» London Eye Mood Conductor
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London Eye Mood Conductor

Cinimod Studio have an installation running in London during the Olympic period that transforms the iconic London Eye ferris wheel into a giant Kinect controlled lighting show.

The Mood Conductor is an interactive installation enabling a single user at a time to be empowered to express their mood on an unforgettable architectural scale. It is the first time a large public landmark within London has been controlled directly by members of the public. The Mood Conductor allows participants to control the 640 light fixtures on the EDF Energy London Eye from a platform on the London Eye Pier.

There are two ways in which the ‘performer’ is able to interact with the system: first by using their arms and hands, and secondly, at more subconscious level, though their heart rate. The gesture recognition system allows for free and unconstrained movements to be interpreted into beautiful lighting movements that amplify the user’s mood.

The heart rate system uses a sensor clipped to the performer’s ear to detect their pulse. The symbolism of the heart as an epicentre of felt emotion is not merely an artefact of mythology and early philosophical thinking. Whilst there is no evidence of hearts actually skipping beats at the sight of a loved one, we can be certain that the beating of our hearts is inextricably linked to the way we feel. By measuring your heart beat as you stand on the Mood Conductor podium, the system gets an even better idea of your mood, and consequently the lighting show which you create on the EDF Energy London Eye becomes even more responsive to you, and the way you feel.

The lighting patterns that are visible across the London Eye are a direct result of the movements and behaviours of the user. The patterns vary in colour, speed, brightness and scale — at times the London Eye can be seen to sparkle with obvious joy and celebration, other times it recoils into a subdued and disappointed state. In these variations the mood of the crowd is clearly visualised for the outside city to see and share.

Using Microsoft Kinect through VVVV, users' gestures are analysed and used to select from a number of available interaction modes. Wide arm sweeps leave shimmering colour trails and slow, measured movements create pulsating wave effects. The system also receives data from a wireless (XBee) heart rate monitor via Processing over OSC, heartbeats are displayed as red pulses at the top of the Eye. Visitors can also view these interactions on a large 6 metre wide LED screen behind the participant. 4 powerful spotlights emphasise gestures across the centre of the structure.

The lights are controlled by wireless DMX from VVVV, which is also performing tracking analysis, pattern generation, rendering graphical content for the LED screen, mapping movement inputs to DMX channels and sending control data to the gyroscopic rotation controller. This rotation controller has been designed especially by Cinimod Studio and can sense the wheel position via an in-built inclinometer, dynamically re-mapping the fixture positions based on the sensed absolute position of the wheel.

This allows content to be designed with a consistent orientation with respect to ground, and be displayed correctly regardless of wheel position. Since 2006 the Eye has been DMX-controllable after LED fixtures were installed, now Cinimod Studio is giving visitors their first interactive control of this prominent London landmark.

By measuring your heart beat as you stand on the Mood Conductor podium, the system gets an even better idea of your mood, and consequently the lighting show which you create on the EDF Energy London Eye becomes even more responsive to you, and the way you feel.

Cinimod Studio were commissioned to created the 'Mood Conductor' by Ignite London, as part of the Energy of the Nation activation taking place at the EDF Energy London Eye throughout the Olympic Games from the 19th July – 12th August.

CinimodStudio, Friday, Aug 3rd 2012 Digg | Tweet | Delicious 1 comments  
Westbam 06/08/2012 - 22:32

Boys with toys, playing with the iconic London Eye. :)
Good job, very nice.

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