FeedBack PlayBack is a dynamic film re-editing and viewing system. The users’ physical state determines the visceral quality of scenes displayed; immediate reactions to the scenes feed back to generate a cinematic crescendo or a lull. We use material that is rigorously narrative, formulaic, and plentiful: the action movie series Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis. A narrative sequence key breaks any given Die Hard movie into narrative elements, corresponding clips were collected from each of the Die Hard movies. Individual clips fall into high, medium, and low action/arousal categories. The user is seated, and places his or her hands on a Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) detection panel (GSR readings are the same kind of data collected in lie detector test). After calibration, the movie begins showing, and clips are displayed depending on the user’s level of arousal and engagement. The narrative sequence is maintained, though the clips are pulled from any of the movies.

In FeedBack PlayBack, the cinematic converges with the physical present, exploiting the power of fiction to manipulate and alter our state of being at the most basic, primal level. We attempt to synchronize the media and viewer– whether towards a static loop or a explosive climax.

Special thanks to Matt Parker, Die Hard movie expert consultant.

Feedbak Playback is by Zannah Marsh and Che-Wei Wang

SlaHuRa or Slappable Huggable Radio is a FM and AM radio that uses an accelerometer (tilt sensor) to change volume and frequency. There are no buttons to press or dials to spin. Tilting the radio from side to side adjusts the frequency. Tilting it from front to back changes the volume.

SlaHuRa : Slappable Huggable Radio from che-wei wang on Vimeo.
SlaHuRa behaves or misbehaves depending on how you treat it. It likes to be hugged, but once in a while it will misbehave and go off onto a random frequency. To make it behave and again, just slap it to teach it to behave. Likewise, hugging SlaHuRa will promote good behaviour through positive reinforcement.

It “behaves” (stays on the chosen frequency) in direct proportion to how long you “hug” (or hold the radio). The longer you hug it, the longer it will behave. Once you place it back onto a flat surface, it begins to feel axious, and will eventually flip out. If it is behaving “badly” (on a random frequency) you can slap the radio to get it back onto the right frequency.

Version 01

SlaHuRa V01 from che-wei wang on Vimeo.

Version 02

The guts

Arduino Code

int minPulse = 500;
int maxPulse = 2500;
int pulse,pulseR;

long lastPulse = 0;
long resPulse = 0;
long lastAdj=0;
long lastVolAdj=0;
int refreshTime = 20; 

int freq=0;
int vol=0;

int x0, y0, z0; 

int xpos=625;//defalut set to 0 volume
int ypos=512;//default set to middle freq
int zpos=0;

int yposSet=0;

int setFreq;
long timer=0;
long hugTimer=0;
long badTimer=0;
long resTimer=0;
int randomBad=100;

boolean onFreq=false;
boolean freqMem=false;
boolean xTilt=false;
boolean yTilt=false;
boolean zTilt=false;

boolean shaking, tilting;
boolean badness=false;
boolean zero=false;

int hugs=35;

void setup() {
  pinMode(9,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(10,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(11,OUTPUT);
  beginSerial(9600); // Sets the baud rate to 9600
}

void loop() {
  //set zero on tilt sensor
  if(zero==false){
    delay(500);
    setZero();
  }

  int x=analogRead(0)-x0; //reads and represents acceleration X
  int y=analogRead(1)-y0; //reads and represents acceleration Y
  int z=analogRead(2)-z0; //reads and represents acceleration Z
  // int cap=analogRead(5); //capacitive

  // freq adjust
  if(badness==false && millis() - lastAdj >= 6 && millis()-resTimer>=2500.0){
    if (y>50&&y<150) ypos++;
    if (y<-50&&y>-150) ypos--;
    lastAdj=millis();
  }

  // volume adjust
  if(millis()-lastVolAdj>=6){
    if (x>50 && x < 150)  xpos--;
    if (x<-50 && x > -150)  xpos++;
    lastVolAdj=millis();
  }

  //set channel
  if( millis() - timer > 1000.0*(float)(hugs-1) && onFreq==false && badness==false){
    yposSet=ypos;//remember freq
    onFreq=true;
    //Serial.println("freq set");
  }

  //behave badly
  if (millis() - timer >1000.0*(float)hugs && millis()-badTimer>randomBad){
   ypos=ypos+random(-150,150);
    //ypos=random(50,1000);
    //Serial.println("badness");
    badness=true;
    onFreq=false;
    badTimer=millis();
    randomBad=random(300,750); //random timer from 100-1500
  }

