hello good evening everyone my name’s Chris I’m a creative technologist and I
Chris I’m a creative technologist and I
Chris I’m a creative technologist and I have to start with a little bit of a
have to start with a little bit of a
have to start with a little bit of a confession now this isn’t really a talk
confession now this isn’t really a talk
confession now this isn’t really a talk about art and it’s not really a talk
about art and it’s not really a talk
about art and it’s not really a talk about technology or interactivity so
about technology or interactivity so
about technology or interactivity so normally when I do one of these things
normally when I do one of these things
normally when I do one of these things I’d show you this slide with lots of
I’d show you this slide with lots of
I’d show you this slide with lots of different technologies and I would talk
different technologies and I would talk
different technologies and I would talk for about seven and a half hours
for about seven and a half hours
for about seven and a half hours non-stop and I like this stuff I get
non-stop and I like this stuff I get
non-stop and I like this stuff I get quite excited this isn’t any of those
quite excited this isn’t any of those
quite excited this isn’t any of those talks this is a talk about making
talks this is a talk about making
talks this is a talk about making something it’s a and I like using the
something it’s a and I like using the
something it’s a and I like using the word adventure with my students when I’m
word adventure with my students when I’m
word adventure with my students when I’m working with them or working with
working with them or working with
working with them or working with clients as well getting them to think
clients as well getting them to think
clients as well getting them to think about their own personal journeys they
about their own personal journeys they
about their own personal journeys they might go through thinking how they
might go through thinking how they
might go through thinking how they change how they evolve when they make
change how they evolve when they make
change how they evolve when they make something where they make an
something where they make an
something where they make an installation work or a bit of research
installation work or a bit of research
installation work or a bit of research or even a TEDx talk what did they go
or even a TEDx talk what did they go
or even a TEDx talk what did they go through what did they change when they
through what did they change when they
through what did they change when they think of that so if you’ll indulge me
think of that so if you’ll indulge me
think of that so if you’ll indulge me I’ll take you through an adventure I
I’ll take you through an adventure I
I’ll take you through an adventure I went on with my group at Plymouth
went on with my group at Plymouth
went on with my group at Plymouth University I dot and we were
University I dot and we were
University I dot and we were commissioned by the Tate Modern for
commissioned by the Tate Modern for
commissioned by the Tate Modern for their new opening for the opening of
their new opening for the opening of
their new opening for the opening of their new extension to develop this is
their new extension to develop this is
their new extension to develop this is where we are this was an installation
where we are this was an installation
where we are this was an installation working with the Tay exchange and my
working with the Tay exchange and my
working with the Tay exchange and my boss the wise old wizard Mike and and be
boss the wise old wizard Mike and and be
boss the wise old wizard Mike and and be the creative director came along pulled
the creative director came along pulled
the creative director came along pulled me in for a coffee and told me of this
me in for a coffee and told me of this
me in for a coffee and told me of this big quest we were going to go on we were
big quest we were going to go on we were
big quest we were going to go on we were gonna make a three and a half meter tall
gonna make a three and a half meter tall
gonna make a three and a half meter tall interactive sculpture which would listen
interactive sculpture which would listen
interactive sculpture which would listen to everything that was going on around
to everything that was going on around
to everything that was going on around it it would understand what’s happening
it it would understand what’s happening
it it would understand what’s happening at the Tay and what’s being said on
at the Tay and what’s being said on
at the Tay and what’s being said on social media and it would reflect that
social media and it would reflect that
social media and it would reflect that back into the space so it would start
back into the space so it would start
back into the space so it would start lighting up it would change sounds it
lighting up it would change sounds it
lighting up it would change sounds it would change behavior oh and by the way
would change behavior oh and by the way
would change behavior oh and by the way you’re going to be able to walk up to it
you’re going to be able to walk up to it
you’re going to be able to walk up to it and touch it and you’re gonna be able to
and touch it and you’re gonna be able to
and touch it and you’re gonna be able to talk to it through a chatbot interface
talk to it through a chatbot interface
