Traffic and other works, an exhibition proposal
William Russell Pensyl

Leveraging on several years of research and development in facial recogition, emotion detection, sensor and vision systems, the exhibition brings together in a series interactive installations and artworks. The exhibition includes three medium to large scale artworks and a series of smaller wall and pedastal based pieces. Images and videos presented here demonstrate a functioning emotion detection and signal light pattern behaviors. Review the exhibition proposal PDF.


installation with traffic lights

Alternate Curved configuration



Red, Green, Wait (哼路灯)
dimensions: 8' wide, 7.6' tall, 3' deep

Red, Green, Wait (红绿灯), an installation using 24 actual traffic signals, with software that detects emotion states of viewers in a public space. The individual traffic signals are set up in a matrix display a series of patterns that range from all red, to all yellow to all green, with varying states inbetween. The patterns will also display intermediate behaviors with randomized behavior patterns, and even one iteration of Conroy's Game of life.

Cameras are strategically placed in a gallery or public space to detect faces in the field. Emotion recognition software developed for this work transmits captured images to a cloud based emotion API. The images are analyzed to glean a weighted response of the seven basic emotion states(Eckman.) Emotion states are averaged over a short time interval to create a composite of the emotions detected. The pattern states of lights are modified based on this composite emotion state over time.

The video on left shows of the lights respoonding the emotions deteted with patterns represeenting neutral, negative and positive emotions.

emotion response to facial expressions.

For a more complete discription tap the link below:


 


MoodModArt
dimensions: 90” wide, 28.5” tall

A reactive artwork detects facial cues from participants moods in the gallery or from a remote mobile app.
On left is four painted still life panels. On the right is a large LCD panel with a reactive animation film loop of a time lapse still-life painting shifting subtly by sensing emotional expressions of the participants within the gallery or from remote locations. This artwork explores an autonomously responsive image modified by detected and analyzed biometric data. In the exhibition space, the artwork presents a time lapse animated or filmed scenes that change with atmospheric, stylistic or other variable elements

The animation loop below is a representative sample showing the shift from a vibrant screen that shift to a dull light and then back. The animation loop in the final artwork shifts to match the viewers edtection emotional expressions. Positive emotions cause the image stream to move towards the vibrant colorful stream. Negative emotions cause the image stream to move towards the dull grayed out section of the stream

 


Subtle Presence
dimensions: 54” wide, 9” tall

A smaller “sketch” for MoodModArt The work consists of four panels, three still life renders, and one digital photo-frame with a streaming media animation clip.

 


Primaries
dimensions: 36” wide, 14” tall

Uses LED Strip Lights over a painted panel (In-progress)

 




Stepper Motor and gear box

All Roads Lead to the River
dimensions: 3.8' wide, 6.2' tall, 3' deep

This is a free standing work that has images and kinetic objects of both sides. One the front facing side the work mixes a painted image of a fractured landscape and a salvage traffic signal, that is motorized to follow the viewer as they move through the space. The system uses a webcam used for tracking and range finding sensors to identify a viewer's position and a microcontroller that manage the tracking of the viewer, and the control of a motor and gear system. The traffic signal tracks the movement of an individual viewer and rotates to follow them as they move through the viewing space. As a viewer approaches the work the light is green, as they move closer the light changes to yellow, and finally to red.

The rear facing side features a city map and miniature cars that travel in the map towards the river, but never are able to cross.

For a more complete discription tape the link below:



 




Speed Limit
dimensions: 3' wide, 5' tall, 8' deep

This installation uses two wide screen LCD monitors, streaming a loop of oncoming, passing traffic and traffic ahead from a drivers perspective. The viewer standing between two wide screen monitors, expereinces a point of view of the driver travelling at a posted speed limit while all other traffic passes around them. A rear view mirror is attached to the forward looking screen, allowing the rear-view of oncoming traffic to be seen.

The media is a streamning loop approximately 5 minutes in duration.

For a more complete discription tap the link below:



LED Matrix tests
dimensions: variable

In addition to three works mentioned above, smaller LED matrices are proposed for display. These smaller LED matrices are test pieces used to test light patterns, software algorithms, and sensor control systems. Each uses sensors such as capacitive touch soft potentiometers, ultrasonic range finders, light sensors to invoke light paterns and beheviors.

These sensor tests build upon a several early works using vision based positioning, accelerometers, and capacitive touch sensing.

 




Gallery layout

The three large installations take up much of the main space. There is still signifant wall space that can accommodate boxed and frames test matrices.

The suggested layout on the left shows an ogrnaization that indicates that the works can be accommodated in the Gallery.