with distractions. If we  get away from ourselves, we gently bring our attention back to our feet, the beat, the breath, the dance.We release our expectations. We know that clinging to ideas of “how it should be” cuts us off from what is actually happening. We will use  music of the world to catalyse and support what’s happening on the dance floor.We move towards an intention that we put in the Altar. Than we move our bodies  and  sweat our prayers to disappear in the Dance !” Source: http://madeinboomland.org/be-in/

Quotes like: “You don´t need ecstasy we are one” were listened and had make all sense. Through this journey and after you could feel a natural ecstasy, a natural high of who you really are. Everyone have been transformed in what the music would pull of them. In the end is all about the sound and how the sound can lead you through all your possible beings and is all about the dance and how dancing can make the energy flow in your body and purge all the blocking´s inside of you. .... Another overwhelming experience was the Qi Power Yoga, facilitated by my loved friend Inez Aires with the help of Nuno. With the flow of movement and the repetition of movement series and variations I could feel energized and and understand that each movement has it´s relation to a certain dimension of existence, from physical power, to creativity, consciousness and breathing. In the end is all about the movement and how movement and sequences can put you grounded or enlightened depending on which chackra ins being activated.

Here is the description: Qi Power Yoga Experience opens with the “Art of Cultivating Qi” through series of repetitive movements  that will allow you to be fully aware of your internal Qi and how to activate it.You’ll be invited to move this Qi through a Yoga series that will transform your body, mind and spirit. Integrating rhythmic breath and conscious movement with a prepared musical journey.

Source: http://madeinboomland.org/be-in/

...

The most transformational practice I have ever made was Rebirth a Holotropic meditation\breathing based on bioenergetic practices guided me through the most self-knowing journey. Wile breathing during 2 hours and guided by music and the facilitators I could experience from sexual arousal, emotion compassion and transference from the people surrounding me to bliss and understanding of the within force that all of we have and can use to live a more harmonious life in peace and gratitude.  In the end is all about breathing and inhaling the universe and exhaling our thoughts, traumas, and emotions can heal.

Here is the description: “Healing breath, also called Rebirthing, is an energetic meditation. It activates our energy centers, arousing altered states of consciousness that allow deeper awareness. Healing breath invites healing of the physical, mental and spiritual level. It allows a greater self containment of emotion and energy so that any intense emotion could be contained, expressed and loved.In the workshop we will experience guided cyclic-connected breathing in a safe and caring space. The purpose of this workshop is to allow breathers to accept themselves, and give their bodies and hearts as much cleansing air, energy and confidence they need.” Source: http://madeinboomland.org/be-in/

Last but not least and the most empowering tool of this gathering was meeting Shivani and her technique: Tantra. Through long talks with Shivani and a group session of Tantra Loveway I begun a process of desconditioning my self through acknowledging my fears and my blocking´s  and understanding that I could leave the mind and become the heart. With the heart knowledge everything is acceptance even fear is accepted by yourself and it becomes a tool rather than handicap. In the end is all about the heart and only with the heart is how we can forgive and accept even the worse this that this universe contain.

Here is the description: 

“TantraLoveWay is a path within the space of the Heart, offering keys to open, awaken, live and explore Meditation, Energy, Sexual Energy’s Potential and Conscious Spirituality. It is a path of reunion with your Essence where you can release blockages that prevent you from living totally.We share with you a chance to feel that everything is possible when you live from the Heart. We celebrate the heart vibration!In this workshop we use from Dance to Breathing & Meditation exercises, we share techniques and tools to live more totally, to fully embody the Sacred Feminine & Masculine and to awaken the spirit.Amongst this techniques, one can experience: Osho Active Meditations, Dancing, Breathing, Individual and couple structures, Body awareness, Energy work, Sensitizing techniques, Chakra´s work, Tantric exercises and meditations.”  Source: http://madeinboomland.org/be-in/

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What are the Music Bricks Incubation Awards??? The Music Bricks (http://musictechfest.org/musicbricks/) is an incubation platform that aims to take music ideas to market. It is part of the #MusicTechFest and #Sonar+D and acts as a database of API´s, GUI´s and TUI´s. We have used on our winning performance for the MusicBricks incubation programe the: The R-IoT sensor. 

