THE SORROWMAKER

Made in HK.

[thesorrowmaker]

Donation was something boring before. Volunteers persuading donators, embarrassment somehow felt between volunteers and donators. This device turns the situation total opposite direction: Volunteers are attracted, not persuaded. The animation simulates all kind of need on the other side of the world.  To enhance it, I suggest that the card swiper should be added a force sensor. Only a pretty much heavy of force could totally cut off a bread, or an object, simultaneously, you donate more.

[thesorrowmaker]

Storytelling through playful interactions from Dalziel & Pow on Vimeo.

[thesorrowmaker]

This is a great installation for telling a story. Typical story board only shows on 2D flat image which is not moving, or a looping video installed. In this piece of work, a timeline from its story could be shown by touching and pressing, which adds a time-specific configuration of the installation.

Every elements of the drawings are connected by the animation generated by interaction. By permutation, audience could enjoy thousands of animation arrangement. After that, each element affects each other.

[thesorrowmaker]

The Marble Machine is a combination of craftsmanship, mechanics, music and interaction.  The creator used a laser cut technology to craft the model, which a great use of this recently populated modelling technology. For mechanic, he cleverly combines percussion, strings, piano and electric music. The marbles are not the sole instrument to make sounds, with music-box-inspired ‘tank tread’, recording a complete track via computer software. Being brief, this device crosses from analog to digital.

Different operating sequence determines the style/genre of a melody. Like chords, clear, bass etc. The marble machine is pretty much a music instrument, or a mini band. Musicians can also change the beat of the song. I believe this is a dream gadget to music lovers.

[thesorrowmaker]

[thesorrowmaker]

Typical water membrane fountains all form one traditional ‘umbrella’ kind of form. From this we could imagine how people love with this interesting appearance of water. The HydroMorph has put this old installation type into the next level, giving it a delta(Δ) due to ambient change. This idea could bring many possibilities to commercial purposes.

HydroMorph could be applied on faucet, especially in hotel restrooms, or luxury apartments. Wrapped with refined materials and craftsmanship, plus its intelligence, it could be a focus in the bathroom.

The concept can also be used in massive fountains as several decorative installations. With some considered lighting and sound, it might be an icon of a property.

[thesorrowmaker]

[thesorrowmaker]

This mirror reminds me the Mirror of Erised in Harry Potter, it only shows something sensible when you are stand still. Rozin, the artist, turns a retro pointillism portrait painting concept into a modern, and cyber artwork. Integrated with camera and computing technology, this is a piece of successful interactive media, with the influence of retro impressionism.

Rozin used non-reflective wood pieces to create the ‘reflective surface’ of a mirror, which is a daring choice on materials. Wood can not reflect images, moreover, its rough surface stands a big contrast with a smooth, metallic, glass-moulded mirror, completely reconstructing our concepts about a mirror. Most importantly, real-time-responsive ambient capturing and projecting is rare and fresh in year 1999. Similar product like the selfie camera, web camera, had been popular since 2004. This idea was revolutionary, and it would be better if the face displayed on the woods could play some funny tricks like twinkling eyes or vampire faces just like what we can do with Snapchat.

Combining historic impressionism, cutting-edge technology and selective material into one piece of this simple and instinctive artwork, was, undoubtedly, a break through.

[thesorrowmaker]

HydroMorph from Tangible Media Group on Vimeo.

[thesorrowmaker]

Typical water membrane fountains all form one traditional ‘umbrella’ kind of form. From this we could imagine how people love with this interesting appearance of water. The HydroMorph has put this old installation type into the next level, giving it a delta(Δ) due to ambient change. This idea could bring many possibilities to commercial purposes.

HydroMorph could be applied on faucet, especially in hotel restrooms, or luxury apartments. Wrapped with refined materials and craftsmanship, plus its intelligence, it could be a focus in the bathroom.

The concept can also be used in

[thesorrowmaker]

Everbright

[thesorrowmaker]

This kind of device may be seen before. While people stands on that board, force sensors send signals to computer and then analysed, animation is then displayed. The reaction of the device is fast and accurate, which inspires me so much.

Due to its high accuracy, I have an idea which may apply on this LED floor. As the laser-styled animation displayed inspired me, I think this could be a game. Using body gestures like foot kicking, pointing to your opponent, then a laser is projected straight to your rival. Meanwhile, your rival has to dodge or project the same laser to compensate your attack. As the floor is force-sensitive, your accuracy and force applied will be counted. If you rival cannot project more force than you, then his/her has to subject a point lost.

The other idea is about dancers. Pop-dancers’ fast movements are entertaining. If the floor is adapted to sense movements and steps from dancers, then a specified dance may draw a beautiful animation right on the LED screen. 


[thesorrowmaker]

Storytelling through playful interactions from Dalziel & Pow on Vimeo.

