Other influetial works

My research with Oskar Schlemmer has also led me to look at the of Etienne Jules Marey and his use of chronophotography and objects. His works seems to have qualities which I believe can create interesting development to my studio project. As a side note, I think I have found a simple and effiecent method of using string and other materials plus this new device, which elimanates the problem of my previous dilemma which was that it constantly was winding up and stopping the motor. Although there are still many questions regarding final production of these motors and string, I believe this discovery will quickly advance my porject.

Breadboard Advancements and Quirks

After failing to acquire decent materials for my motors, I focused on accomplishing the electronic aspects of my activating my motor to ligth sensors. After many unsuccessful and frustrating attempts at making the light sensor work in correspondance with a LED light. I found a site which show a method of using "Darlington Transistors" which is simply a combination of two transistors to amplify the amplification. The intent now is to incorporate my motor into it as well.
The Obstacle:
My findings have led me to come to the understanding that the integration of the motor to the light sensor is going to include a Relay and possibly a 555 timer, if my initial interntions of having each motor run with a different characteristic is included.
On the side note, during my process of building a circuit which includes the relay and 555 timer, I fell across a strange circuit some may find useful for there circuitry. It seems that I managed to create a touch sensor with the use of a LED, two transistors in a Darlington fashion and connection to the negative wire. So by simply touching a wire or the breadboard, with a metal piece, it finishes the circuit. If I recall, this may be suitable for some of my fellow collegues in studio who have been attempting to do this.

The update for the week

Abstrac + Studio Review:
The initial focus of my project consisted of looking at the relationship between that of man, machines and theatre performances between both. The progressive work of individuals such as Oskar Schlemmer from the Bauhaus more specifically regarding his “agent-space-event” theory drew quick attention to me and instigated further desire to explore methods of intertwining machines and humans in a fashion which causes various spatial configurations, within an environment and within the participants and reciprocated back to participants.

After a group review and critique, the extent of my project is falling towards more exploration of what my machine can develop with movement and materials. My initial approach aims at understanding the geometrical and functional spaces which can be created by the machines in relationship with human interactivity. The preliminary step to my project has been to recover machines and to deconstruct them to there primary and most fundamental component, the motor. The intent has been to develop a mechanism or circuitry which allows the motor to respond to the participant, by photovoltaic sensors and hence, reciprocate a response back to the participant. After further studies and investigation the idea is to project a more theatrical approach to my devices. At this moment, I am attempting to resolve my issue of find a suitable material which can hang and move freely due to the motors circular action and create geometries and spaces due to these circular movements, which will be determined by various factors such as weight, speed and length of string and alternative material. Questions regarding if the machines can interact with other machines, rather than humans come to the forefront and the possibility of placing the humans completely out of the equation is another idea I’d like to explore. Secondly the depiction and study of these movements produces other influential precedence’s which could possibly prove beneficial to the project. The work of Etienne Jules Marey and future chronophotography develops another aspect which may relate with my initial project of man and machine and the capture of movement.

Machines Are Providing me aTheatrical Performance

After last week's conversation with my professor, my exploration of combining the natural and artificial senses of both human and machines. I have been swayed in the direction of looking at the theatrical and architectural work of Oskar Schlemmer. Although I wasn't completely sure how this topic was going to relate with my original thought, I was intrigued by Oskar Schlemmer's theories of the"mechanized body", movement and relationship to its environment.


The obstacles which are now present with my project is how I can interpret Oskar Schlemmer's work and apply the electronic and mechanical devices which I have encountered with my objects.
The question, among many are...How do my electronic objects transform, to replicate the movements of human, based on senses? are they based on either natural or artificial ones? Do my objects move due to senses...or provide a response which is collected by our senses?

Time of Death...?

So...unfortunately, after attempting to discover the reason of my malfunctioning radio-controlled gizmo, I have officially given it a time of death of 5:00 on Oct. 08/07. Although I did lose my device as a whole component...I do believe that I can salvage many of the components which were attached to the whole. Also...along the way,I managed to capture a deeper understanding of the object and the switches which were included.
If I had more time I would have continued to find the real problem to my situation...it is difficult to truly pinpoint the origin of the problem, on the sole purpose that it was composed of two sections:, the base,which shot the circular devices out and also the glove, which transmitted the command to initiate the shooting of the devices.

So...until further notice...I will have to face defeat and claim that I have lost my first victim

2nd Vivisection

My secoond object which I attempted to disassemble was this radio-controlled gizmo called Naruto. The basis of this toy was to make hand signals in a sequence which would shoot out small circular devices.
After the dismantling of the primary object, I encountered an antenna which recieved signals from the glove. Unfortunately, by the end of the reverse engineering, I wasn't able to transmit and recieve the radiowaves from each other.