talk to it through a chatbot interface and you could be able to feel it and
and you could be able to feel it and
and you could be able to feel it and listen to it oh and by the way there’s
listen to it oh and by the way there’s
listen to it oh and by the way there’s also going to be these robots that run
also going to be these robots that run
also going to be these robots that run around outside it and run after people
around outside it and run after people
around outside it and run after people okay quest accept it
okay quest accept it
okay quest accept it let’s do this we’ve got the lists and
let’s do this we’ve got the lists and
let’s do this we’ve got the lists and things so we start planning out and we
things so we start planning out and we
things so we start planning out and we start figuring out what the team is and
start figuring out what the team is and
start figuring out what the team is and start
start
start modeling everything together so we start
modeling everything together so we start
modeling everything together so we start building our sculpture out these polygon
building our sculpture out these polygon
building our sculpture out these polygon tiles and with that plan with that idea
tiles and with that plan with that idea
tiles and with that plan with that idea we take it down to TR to hand it over to
we take it down to TR to hand it over to
we take it down to TR to hand it over to them and go make that bigger and lucky
them and go make that bigger and lucky
them and go make that bigger and lucky they didn’t tell us to go away and
they didn’t tell us to go away and
they didn’t tell us to go away and through a series of nice action shots
through a series of nice action shots
through a series of nice action shots they built out our frame they created it
they built out our frame they created it
they built out our frame they created it and gave us a space and gave us time
and gave us a space and gave us time
and gave us a space and gave us time into r2 to start applying the technology
into r2 to start applying the technology
into r2 to start applying the technology adding everything together and now we
adding everything together and now we
adding everything together and now we start getting the fellowship together
start getting the fellowship together
start getting the fellowship together now we start building the team with
now we start building the team with
now we start building the team with Simon on the touch on the touch
Simon on the touch on the touch
Simon on the touch on the touch environment Mike and Gary on the sound
environment Mike and Gary on the sound
environment Mike and Gary on the sound and me in the middle middle of it with a
and me in the middle middle of it with a
and me in the middle middle of it with a Raspberry Pi in the corner controlling
Raspberry Pi in the corner controlling
Raspberry Pi in the corner controlling everything and doing all the AIS and
everything and doing all the AIS and
everything and doing all the AIS and behaviors so we start building and
behaviors so we start building and
behaviors so we start building and making this thing and we start gathering
making this thing and we start gathering
making this thing and we start gathering into the tape modern bringing our stuff
into the tape modern bringing our stuff
into the tape modern bringing our stuff with the van and the GoPros and you’ll
with the van and the GoPros and you’ll
with the van and the GoPros and you’ll see the slides later and it’s all signed
see the slides later and it’s all signed
see the slides later and it’s all signed to come together it’s all working it’s
to come together it’s all working it’s
to come together it’s all working it’s all basically there but something’s not
all basically there but something’s not
all basically there but something’s not right there’s a dragon that needs
right there’s a dragon that needs
right there’s a dragon that needs slaying there’s something not quite with
slaying there’s something not quite with
slaying there’s something not quite with it and it’s not the tape themselves it’s
it and it’s not the tape themselves it’s
it and it’s not the tape themselves it’s not the clients because they’re looking
not the clients because they’re looking
not the clients because they’re looking after us they’re keeping us fed they’re
after us they’re keeping us fed they’re
after us they’re keeping us fed they’re bringing brilliant and it’s not the
bringing brilliant and it’s not the
bringing brilliant and it’s not the technology because that’s working and
technology because that’s working and
technology because that’s working and that’s responding to things that’s going
that’s responding to things that’s going
that’s responding to things that’s going on so our sculpture the thing we make
on so our sculpture the thing we make
on so our sculpture the thing we make made was starting to respond to
made was starting to respond to
made was starting to respond to something that was going on outside and
something that was going on outside and
something that was going on outside and we pulled out our phones we had to look
we pulled out our phones we had to look
we pulled out our phones we had to look at Twitter and we realized what was
at Twitter and we realized what was
at Twitter and we realized what was going on we were up the week this
going on we were up the week this
