Elucidating Feedback

source: fileorgbr

Abstract:
Quanto mais olhamos, mais vemos; quanto mais vemos, mais olhamos. “Elucidating Feedback” é uma instalação controlada mentalmente sobre a criatividade inerente ao ato de observar. Quanto mais se presta atenção à instalação, mais ordem é refletida no vídeo e no áudio. A ideia é que criamos os detalhes mais precisos de nossa experiência através do ato de ser atentos. Quanto mais observamos nosso ambiente, mais descobrimos, e o resultado desse processo ativo é a criação dos ricos detalhes de nossa experiência. O projeto usa realimentação neurológica obtida pela interação entre o usuário e o dispositivo de BCI (interface computador-mente). O mindset (o dispositivo de BCI) lê suas ondas cerebrais e isso altera como a instalação cria forma a partir da estática. Quanto mais se presta atenção, mais padrões se formam; Quanto menos se presta atenção, o padrão volta à estática. A intenção é formar um loop de realimentação entre a atenção do usuário e o objeto de sua atenção (os padrões projetados). O aspecto audiovisual da instalação produz padrão, ordem e detalhe em proporção direta à atenção dada pelo usuário em cada momento. Se o usuário estiver com a mente em estado de divagação e sem se concentrar em coisa alguma, os padrões ficam estáticos fazendo a instalação voltar a um estado de estase. Assim que o usuário começa a se concentrar de novo, a estática lentamente retoma um padrão. As imagens produzidas pelo programa são padrões emergentes formados por interações simples entre milhares de partículas. Há duas categorias de padrão envolvidas: uma consiste em um conjunto de padrões predefinidos e a outra é uma série de padrões formados unicamente através do sistema de interações de partículas. A combinação desses sistemas possibilita paisagens mutáveis infinitamente complexas que o usuário pode explorar como se fossem uma representação física de seu próprio estado mental, dando a vívida impressão de que aquilo que é mostrado é criado pelo usuário, ou seja, uma criação de sua atenção.
Biography:
Ben Jack é um artista e designer que trabalha principalmente na área de mídia interativa e generativa. Tendo terminado recentemente seus estudos colegiais, hoje ele trabalha como tutor na Universidade Victoria em Wellington (Nova Zelândia) e como desenvolvedor para a comunidade de jogos online Minimonos.
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source: vimeo

Elucidating feedback is an attempt to convey the creativity inherent in the act of being attentive. The idea is that the details of our experience are created through our observation. The more we observe our environment, the more detail and texture we create within the realm of our experience.
The project is an interactive installation that demonstrates this concept through the use of neurofeedback (suppled through interaction between the user and a brain-computer interface device.)
The BCI device detects the amount of attention the user is paying to the installation through EEG (Electroencephalography) and the user is supplied a realtime environment that reflects their current state of attentiveness. This is intended to form a feedback loop between the user’s attention and the subject of their attention (the projected patterns).
The audio-visual aspect of the installation reflects pattern, order and detail in direct proportion to the attention that the user is currently paying. If the user is in a state where the mind is freely wandering and not focused on any one thing, the patterns decay into static bringing the installation back to a state of stasis. As the user starts to focus once more, the static slowly congeals back into a pattern.
on the technology:
Elucidating feedback uses an EEG device as a means of interaction as Wikipedia describes it: “electroencephalography (EEG) is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp produced by the firing of neurons within the brain.”
The device is a headset that has an electrode that sits above your eyebrow and three that sit on your ear. These electrodes pick up the electrical activity of your brain and the headset then interprets this information to ascertain the users current state of attentiveness and relaxation.
I have written software (C++, openframeworks and openCL) that uses this data as the input for an interactive installation. The installation reflects (both visually and aurally) the amount of attention the user is paying through means of emergent patterns forming and breaking apart proportionately . This visual and audible response to the user’s attention gives them more “pattern” to focus on, initiating a feedback loop between the two processes.
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source: thinktechukwordpress

Titled by many as “student’s mind control device taking off” is an attractive title but not 100% accurate in this instance. The Victoria University graduate in question has developed a new mind-controlled visual effects ‘software’ with NeuroSky’s Mindset. The technology has been on display in Brazil for a second time after its popularity prompted a special invitation.

The ‘Elucidating Feedback’ system is an interactive design installation that triggers patterns by connecting to a user’s brain waves. Although not a completely new idea, the student has been congratulated by many for getting the installation on to the world stage.

Ben Jack the mastermind behind Elucidating Feedback software, is an artist and designerwho works mainly in the area of generative and interactive media. Having recently finished his undergraduate studies, he is now working both as a tutor at Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand) and as a developer for the online game community Minimonos.

The device, inspired by Jack’s experiences with meditation, is based on the EEG concept, by which sensors measure and record electrical brain activity. A standard brain-computer interface headset captures brainwave data and reflects a person’s state of mind through audio and patterns.

Ben came up with the concept of connecting randomly generated computer patterns to brainwaves through sensors on the forehead and ears. Strong concentration triggers clear-cut patterns while fuzzy patterns indicate a lack of focus.

The exhibit “Elucidating Feedback,” was listed as one of the highlights of the interactive installations at the 2011 Electronic Language International Festival (known as FILE) Festival in Brazil by Wired.com.

Ben comments:

“The more attention that is paid to the installation, the more pattern, order and detail is reflected in the video and audio-and a lapse in attention makes the pattern break back into static,”

“The idea is that we create the finer details of our experience through the act of being attentive. The more we observe our environment, the more we discover, and the result of this active process is the creation of the rich details of our experience.

My installation enables people to explore a set of infinitely complex and ever-changing landscapes by focusing their minds.”
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source: fileorgbr

ABSTRACT

The more we look, the more we see, the more we see the more we look. “Elucidating feedback” is a brain-controlled installation about the creativity inherent in the act of observation. The more attention that is paid to the installation, the more order is reflected in the video and audio. The idea is that we create the finer details of our experience through the act of being attentive. The more we observe our environment, the more we discover, and the result of this active process is the creation of the rich details of our experience. The project uses neuro feedback supplied through interaction between the user and a BCI (brain-computer interface) device. The mindset (the BCI device) reads your brainwaves and this alters how the installation creates form from static. The more attention is paid, the more pattern is formed; as less attention is paid, the pattern breaks back into static. This is intended to form a feedback loop between the user’s attention and the subject of their attention (the projected patterns). The audio-visual aspect of the installation produces pattern, order and detail in direct proportion to the attention that the user is currently paying. If the user is in a state where the mind is freely wandering and not focused on any one thing, the patterns decay into static, bringing the installation back to a state of stasis. As the user starts to focus once more, the static slowly congeals back into a pattern. The images produced by the program are emergent patterns formed by simple interactions between thousands of particles. There are two categories of patterns involved: one is a set of pre-defined patterns and the other one is a series of patterns formed entirely through the system of particle interactions, the combination of these systems enable infinitely complex and ever changing landscapes that the user can explore as if it is a physical representation of their own state of mind, giving the distinct impression that what is shown is a creation of the user, a creation of their attention.

BIOGRAPHY

Ben Jack is an artist and designer who works mainly in the area of generative and interactive media. Having recently finished his undergraduate studies, he is now working both as a tutor at Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand) and as a developer for the online game community Minimonos.