The Boom Shakalaka

source: creativeapplicationsnet

Created by Lucas Werthein & Jason Aston, Boom Shakalaka is both a game and installation allowing visitors to engage with a game using physical interfaces. Included are a button, lever, and a domino, whilst the game is displayed on a long wall made of six separate screens. When for example the lever is pulled down the balls are released in the game which fill up buckets. The only way to release them is by pressing the physical button.

As Rube Goldberg showed us in his now notorious cartoons depicting complex devices performing the simplest of tasks in the most roundabout ways, precision, timing, and creativity are tantamount to making such a machine functional and enjoyable. Invoking a popular physics engine, Boom Shakalaka creates a real time world with real time physics that portrays obstacles faced in the real world.

The piece was developed to run continuously over time. It can run with or without the interaction of people. It was designed to display the continuity of life and the obstacles that we face daily when taking small decisions that can lead to the road not taken. Inspired by Robert Frost’s poem, we developed a machine that has a life of its own, but can be manipulated and altered as people begin to play and exert their actions into the fantasy world.

Created using openFrameworks and Arduino.
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source: fileorgbr

Biography:
Jason Aston é um artista multidão, designer e tecnólogo americano que usa a aplicação criativa da computação física, design visual e interativo e animação para se envolver, jogar e educar. Ele é candidato a mestrado no Interactive Telecommunications Program da Universidade de Nova York e vive em Nova York. Lucas Werthein nasceu no Rio de Janeiro e se formou na PUC-RIO em relações internacionais. Ele se concentra em programação criativa e interação física, e atualmente é candidato ao programa de graduação em ITP na NYU, trabalha para o artista/ hacker Zach Lieberman, representa a empresa interativa brasileira SuperUber nos EUA e vive em Nova York.
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source: fileorgbr

Abstract:
As Rube Goldberg showed us in his now notorious cartoons depicting complex devices performing the simplest of tasks in the most roundabout ways, precision, timing, and creativity are tantamount to making such a machine functional and enjoyable. Invoking a popular physics engine, “Boom Shakalaka” creates a real time world with real time physics that portrays obstacles faced in the real world.
Biography:
Jason Aston is an American multimedia artist, designer and technologist who uses the creative application of physical computation, interactive and visual design, and animation to engage, play, and educate. He is a master’s candidate at the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University and resides in New York City. Lucas Werthein was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and received a BA from PUC-RIO in international relations. He focuses on creative programming and physical interaction, is currently a candidate at NYU’s ITP graduate program, works for the artist/ hacker Zach Lieberman, represents the interactive Brazilian company – SuperUber – in the United States, and resides in New York City.