  //slapped
  if(badness==true){
    if(y>200 || y<-200 || x>200 || x<-200 || z>200 || z<-200){
      //Serial.println("slapped");
      badness=false;
      ypos=yposSet;
      onFreq=false;
      hugs=10;
      resTimer=millis(); //so slapping doesn't affect reseting to set freq
    }
  }

  int thres=15;
  if(badness==false&& millis()-hugTimer>1000){
    if(x>thres || x<-thres || y>thres || y<-thres){
      hugs=hugs+1;
      timer=millis();
    }
    else{
      hugs=hugs-1;
    }
        hugTimer=millis();
    hugs=constrain(hugs,-1,35);
    //Serial.println(hugs);

  //Serial.print("x");
  //Serial.println(x);
  //Serial.print("y");
  //Serial.println(y);
  //Serial.print("z");
  //Serial.println(z);
  }

  xpos=constrain(xpos,0,1023);
  ypos=constrain(ypos,0,1023);

  vol = xpos*19/10+minPulse;    // convert the analog value
  freq = ypos*19/10+minPulse;    // convert the analog value

    //motor control
  if (millis() - lastPulse >= refreshTime) {
    digitalWrite(9, HIGH);   // Turn the motor on
    delayMicroseconds(vol);       // Length of the pulse sets the motor position
    digitalWrite(9, LOW);    // Turn the motor off
    digitalWrite(10, HIGH);   // Turn the motor on
    delayMicroseconds(freq);       // Length of the pulse sets the motor position
    digitalWrite(10, LOW);    // Turn the motor off
    lastPulse = millis();           // save the time of the last pulse
  }
}

//zero all tilt sensors
void setZero(){
  x0=analogRead(0);
  y0=analogRead(1);
  z0=analogRead(2);
  zero=true;
}

I’ve been curious about how people interact and project personality onto inanimate media devices. We often project our desires against them as if they sense and understand our emotional responses to them. I’m interested in changing passive interaction with devices to a more active scenario where the user conditions the device to behave a certain way instead of the devices instructing our etiquette.

Bob microwaves his TV dinner as he synchronizes the sequence of preparing utensils and beverages just in time for his favorite TV show. He switches channels on the TV, tweaks the antennae to perfection and sits himself down. 30 seconds into the show, the reception starts picking up some noise. He calmly gets up and tweaks the antennae again. 3 minutes into readjusting the antennae, his frustration builds up and he begins slapping the TV. The TV oblivious to Bob’s vigourous slapping continues to behave baldy, wavering in and out of perfect reception. Then the TV magically tunes back into the right frequency and reinforces Bob’s slaping habit. Bob thinks, next time slap harder and longer.

This common scenario is what I want to promote. People want to slap their devices, so why not let them. Hug that TV. Let’s teach our devices how to behave.

People slap, pet, hug, and kiss their electronics devices. People have screen saver anxiety and pet their trackpad or shake their mouse to keep their screens awake. Are people afraid of sleeping devices? People love and hate TV. Do people desire more engaging media? A more responsive media? Is it out of a desire to communicate back to the medium? How do end users tame or control media? Tivo is great, but does Tivo know when i’m angry? What effect would disobedient media have on users? Would we learn to treat it right?

My first thought was to make a huggable slappable TV. This TV randomly veers off the selected channel and picks up noise until it is punished with a slap. Immediately, it responds and returns to the right frequency. Likewise, hugging it every so often will keep it on the right frequency and prevent ‘bad’ behaviour. The TV seemed like such a good medium to work with, since i personally have issues with it. I don’t own one, i didn’t grow up with one, and I’m fascinated by how people treat the device with so much have and love.

I found out that analog TV signals are going to become obsolete soon (Feb 2009), so I thought a radio might be a better device for the project. ‘His Master’s Voice’ and the RCA symbol of the dog in front of the phonograph comes to mind.

Working in a similar manner, the radio by default behaves badly, tuning in and out of noisy frequencies, but learns to ‘listen’ to it’s owner through a healthy dose of conditioning (slapping, petting, and hugging).

Features:
Single on/off switch

Y axis tilt controls volume of radio

X axis tilt controls frequency adjustment (speaker facing down decreases volume / speaker facing up increases volume)

Z axis tilt senses shake or smack

Radio deviates from set frequency every so often (default 30secs)

Smack or shake / sudden shift in X or Y axis prompts radio change behaviour. If it’s on the set frequency, it deviates into noise, or not on the set frequency, it returns to the proper frequency. Smack feedback via momentary volume increase

Pet or hug / pressure sensor promotes more of current behaviour, so it’s possible to reinforce “good” and “bad” behaviour. Hug feedback via momentary volume decrease

Materials:
Fur or shag
1/2″ MDF or LDF or acrylic