going on we were up the week this happened I think you remember the Battle
happened I think you remember the Battle
happened I think you remember the Battle of the tens where two boats of flotillas
of the tens where two boats of flotillas
of the tens where two boats of flotillas started going and having a bit of a
started going and having a bit of a
started going and having a bit of a shouting match each other that was being
shouting match each other that was being
shouting match each other that was being picked up and reflected and along with a
picked up and reflected and along with a
picked up and reflected and along with a protest and other things that were going
protest and other things that were going
protest and other things that were going on we were starting to seeing okay this
on we were starting to seeing okay this
on we were starting to seeing okay this is working so what’s the issue what’s
is working so what’s the issue what’s
is working so what’s the issue what’s the problem here and it’s not so it’s
the problem here and it’s not so it’s
the problem here and it’s not so it’s not those things and I’ve start to
not those things and I’ve start to
not those things and I’ve start to thinking realize it’s actually our own
thinking realize it’s actually our own
thinking realize it’s actually our own perfection that’s the dragon we need to
perfection that’s the dragon we need to
perfection that’s the dragon we need to set the sleigh because in this space in
set the sleigh because in this space in
set the sleigh because in this space in this time we’re not really getting this
this time we’re not really getting this
this time we’re not really getting this opportunity again we’re at an opening of
opportunity again we’re at an opening of
opportunity again we’re at an opening of a major new extension we’re here in
a major new extension we’re here in
a major new extension we’re here in prime cap
prime cap
prime cap space with a hundred and fifty thousand
space with a hundred and fifty thousand
space with a hundred and fifty thousand people ready to walk up the space and
people ready to walk up the space and
people ready to walk up the space and look at what we’re doing and it starts
look at what we’re doing and it starts
look at what we’re doing and it starts to get oh it’s our anxiety
to get oh it’s our anxiety
to get oh it’s our anxiety it’s our issues oh what’s going on here
it’s our issues oh what’s going on here
it’s our issues oh what’s going on here okay so we need to start thinking you
okay so we need to start thinking you
okay so we need to start thinking you know steam thinking what’s there and in
know steam thinking what’s there and in
know steam thinking what’s there and in the story you would normally get in the
the story you would normally get in the
the story you would normally get in the story in your adventure film you
story in your adventure film you
story in your adventure film you probably get a bit of advice or a hint
probably get a bit of advice or a hint
probably get a bit of advice or a hint at something that would take you through
at something that would take you through
at something that would take you through to the end and for me my hint and bit of
to the end and for me my hint and bit of
to the end and for me my hint and bit of advice was a conversation I had with Lee
advice was a conversation I had with Lee
advice was a conversation I had with Lee Lee’s the Builder of the robot part of
Lee’s the Builder of the robot part of
Lee’s the Builder of the robot part of this project so these were little robots
this project so these were little robots
this project so these were little robots that ran around after the audience and
that ran around after the audience and
that ran around after the audience and kind of ran them over but he started in
kind of ran them over but he started in
kind of ran them over but he started in our minds they started at the start of
our minds they started at the start of
our minds they started at the start of the project as being these really
the project as being these really
the project as being these really complicated things they were gonna be
complicated things they were gonna be
complicated things they were gonna be trapped in the space and were gonna have
trapped in the space and were gonna have
trapped in the space and were gonna have some really interesting AI behaviors and
some really interesting AI behaviors and
some really interesting AI behaviors and Lee kind of ditched all of that he made
Lee kind of ditched all of that he made
Lee kind of ditched all of that he made them really simple he just made them an
them really simple he just made them an
them really simple he just made them an Arduino some servers a really simple bit
Arduino some servers a really simple bit
Arduino some servers a really simple bit of code and some foam batteries powering
of code and some foam batteries powering
of code and some foam batteries powering them on and I decided to have a
them on and I decided to have a
them on and I decided to have a discussion with there I said are you
discussion with there I said are you
discussion with there I said are you sure this is not the thing we made this
sure this is not the thing we made this
sure this is not the thing we made this is not the thing that we were agreeing
is not the thing that we were agreeing
is not the thing that we were agreeing on and talking with him it clicked and
