A-Volve

94-97, Christa Sommerer & Laurent Mignonneau
Source: 94-97, Christa Sommerer & Laurent Mignonneau

(collective) Sommerer / Mignonneau

A-Volve ,
Co-workers & Funding
supported by: ICC-IntercommunicationCenter NTT, Japan
NSCA, National Center for Supercomputing Applications
Urbana-Champaign University, Beckmann Institute
Illinois, USA
realized at: ATR Advanced Telecommunications Research Lab, Kyoto, Japan
Documents
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Description
In the interactive real-time environment "A-Volve" visitors interact with virtual creatures in the space of a water filled glass pool.These virtual creatures are products of evolutionary rules and influenced by human creation and decision.

Designing any kind of shape and profile with their finger on a touch screen, visitors will "bear" virtual three dimensional creatures, that are automatically "alive" and swim in the real water of the pool.The movement and behavior of the virtual creature is decided by its form, how the viewer was designing it on the touch screen.

Behavior in space is, so to speak, an expression of form. Form is an expression of adaptation to the environment.

Form and movement are closely connected, the creatures capability to move will decide its fitness in the pool.The fittest creature will survive longest and will be able to mate and reproduce. The creatures will compete by trying to get as much energy as possible. Thus predator creatures will hunt for prey creatures, trying to kill them.

The creatures also interact with the visitors, by reacting to their hands movement in the water. If a visitor tries to catch a creature, it will try to flee or stays still, if it gets caught. Thus the visitor is able to influence the evolution by for example protection preys against predators.If two strong creatures meet, they can create an offspring and a new creature can be born. It carries the genetic code of its parents. Mutation and cross-over provides a nature-like reproduction mechanism, that follows the genetic rules of Mendel. This newly born offspring will now also react and live in the pool, interacting with visitors and other creatures.

Algorithms, developed by Mignonneau and Sommerer ensure smooth and natural movements and "animal-like" behavior of the creatures.None of the creatures is pre calculated, they are all born exclusively in real time through the interaction of the visitors and the interaction of the creatures . Thus a unlimited variety of forms will be possible, representing human and evolutionary rules. By closely connecting the real natural space of the water to the unreal virtual living space of the creatures, "A-Volve" minimizes the borders between "real" and "unreal", creating a further step (after "Interactive Plant Growing") in the search of "Natural Interfaces" and "Real-Time Interaction"
Keywords
  • aesthetics
    • interactive
    • real-time
  • genres
    • bioart
      • genetic art
    • installations
  • subjects
    • Art and Science
      • dynamical systems
      • scientific images
    • Body and Psychology
      • emotion
      • genetics
    • Nature and Environment
      • DNA
      • evolution
  • technology
    • displays
      • electronic displays
        • computer monitors
        • loudspeakers
        • projection screens
        • projectors
    • hardware
      • cameras
      • touch screens
    • interfaces
      • camera recordings
Technology & Material
Hardware
1 large Watertight acrylic pool filled with water
1 active filter water pump
1 infra Red Video Camera
1 retro-projection screen (1994 - 2017)
1 video projector (1994 - 2017)
1 large 85” flat screen (2018 -)
1 powered Loud Speakers
1 touch screen monitor 10” to 15” (1994 - 2017)
1 touch tablet 10” (2018 -)
1 wooden Podium for the pool
1 wooden Podium for the touch screen
1 computer with 3D graphic board
Interface
1 Video camera
Camera tracking hardware (1994 - 2005)
Multiple hand position extraction directly from video signal
Real-time
Camera tracking software (2006 -)
Touch screen
Sound
Software
3D Surface of revolution principles
Hydrodynamical propulsion estimation of the 3D creatures according to their movements
Genetic Algorithms for the reproduction process
Hand tracking
3D Soft bodies simulation
Stereoscopic sound generation according to creatures position and movements
Bibliography