Now this is my kind of fun. An ultrasonic sensor (left) connects to our Make Controller board, which connects to our laptop, which connects to a video projector and a 200-watt PA speaker, which we use to scare the pants off people walking down San Francisco's Haight Street.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)It all started when a free, unsolicited copy of Cycling '74's Max/MSP 5 hit my desk. How, or why, the holy grail of interactive audio/video authoring software found its way to me is still a mystery, but I'm glad it did. In fact, I felt so grateful I knew I had to return the kindness by creating something ambitious with it. That's when I e-mailed Matt.
My friend Matt Ganucheau is a guru when it comes to Max/MSP. Because this particular piece of software is so adaptable, he's used it to program robots, create video DJ software, author plug-in effects for music applications, and give life to busty mannequins (he hates when I bring that up). With my motivation and Matt's know-how, I was sure we could come up with something interesting.
Editor's note: The following video gets nerdy and very loud. If DIY and electronic arts projects don't interest you, you probably won't be interested in this video or the remainder of this article.
Getting creative wasn't easy, however. I felt like a colorblind kid who'd been thrown a deluxe box of Crayolas. Most people who come to Max/MSP already have a problem in mind that they wanted to solve, like "How do I get my Guitar Hero controller to play real music?" or "How can I create propane-powered flame organ?" Instead, I had a solution in search of a problem.
... Read more
She's got motion sensors for eyes, and so much more. If you're not offended by seeing a mannequin's nipple, then click here to see behind the scenes photos of how Lisa was constructed.
(Credit: Donald Bell / CNET Networks)
The following was originally posted on the new MP3 Insider blog.
Could the next frontier of gadget interface design be modeled after female sexual arousal? Multimedia artists Matt Ganucheau, Kyle Machulis, and Kelly Moore have designed a female mannequin that uses strategically placed sensors to control audio playback. The mannequin, affectionately named Moaning Lisa, was unveiled at the recent Arse Elektronika conference, as part of a showcase of emerging erotic-based technology. While Lisa is currently programmed to only play a catalog of more than 200 female moans, her open-source architecture is capable of handling anything from an MP3 music library to advanced audio synthesis.
It may sound like Weird Science, but Matt promises that Lisa's technology is nothing mystical. A cutaway in Lisa's back reveals a Make controller board that works as a hardware router for all the touch-sensitive sensors mounted on the mannequin's more sensitive areas. A USB plug found on Lisa's ankle connects to a nearby computer that handles the software end of things. Matt developed Moaning Lisa's unique software using a visual programming language called Max/MSP. The program uses a neural networking algorithm to monitor all of Lisa's sensors and determine her state of excitement, which in turn modulates both her volume and number of moans. With some help from Matt and Kyle, I've put together a slide show of Lisa's construction, to help other lonely tinkerers.
Beyond the juvenile theatrics, there are some advanced principles behind Lisa that could filter into consumer technology. With Lisa, Matt and Kyle consciously avoided simplifying the mannequin's "arousal" to just a slap and a tickle. Instead, Lisa's software monitors the sensors for speed, duration, and sequence of touch input, along with an element of chance that may cause Lisa to not respond to you, no matter how smooth your moves. With advanced multitouch interfaces such as the iPhone grabbing the world's attention, could the next generation of interfaces be engineered for deliberate unresponsiveness? Imagine an iPod that will only power on based on the unique pressure of your grip, or a pet robot that responds preferentially to your voice, rather than your girlfriend's. The technology behind the Moaning Lisa project actually has practical applications that could reach into next generation Tickle-Me-Elmos, or post-Guitar Hero game controllers. Personally, I'm hoping for an MP3 player that can sense my mood (or someone else's) based on interaction, then find an appropriate soundtrack for it.
- prev
- 1
- next
