What a great project for me to work on! Back in 2006 when I was at the MIT Media Lab I began work on a project called I/O Earphones; a pair of headphones that would be an (implicit) input device rather than just an output channel. Although that project went on the back-burner when I started working on the Pepsi Machine project, I was able to work with a production model of something that closely embodies what I wanted to create (Neurosky BCI Headset).
The best pert however was being able to control the CN Tower. Upon my arrival to Toronto I first noticed the amazing lighting system on the tower. Immediately thoughts of how I could gain control of these light coursed through my brain. Well, about a year later guess what I was doing?
When visitors arrive at Bright Ideas, InteraXon’s thought-controlled computing experience custom designed and built for the 2010 Olympics, they are lead to their own pod. In front of each pod is a large projection screen as well as a small training screen. Once seated, a trained host hands them a headset that will measure their brain’s electrical signals.
With help from the host, the participants learn to deliberately alter their brainwaves. By focusing or relaxing their mind, they learn to change the display on their training screen; music and seat vibrations provide immediate feedback to speed the learning process to five minutes or less. Now they are ready for the main event.
Thoughts are turned into light patterns instantaneously as their brain’s digital signal is beamed over the Rocky Mountains, across vast prairies all the way to three major Ontario icons – a distance of 3000 km.
This project – a first at this grand scale – allows each participant to experience a very personal connection with these massive Ontario landmarks, and with every Canadian watching the lightshow, whether online, or in-person.
I was finally able to make it to Gadgetoff this year in NYC. For those that don’t know, Gadgetoff is a “technology salon” or conference that is similar to TED, but is focused on only the most cutting-edge technologies. Past speakers include such luminaries in the tech world as Dean Kamen (inventor of the Segway and other cool devices), Will Wright (developer of Spore and Sim City), Ramesh Raskar (of the MIT Media Lab’s “Camera Culture” group) - and heck, yah, I was invited to give a speech and a demo too! ^_^
I decided to release a technique that I discovered a while ago (but have kept under wraps) that allows you to hide secret messages in any standard web graphic (say a .jpg or a .png). We call it the the “Kameraflage Effect“, and it’s really really cool.
I must say that the whole Gadgetoff event blew my mind into chunks. I can’t wait for the next Gadgetoff - now it’s back to the lab-o-rino to come up with something brand new to show at the next event!
P.S. Thanks to all those who were involved in creating the Gadgetoff event - especially the Dubno brothers who graciously put up with my constant changing of plans. Sometimes when you are working on curtting-edge technologies there is lame legal red-tape which makes it hard to be able to actually show innovations before they hit the market. A lot of people are involved in bringing a new product to market and you have to respect their desires to know exactly how/when/why/who is taking a peek at their “TOP SECRET” projects. Anyways, I totally salute the Gadgetoff crew!
I collaborated with Jacky Lee while in Taiwan on this interactive TV project as part of our ongoing research into interactive and emotionally-reactive television. It was installed at the Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art as part of the 2007 Animamix Biennial.
The “Community Vending Machine” or simply “Pepsi Machine” was a project that I completed while at the MIT Media Laboratory that was shown at Wired NextFest 2006 in NYC. I don’t have time to go into details now, but just know that it’s an interactive media purveying platform that uses multiple (14) individual spanning screens, computers, microphones and computer-vision to allow people to interact both explicitly and implicitly.
Most interesting for me is the fact that the machine passively generates knowledge about the specific audience that visits it and can then use this data to inform the content creators or even as a commodity to sell to 3rd parties. To this end the Pepsi Machine has expanded possibilities for generating value… I’ll elaborate more later.small, medium or large video demos available.
This technology is currently jointly PATENT PENDING with myself, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and PepsiCo.
If You don’t see me online or wonder why it’s taking me 12 extra hours to reply to your emails it is because I am in Taiwan giving a series of talks and demos.
Yesterday I spoke at Gamania about the Pepsi Machine, kameraflage and demoed my Motion-Sensing Dog collar concept (Which they totally loved).
Today I was supposed to give a similar talk at ITRI, but there is a category 5 typhoon on the way and it is dangerous to travel… Plus I have serious jet-lag, and need to save my energy for Nightmarket; a 3-day hack-a-thon.
As I am resident technologist/artist/hackist for Nightmarket, I will be helping the participants implement their ideas in addition to building my own installation from scratch with Jacky Lee to be unveiled/installed at the National Taiwan Museume of Fine Art
I’ll be back in Cambridge, MA. the first week of September with serious jetlag and a hankering for a cheeseburger.
