Net/Body Motion

Net/Body Motion

A common paradigm in the new media genre are pieces that reflect some aspect of the viewer's visual appearance - virtual "mirrors" that take in live video input (usually via webcam) and then feed back that visual data in intriguing ways. My interest in using this technology is not to simply present a two dimensional "mirror," but to combine that effect with 3D graphics, creating an onscreen virtual space that is sculptural and architectural, as well as, graphical. I call the approach "3D Video Sculpture."

"Net/Body Motion" is an interactive work using a webcam and specialized software to generate an interactive 3D Video Sculpture on a computer screen.

click on a picture for a larger version

"Net/Body Motion" resulted of further thought about the movement of data in cyberspace. Data moves in a stream of zeros and ones. By extension, all of the subtleties of our networked selves are taken in by the computer and interpolated and compressed into a stream of zeros and ones to be sent over the network.

Similarly, the camera input is taken and inexorably drawn into a single point, slightly "lagged," ready to be transmitted as a single stream. Participants see the effect of their presence and movement distorted and reduced over time, identity and actions inhaled into nothingness.

click on a picture for a larger version

Click here to view "Net/Body Motion" in motion!. (4.69 MB Quicktime Movie)

The software was created in Windows C++ using Visual C++ .NET, using Quicktime for live video capture and OpenGL for graphics.

A big thanks to Daniel Shiffman and nehe.gamedev.net.

e-mail me at edtang at antiexperience.com

All Materials Copyright © 2004 Edward Tang. All materials on this site including interactive programs, images, videos, and text are the property of Edward Tang and is protected by copyright and are not to be reproduced without permission. All Rights Reserved.