The sensors embed a 9 axis sensor with 3 accelerometers, 3 gyroscopes and 3 magnetometers, all 16 bit. It allows for getting 3D acceleration, 3-axis angular velocity and absolute orientation at a framerate of 200 Hz over WiFi.The core of the board is a Texas Instrument WiFi module with a 32 bit Cortex ARM processor that execute the program and deals with the Ethernet / WAN stack. It is compatible with TI’s Code Composer and with Energia, a port of the Arduino environment for TI processors.The sensor module is completed with a series of analysis MaxMSP modules that facilitates its use, based on the MuBu & Co Max library. This collection of analysis tools allows for: filtering and analyzing, computing scalar intensity from accelerometer or gyroscope, kick detection, Mdetection motion patterns such as “freefall”, spinning, shaking, slow motion. Further motion recognition tools are available in the MuBu & Co library. (Source: http://musictechfest.org/musicbricks/)

Thanks to this programe we will be able to develop our hack idea further and produce something really inspiring and (hopefully) sustainable. The purpose of the incubation is to support the idea as much as possible in doing this, by providing a) assistance on the technical tools (the „Music Bricks“, i.e. software, APIs and the Ircam R-IoT motion device) b) advice on where to get assistance on third party tools and c) provide you a financial budget of 3000 Euro for carrying out your work on developing something sustainable. The budget is meant to help you on financing material, travel (e.g. to an institution which can help you progress), hiring additional personnel resources (e.g. a developer if needed) or anything that you think is needed to progress on our idea. 

You can see your performance at the minute 1:01:00 and the Hack Camp awards, The Toontrack Trackathon Awards and the Blue Vinyl awards hosted by adamjohnwilliams at from minute 2:17:00.

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I have to been trying to catch up what happened 2 weeks ago in Umea - Sweeden but everything is happening to fast.

100 Km below the North Pole in a place where the sun does not go down and sponsored by red bull ( can you imagine the thrill and high beta brain activity that was happening there??) the Music Tech Fest was happening.

Amazing gigs, amazing talks and a 48h hackathon for the development of music technology and ideas. I was amazed by 3 amazing artists:

. My newest friend Ma Tan from Tel Aviv and owner of Shift ↑ שיפט talking about Dis-Co-Tech Music - Technology, the first Hackathon for Music Technology for Special Needs. How brave is to link the top of the pyramid (pro musicians) with the bottom of it (disabled musicians) and how grateful is watching their evolution and happiness.

. Ecce Cello: conceptually genius performance gathering actual questions such as ego and technology with a good sense of emotionality and humor. You can see it on this amazing TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_hrVpx6bfY&

. And another one intrinsically genius because of the bright and skilled mind of the performer and the way it can visualize and conceptualize sound. You can see it here alongside with a synchronized cymatics production of his sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_hrVpx6bfY

In the end all the smart sketches that arises were all incredible.

Regarding our work, me and Horácio (the MuArts Team) have joint Fanny Fazakas to develop the project: #DoingSomethingSoundingBonding (http://www.hackathon.io/findingsomething-bondingsounding)

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With the new advances in eye-tracking technology is it possible to spot emotions regarding a certain web content? Eye-tracking is a technique that allows measuring the point of gaze or the movement of the eye relatively to the head. If one looks more frequently to a certain spot in the display, does it means that I am more engaged in that certain spot and its content? Nowadays eye-tracking is widely used in NM (Neuromarketing) mainly in the field of web usability. Fixations, saccades, pupil dilation, blinks are analyzed and rendered in a graphic interface so the effectiveness of a certain web page can be assessed. Web pages, small teasers, blogs, apps, films are examples of web content that can enjoy this kind of tech. Why not apply this kind of tech as an app for Facebook? fortunately (or not for us) it as already been done: GazeHaw, a two year-old startup bought by Facebook has developed this kind of technology. But it will be used by Facebook? or it's just a new webforce acquisition for Facebook to increase its web forecasting??