matterofimmaterialjt-blog

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Module Overview

Although the beginning of our project with Ferrofluid was stressful and very time consuming, it was good to experiment with new technology that I had not previously used. Once we had progressed with the aura project, I began to really enjoy the module. I enjoyed all the tutorials using new technologies and feel that we produced exactly what we set out to produce. 

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Future Improvements

If we were to improve this project in the future we would...

- Create the object as a wearable.

We think it would look great if a person could wear their aura. It would also give them a chance to show what aura they are giving off.

- Cities

The object can be created as a replica of a famous landmark (e.g. the statue of liberty in New York) and the cities aura can be represented through this.

If we were to do this, we would need access to the cities official Twitter account.

The object could be placed in the city hall for example, for all to see. Objects from cities around the world could also be put together as part of an installation to se a comparison or the general global aura.

- Making the influence much more obvious

We would like to experiment with more variables to see if would be possible to make it more obvious who is influencing the changing colours / brightness. At this current stage, blinking is the only variable out of the three that is purely determined by the user and not their followers but it would be good if we could implement more variables which are purely controlled by the user to give off a more obvious and overall better impression on their own aura.

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Final images of the finished object, during our presentation. 

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Theory - Social Media / Online Activity

“On the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog”.

We wanted to explore the idea that online, people aren't necessarily what they are like offline. People’s online personalities have comparisons with reality TV stars and celebrities. 

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Theory - Design

We have designed the object that will case the technology as an unfinished oval-like structure to represent the fact that someone, on social media, does not always act what they are like in person. Their aura is not always complete and can sometimes be untrue without it being obvious. 

This structure also represents the limited amount of data available on social media, which may be widely available in reality.

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Theory - Aura

Aura is the distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround or be generated by one’s presence. Someones aura is usually a completed glowing oval shape around a persons body.

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Short demonstration of the current progress of our project. 

The structure have successfully printed (one needed to be reprinted as the spikes snapped when trying to be removed. The original plan was to have removable spikes, but this was not possible). We have cut out a frosted lid for the structures from frosted clear acrylic plastic.

We are planning on experimenting with salt. If the inside of the structure is filled with salt, the light will be dispersed instead of in one area.

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1: The NodeRED sketch, connecting Twitter with the IBM Bluemix Tone Analyser.

2: The Adafruit Neopixel Jewel sketch where we are coding the colours (in line with each emotion), blinking and brightness.

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Creating the oval structure/object where the technology will be displayed in. 

The model was designed in Blender and 3D printed using the MakerBot Replicator 2X. Each object took approx. 4.5hrs to print. The plan is to spray paint the finished product in a modern looking spray paint so it could possibly be displayed as home decor / an ornament.

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The list of emotions that are being analysed by the IBM Blumix Tone Analyser. 

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HOW IT WORKS: 

The IBM Tone Analyser, which is linked to the persons Twitter page through a NodeRED plugin, identifies the general emotion; Joy, Fear, Anger, Sadness & Disgust.

This data is sent to the Particle Photon over wifi via the MQTT broker.

The Adafruit Neopixel Jewel is connected to the Particle Photon, meaning the data is passed to Jewel. Depending on the users social media variable’s (emotion, extraversion & page activity) will determine the colour, brightness and blink intensity displayed on the Neopixel Jewel. The accounts that the user follows also influences brightness and colour, however blinking is determined purely by the user themselves.

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What we’re using

For this project, we will be using a wide range of components and technology.

Adafruit Neopixel Jewel

Particle Photon

NodeRED

IBM Bluemix Tone Analyser

Processing

MakerBot Replicator 2X

Twitter

MQTT

Projector

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Idea

After settling on the idea of a project that explores ones virtual aura, we began thinking how we could carry this out.

We will be using a social media account (in this case, Twitter) to identify a users ‘digital aura’.

We will present this ‘digital aura’ in a relatable, intricately designed object.

Numerous variables from one’s social media account will determine change within the aura.

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Project 2

As we had already lost a fair amount of time from our previous Matter of Immaterial project, we instantly sat down and began brainstorming new idea.

Ideas

- Multi LED sound sensors (light intensity / blinking increased when sound level is higher).

- Surroundings Aura (LED’s would light up depending on certain words spoken in the surroundings e.g. Red = Angry)

- Digital Aura 

After discussing numerous ideas amongst ourselves and with lecturers, we settled on a project based on ones ‘Digital Aura’

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Project 1

After spending numerous weeks experimenting with different electromagnet strengths, suspensions liquids and ferrofluid mixtures we still had not found the perfect mixture or electromagnet that would allow us to successfully complete our project by the deadline. The cost of all the products we were using was also rapidly increasing so collectively we came to the decision to stop working on this project and start over.