on and talking with him it clicked and
on and talking with him it clicked and what he said to me was that you know
what he said to me was that you know
what he said to me was that you know about the how complex this is you know
about the how complex this is you know
about the how complex this is you know about everything that’s going on but
about everything that’s going on but
about everything that’s going on but your audience don’t your audience don’t
your audience don’t your audience don’t
your audience don’t your audience don’t know the these aren’t as technically
know the these aren’t as technically
know the these aren’t as technically competent or technically difficult or as
competent or technically difficult or as
competent or technically difficult or as advanced as you think they should be all
advanced as you think they should be all
advanced as you think they should be all they know is there some things running
they know is there some things running
they know is there some things running about on the floor as they come upstairs
about on the floor as they come upstairs
about on the floor as they come upstairs and if one of the robots goes off – this
and if one of the robots goes off – this
and if one of the robots goes off – this goes off and tries to go down the stairs
goes off and tries to go down the stairs
goes off and tries to go down the stairs after someone you just pick it up bring
after someone you just pick it up bring
after someone you just pick it up bring it back over and give it a nice telling
it back over and give it a nice telling
it back over and give it a nice telling off you kind of just start performing
off you kind of just start performing
off you kind of just start performing with the technology and kind of the way
with the technology and kind of the way
with the technology and kind of the way you walk up and touch something or you
you walk up and touch something or you
you walk up and touch something or you talk to the thing you’re building the
talk to the thing you’re building the
talk to the thing you’re building the thoughts of the thing that’s there
thoughts of the thing that’s there
thoughts of the thing that’s there you’re kind of filling in the gaps with
you’re kind of filling in the gaps with
you’re kind of filling in the gaps with your own performance
your own performance
your own performance it’s a little bit like how Steve Jobs
it’s a little bit like how Steve Jobs
it’s a little bit like how Steve Jobs demo demonstrate that original iPhone he
demo demonstrate that original iPhone he
demo demonstrate that original iPhone he was going through a very specific set of
was going through a very specific set of
was going through a very specific set of circumstances but his performance were
circumstances but his performance were
circumstances but his performance were there was the thing that carried it
there was the thing that carried it
there was the thing that carried it through the thing that got people
through the thing that got people
through the thing that got people excited even though it was just a
excited even though it was just a
excited even though it was just a process
process
process it was just the baser so with that we
it was just the baser so with that we
it was just the baser so with that we start thinking okay let’s get this all
start thinking okay let’s get this all
start thinking okay let’s get this all together let’s just make sure it works
together let’s just make sure it works
together let’s just make sure it works and it’s robust and let’s use our own
and it’s robust and let’s use our own
and it’s robust and let’s use our own performance let’s walk up and touch
performance let’s walk up and touch
performance let’s walk up and touch things and invite people into the space
things and invite people into the space
things and invite people into the space and we get there we get to the point
and we get there we get to the point
and we get there we get to the point where it’s ready and it’s open and after
where it’s ready and it’s open and after
where it’s ready and it’s open and after our week-long installation process we
our week-long installation process we
our week-long installation process we can open we can open to the space we can
can open we can open to the space we can
can open we can open to the space we can open to the stage and invite everyone
open to the stage and invite everyone
open to the stage and invite everyone into this space now this thing this
into this space now this thing this
into this space now this thing this thing we made was listening to people
thing we made was listening to people
thing we made was listening to people you could touch it and it was following
you could touch it and it was following
you could touch it and it was following people’s hands about and it was leaving
people’s hands about and it was leaving
people’s hands about and it was leaving these messages and memories on social
these messages and memories on social
these messages and memories on social media where people had walked up walked
media where people had walked up walked
media where people had walked up walked up to and touch something and it set a
up to and touch something and it set a
up to and touch something and it set a nice counterpoint to everything else
nice counterpoint to everything else
nice counterpoint to everything else that was in the tape because while the
