It arrived last Friday. And I've been slowly putting it together piece by piece. And there are a lot of pieces. So many, I either lost a few different sized screws or they weren't put in the package. Either way, there are plenty of ways to get it fixed up.
Controller Boards
Plastic Extruder
thing-o-matic body
I'm looking forward to making some custom light and camera mounts. And I'm sure I'll think of other things to build.
My how time will just disappear on you. I started with the fullest intentions on keeping up with writing on here. But it happens I suppose. I even have a couple 1/2 written but just don't like how they sound. May be if I just break it down into the key points of what's going on right now it'll help keep me on track.
And I still need to get back into learning more objective-C. Hopefully learning Openframeworks may give me a boost later on. I'm trying to keep thing documented and share the transition from Actionscript to Openframeworks... but holy crap it is quite a difference.
I can tell you this much. I've been using Code::Blocks for my development environment. The first stumbling block was just getting Openframeworks to compile something. Then learning how to pull in addons. Then pulling in the non-included addons. But once I started to get the hang of the addons, things started to get a little smoother.
The rough outline of the project is, and interactive wall, with some box2d physics, tracking bodies and objects with real world controllable components communicating through and arduino... crap that's a long sentence. Amazing thing is most of the base interactions stuff was a whole lot easier than expected. But the object tracking. There is not much guidance learning how to do stuff like that, but it's slowly starting to make sense. Hopefully I'll be able to put up some video.
I have been gone a while. A long while. But it is time to return.
Oh how life can change. If you asked me 6 years ago if I'd even venture out and become a full time consultant/freelancer. I would have just laughed and called you crazy. But look at me now, today is the first official day of cyancdesign, interactive consultant.
So what am I doing? Well, I have my one huge client that will be the bulk of my time, but I need to be a bit discrete for now. But I'm more than happy to hear out other project that may come along. Website design/dev, multitouch app dev, anything interactive that I know I can pull off, I'm there!! And some teaming up with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History to help them get a multitouch table together for this summer's big exhibit.
I'm looking forward to seeing what this new control of my time will lead to. I got a couple plans for some experiments and things to learn. I'm already slated for the next Collider at Akron U. Went to a lunch meeting for it and got most of the details already squared away. It'll be something cool to check out when it's up and running.
But already it feels like time is just ticking away. Much to do, but mostly write ups, php and openframeworks study. Yes, openFrameworks. I hear that it's worth transitioning too, I hope I hear right.
(^_^)//
Ever feel like you are just running around in circles and not getting anywhere? Same here, but we keep moving. I wanted to just take a moment to write down some goings on. Firstly to let you know there is still someone alive on this site, and two so I don't forget some of the things I'm trying to accomplish. In no particular order:
Krikies what a list. One step at a time and it'll be alright.
(^_^)//
I feel a shamed of my lack of communication on the web that has [not] been happening recently. I've been wanting to work on more experiments, put up more code, comment on events like the announcement of the iPad... (long rant shortened: it'll come down to Apple [or some iPhone app developers] creating that killer app for that one killer market).
But sometimes life just happens. It'll take any free time you may have, and take it all. Nothing bad is going down at least, but I've been having to shift my priorities around. There are a couple things in the works to that I'm very very excited about. And when the time comes, you'll know. (^_^)//
So at least I can let everyone play around with all the code and experiments that I already have up.
If you run into any trouble with any code, don't be afraid to email. I'll help the best I can with the time I got.
Happy Experimenting
Now, I know I've been very very silent. I'm very sorry about that, but there are only so many hours in a day. And I've been working on a new table (which is finally finished and already being exhibited in Akron) and I'll be helping to run "36 View of a Bridge" at The Bridge Project this weekend. The artist is hoping to add in a few more videos to the play list for everyone to enjoy and I only have tomorrow to wrap it all up. Oh yeah, and a full day of work to attend to. But there is excitement all around, I had a fantastic brain storming session with Dave Motram (co-interactive designer) and we have some solid ideas to present to Optiem. And with the help of Adam Polanski, I have a way to keep track of my multitouch table in Akron without having to go there every time the Flash errors or get phone call through the day, but I still need time to get down there to install the needed software.
So much to do...so much to do.
But I don't think I'd trade it for the world.
Stay tuned for pictures from Collider and The Bridge Project.
You can find out more about them in the Events section.
Temporarily, I have shifted from the software side of things back to the hardware. For those of you looking for more Flash experiments, my appologies. The experimenting is going to be taking a little break while I work on 2 new hardware projects.
Back to were I started, making a new FTIR table. I don't have everything planned out. I'm letting things come together organically. But here are the basic ideas I'm going for.
So far so good, I've slowly been getting all the pieces I need, and now I'm finally beginning fabrication. LED rails, acrylic holding frame, table spec design.
I finally received some income I've been looking forward to for quite a while. After debating with myself my ultimate intentions will all this multitouch experimentation, talking team up with a brilliant business mind, and a can-do personallity. I contacted a local distributor about purchasing a piece of capacitive foil.
True, it may not be multitouch (yet), but I've wanted to experiment with this kind of stuff from the start. And large scale, I mean 50" diagonal again 16:9 ratio. Something I can use to create a full scale demonstration of capabilities. Not just and idea, but an actual physical implimentation to show off.
The capacitive foil is on the way. I have a large piece of acrylic waiting for it to be applied on, I just need to build a stable frame to hold it up. And be able to swap from portrait to landscape.
And not to mention my practice of cross communication between computers and flash (in real time no less). There are interesting things right around the corner.
The Bridge Project - 36 Views of a Bridge with Alexander Boxerbaum
Collider Exhibition Series: Interactivity and New Media - new installation still in planning phase
until then, happy experimenting!
(^_^)//
I've got some upgrading going on. First, I procured a new projector. I was worried the old one was running out of bulb life, and I borrowed it. Similar throw distance, well a little less. And I decided to switch from FTIR to DI for an upcoming event. So now I can just get a now projection screen and solid surface and be set until the next build.
Fire up the SVN, Touchlib's AS3 TUIO library has been updated! Along with RotatableScalable. These files have been my introduction to developing Flash AS3 apps for multi-touch. This is a great thing, changes that have been mentioned in the NUIGroup Forum Threads have been added in. And even suggestions from this site has been added as well.
Now that Touchlib is once again updated. I've integrated the new files into my own collection of experiments., and went through each one to make sure no problems arose. Another thing I began checking was using Flash Player's Standalone Debugger version 10. For those who don't have Flash to work with and do not have a stand alone player, that's where you can find one. Read the rest of this entry »
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