[thesorrowmaker]

HydroMorph from Tangible Media Group on Vimeo.

[thesorrowmaker]

Spira is a very typical installation at first glimpse, no drama, no much imagination. Yet, it is a device for modern and tasteful people. écal created something technical, as well as very please looking at it. The very first surprise is the magnetic induction charger. Wireless charging is newly used in some high-end products, which enjoys high opportunity of enhancement. This charging method also merges the smartphone itself into a part of the product. The second concept that surprises us is the thermochromic paint. When the phone is being charged by electromagnetic induction, the chemical battery inside slightly releasee heat energy which turns the paint in a different colour. The change of colour brings effective visual impact to the audience. The third surprise is the application for the phone. The interactive idea uses the most instinctive gestures to show the clock, pouring out the balls. Therefore the application beckons the bridge between the phone and the main body, letting the whole installation be one and complete.

This installation fuses technology, visual elements and interactive idea into one device, which should be successful. However, base on ‘wireless’ and 'contact’ are how greatly emphasised inside the installation, the long black wire should not be existing — at least not in front of the audience. I suggest the installation is powered by a white cord smartly hidden in the wall/furniture, so that the annoying black wire can never ruin the whole picture.

[thesorrowmaker]

People are so familiar with balusters that they may even ignore their existence. As the creative team Geometry Global Paris turns those railings into life, joy and fun was injected into somehow-boring safety facilities. The Team is so clever that they only need to make these clamps as the other components are public.

This work makes a great contrast to Hong Kong. There is no space for artist even like Invader’s mosaic work, while artwork are well accepted in France public. The Paris Résonne Encore is a kind of street art which greatly popularises art to citizens. Unlike to most artwork, the audience is not required to pay the museum. Art is right in their lives.

To enhance to whole installation, I believe the team can invent more familiar songs like ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’ or some very local nursery rhymes (for example 月光光照地堂 in HK), or some Les Misérables theme songs. Theses songs would be installed in different places, where should be iconic and magnificent in the city. After then the Team could rise a campaign letting citizens to collect and discover these songs and the city they are living like a city hunt.

[thesorrowmaker]

At the first glimpse, audience should be attracted by the illuminating, glittery forest. The environment it gives, a very tempting and obsessive environment, impressing the audience at the very first sight.

Stepping into the magic forest, visitors cannot control themselves touching it. If they do, music notes is then pop out, with a clear and mysterious, yet romantic tone, enhancing the entire experience. Visitor could enjoy the excitement on both visual and auditory senses. Every tree is tuned to a specific tone so when a group of visitors trying to prove their music sense, a symphony is then created.

The producing team introduced a multi gesture sensing system, with tapping, shaking, plucking, and vibrating, visitors can produce different feelings of a same pitch and tone. With this design, the audience can have more ways to create their own music. However, they seemed not creating a bass or drum set tones. As a music guy, I think introducing a Cajón set and a bass set (not too much), so that a mysterious ambient would have offered.

[thesorrowmaker]

This mirror reminds me the Mirror of Erised in Harry Potter, it only shows something sensible when you are stand still. Rozin, the artist, turns a retro pointillism portrait painting concept into a modern, and cyber artwork. Integrated with camera and computing technology, this is a piece of successful interactive media, with the influence of retro impressionism.

Rozin used non-reflective wood pieces to create the ‘reflective surface’ of a mirror, which is a daring choice on materials. Wood can not reflect images, moreover, its rough surface stands a big contrast with a smooth, metallic, glass-moulded mirror, completely reconstructing our concepts about a mirror. Most importantly, real-time-responsive ambient capturing and projecting is rare and fresh in year 1999. Similar product like the selfie camera, web camera, had been popular since 2004. This idea was revolutionary, and it would be better if the face displayed on the woods could play some funny tricks like twinkling eyes or vampire faces.

Combining historic impressionism, cutting-edge technology and selective material into one piece of this simple, instinctive artwork, was, undoubtedly, a break through.

[thesorrowmaker]

In haptic cities like Hong Kong, people hate waiting red lights. What they really want to do is to rush and bypass all the red icons. In the case like that, it is dangerous on road. The Dancing Red Light successfully solved the problem with a design like that. Waiting is no more boring as the little red man jumping and bouncing, catching pedestrian to stop and watch.

The Dancing Red Light would require someone keep waving their bodies to keep the little red man dancing. It is a real-time device as shown in the video, which, sadly, might not moving constantly as there may not be a person dancing back the stage. Therefore, a movement log should be installed so that the computer can remember previous movements, preventing a gap. When the camera detects a person coming in, the machine turn real-time display instantly. Another measure would enhance the installation is a pedestrian-aimed movement receiver. The motion sensor might be possible to be installed on both sides of the road, as a random chosen pedestrian moves, the little red man follows.