that was in the tape because while the
that was in the tape because while the tape modern is a modern art gallery not
tape modern is a modern art gallery not
tape modern is a modern art gallery not everything is very interactive or
everything is very interactive or
everything is very interactive or digital so when you have a bunch of
digital so when you have a bunch of
digital so when you have a bunch of people who have come to this new art
people who have come to this new art
people who have come to this new art gallery opening and walking up the space
gallery opening and walking up the space
gallery opening and walking up the space and walking into something and I’m
and walking into something and I’m
and walking into something and I’m realizing oh I’m allowed to play with
realizing oh I’m allowed to play with
realizing oh I’m allowed to play with this that’s something quite magical so
this that’s something quite magical so
this that’s something quite magical so you invite them to come and touch and
you invite them to come and touch and
you invite them to come and touch and you invite them to come and talk talk to
you invite them to come and talk talk to
you invite them to come and talk talk to it or play around with it and it really
it or play around with it and it really
it or play around with it and it really started to respond and get excited about
started to respond and get excited about
started to respond and get excited about what was happening these little Boyd’s
what was happening these little Boyd’s
what was happening these little Boyd’s these little characters that float
these little characters that float
these little characters that float through the sculpture while they
through the sculpture while they
through the sculpture while they slightly melted our unity programmer to
slightly melted our unity programmer to
slightly melted our unity programmer to his brain didn’t really work after we
his brain didn’t really work after we
his brain didn’t really work after we made him get that working in 3d these
made him get that working in 3d these
made him get that working in 3d these little boys are just people’s thoughts
little boys are just people’s thoughts
little boys are just people’s thoughts and emotions that are drifting through
and emotions that are drifting through
and emotions that are drifting through this space and they’re affecting them
this space and they’re affecting them
this space and they’re affecting them over all emotion of the sculpture so
over all emotion of the sculpture so
over all emotion of the sculpture so when the lifts broke it kind of got
when the lifts broke it kind of got
when the lifts broke it kind of got angry with us and the robots were using
angry with us and the robots were using
angry with us and the robots were using were working with the children almost
were working with the children almost
were working with the children almost performing with them as well bringing
performing with them as well bringing
performing with them as well bringing them into a space making them excited
them into a space making them excited
them into a space making them excited and of course because it’s an
and of course because it’s an
and of course because it’s an interactive piece and there’s a nice
interactive piece and there’s a nice
interactive piece and there’s a nice little very expensive LCD screen behind
little very expensive LCD screen behind
little very expensive LCD screen behind the thing we’ve made doing the
the thing we’ve made doing the
the thing we’ve made doing the interpretation and that’s not an
interpretation and that’s not an
interpretation and that’s not an interactive touchscreen
interactive touchscreen
interactive touchscreen and of course all the kids were running
and of course all the kids were running
and of course all the kids were running up touching and making lovely brilliant
up touching and making lovely brilliant
up touching and making lovely brilliant greasy smear marks on a very very
greasy smear marks on a very very
greasy smear marks on a very very expensive LCD screen but then I started
expensive LCD screen but then I started
expensive LCD screen but then I started thinking we’re coming to the end and we
thinking we’re coming to the end and we
thinking we’re coming to the end and we get to we have to now start thinking
get to we have to now start thinking
get to we have to now start thinking about packing up and reflecting on what
about packing up and reflecting on what
about packing up and reflecting on what we’ve done and go at this point it’s the
we’ve done and go at this point it’s the
we’ve done and go at this point it’s the journey back it’s a journey back to the
journey back it’s a journey back to the
journey back it’s a journey back to the Shire with your changes in space changes
Shire with your changes in space changes
Shire with your changes in space changes and thinking what’s the message I’m
and thinking what’s the message I’m
and thinking what’s the message I’m going to bring back – to Plymouth – Ted
going to bring back – to Plymouth – Ted
going to bring back – to Plymouth – Ted or something and here it starts to
or something and here it starts to
or something and here it starts to become something different because the
become something different because the
become something different because the thing itself is now packed up it was
