Ever since computer scientists used early graphics cards to generate beautiful fractal images, we have been fascinated with turning data into something visual. For practical applications, this means taking data we have and using visualization techniques to give the eye something to find trends or patterns. For the artist, visualization takes on a different meaning. Some examples:
Heart Bot
What if you could take your heartbeat and turn it into art? This is exactly what Heart Bot does. Users, viewers and participants step up to a podium and place their hand on a sensor. The sensor reads their pulse and translates the data for Heart Bot to go to work.
Two stepper motors spaced 12 feet apart are connected to each other by a belt. Both of the motors have pens attached. The heartbeat data drives arms across the wall making marks with the pens. Is this considered art? Maybe not, but it is a pretty cool use of another part of the body to create something artistic.
Aristotle’s Office
Much like a version of Toy Story for grown-ups, what would happen if the water cooler could talk to your office fern? What would the file cabinet say to a desk lamp?
Anthropomorphic Disney office furniture cartoons aside, that very question is what the creators of Aristotle’s Office are trying to determine. Nine common office objects are connected to each other by a patch panel and given the ability to detect changes in the others. The goal is for the objects to adjust to changes in each other and maybe even establish a leader. Interesting idea in the upcoming world of smart, well, everything.
Wind Map
Wind Map is a living portrait of the United States. The artist takes real-time data from sources like the National Weather Service and turns it into a black-and-white map of wind currents over a U.S. map. The results are pretty fascinating, and practical. Bird watchers, bicyclists and even conspiracy theorists have used Wind Map.
eCloud Project
This permanent work of art is installed at the San Jose International Airport, featuring a series of polycarbonate tiles that can change color. The tiles change color as they receive data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration locations all over the globe.
The result is a simulation of different weather conditions based on incoming data. The tiles are suspended above the terminal walkway as well as implemented in several eye-level displays throughout the airport.
Harvard Light Bridge
A project installed on the Harvard Bridge by researchers at MIT, the Light Bridge uses proximity to sensor data to alter the 10,000-pixel display attached to the bridge. Sensors take in things like sounds, cameras, buttons and mobile phone activity. The Light Bridge also allows users to design their own light effects via the web.
Data can be more than just useful; it can also be beautiful.
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