thing itself is now packed up it was
thing itself is now packed up it was only there for three days it’s now put
only there for three days it’s now put
only there for three days it’s now put away it’s in some storage somewhere and
away it’s in some storage somewhere and
away it’s in some storage somewhere and it’s not a thing anymore
it’s not a thing anymore
it’s not a thing anymore so what’s the thing what’s the thing
so what’s the thing what’s the thing
so what’s the thing what’s the thing that’s left behind the thing I created
that’s left behind the thing I created
that’s left behind the thing I created the thing I got to work on and be a part
the thing I got to work on and be a part
the thing I got to work on and be a part of and it’s not the metal work or the
of and it’s not the metal work or the
of and it’s not the metal work or the code because that goes rusty or obsolete
code because that goes rusty or obsolete
code because that goes rusty or obsolete I started to realize that all these
I started to realize that all these
I started to realize that all these interactions these moments and memories
interactions these moments and memories
interactions these moments and memories these exciting things were the things
these exciting things were the things
these exciting things were the things that really mattered and I say I’m a
that really mattered and I say I’m a
that really mattered and I say I’m a creative technologist and then I
creative technologist and then I
creative technologist and then I realized what is the thing I’m creating
realized what is the thing I’m creating
realized what is the thing I’m creating actually it’s not the technology it’s
actually it’s not the technology it’s
actually it’s not the technology it’s not the are it’s the thing that’s left
not the are it’s the thing that’s left
not the are it’s the thing that’s left over it’s the post it’s the memories
over it’s the post it’s the memories
over it’s the post it’s the memories it’s the things that people the stick in
it’s the things that people the stick in
it’s the things that people the stick in people’s mind and towards the end I’ll
people’s mind and towards the end I’ll
people’s mind and towards the end I’ll show you these these two things that
show you these these two things that
show you these these two things that resonated with me and stuck will stick
resonated with me and stuck will stick
resonated with me and stuck will stick with me forever
with me forever
with me forever is when it responded to someone asking
is when it responded to someone asking
is when it responded to someone asking about love and it changed its sound it
about love and it changed its sound it
about love and it changed its sound it changed its lighting and really just
changed its lighting and really just
changed its lighting and really just fired people’s eyes up and baby Otis
fired people’s eyes up and baby Otis
fired people’s eyes up and baby Otis relaxing not unlike after I’ve done
relaxing not unlike after I’ve done
relaxing not unlike after I’ve done after working on this for a couple of
after working on this for a couple of
after working on this for a couple of months just lying underneath it watching
months just lying underneath it watching
months just lying underneath it watching people’s thoughts and be people’s social
people’s thoughts and be people’s social
people’s thoughts and be people’s social media flying past them and maybe that’s
media flying past them and maybe that’s
media flying past them and maybe that’s the thing I bring back maybe that’s the
the thing I bring back maybe that’s the
the thing I bring back maybe that’s the thing
thing
thing after you cleared out the space after
after you cleared out the space after
after you cleared out the space after you’ve moved on what you’ve left behind
you’ve moved on what you’ve left behind
you’ve moved on what you’ve left behind is those moments and memories
is those moments and memories
is those moments and memories and those are what sticking stick with
and those are what sticking stick with
and those are what sticking stick with people and those are the things your
people and those are the things your
people and those are the things your engineering the things you’re creating
engineering the things you’re creating
engineering the things you’re creating if you’re making an app you’re
if you’re making an app you’re
if you’re making an app you’re connecting people to other people if
connecting people to other people if
connecting people to other people if you’re making a website you’re providing
you’re making a website you’re providing
you’re making a website you’re providing a service but you’re making things
a service but you’re making things
a service but you’re making things happen you’re giving people emotions and
happen you’re giving people emotions and
happen you’re giving people emotions and memories and things that will stick with
memories and things that will stick with
memories and things that will stick with them for the rest of their life and I
them for the rest of their life and I
them for the rest of their life and I hope that’s something you can have take
hope that’s something you can have take
hope that’s something you can have take with you after today and thank you very
with you after today and thank you very
with you after today and thank you very much
”
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