spherical harmonics part 2

Ribbon effect obtained quite simple instead of i++ in the main for loop we now have i+=2 or i+=3

sphere harmonics

sphere harmonics implemented in processing.
some screenshots (here's the complete list):

Gibberish

I am wondering. Computational art/ Generative art takes a lot of programming. It's quite a lot of work - compiling algorithms from different sources and inventing your own for those special needs that surely arise etc etc etc. Yet g. a. is a manifesto of two things (at least this is how i see it), the first being the concept and the second being the use of the computer as way of creating art in its purest.
So we are tackling two tricky subjects. The concept/idea you want to express (or not!) must be proper for deployment in a digital medium with pure digital tools (code). Sometimes one must stop when programming becomes more important than concept and vice-versa. It's a tricky balance.

And second, I think I'll program some boids playing tag you're it. And map their trajectories. And throw them in a perlin noise vector field. And add some genetic evolution algorithms. And implement collision detection. And do that nifty Diffusion Aggregation Algorithm. And better my color palette. And add sound interaction. Or, better even, generate sound. Binary networks anyone?

Oh, and there's one more thing. "It" has to look good. Aesthetic. Guten nacht.

Boids Update

Thank you and you for inspiration. Check those links out to see how real masters are doing it :)

Now everything's smoother - esp. camera movement (the camera now aims towards the overall center of the flock).
The applet is here (does not work 100% since opengl in a browser isn't that common. it surely won't work if java 5 (1.5) is installed on your machine).
Applications are here (download the appropriate folder for your os).
Command list (ripped from the code):

void keyPressed() {
switch(key) {
case RETURN:
changeCenterAtRandomCode();
break;
case 'e':
evade = !evade;
didi.evade(evade);
break;
case 'b':
bgclr = color(0, 0, 0);
break;
case 'w':
bgclr = color(255, 255, 255);
break;
case 'r':
didi.lines();
break;
case 'h':
big = !big;
default:
break;
}

Later edit: zipped mac app here, inside the os folder. never thought of this.
Also, take care when using 'e' (evade key). press it twice.

Boids

Boids. Simple algorithms to seek (or arrive), evade, separate, flock etc. extended in troix d.
You can find some theory here.

I'm having lots of fun with them.
Also, I found the red book of opengl online for free.

This Vector3D library saves me a lot of headaches. On the same site there you'll find some simple 2d boids.

I am planning on starting to make direct opengl calls. At least for the tails of the boids.

Inspiration

improved.ro/p5/flower is now working. controls inside the source.

Good news update

Good news, bad news. The good news is that the little interactive piece I did for that monologue (see below for details) got first prize at the mediart (romanian language link, sorry) festival. Also Gabriel (the actor) did a good job and he got an excellence award.
What I liked about our project: it was more of a performance than a theater play. The "script" was improvised, and the projection was designed to be (and , thank god, was) responsive to what the actor said/improvised, to how fast he talked etc.
What I didn't like and criticism I received: too hypnotic/it looked too good/it distracted your attention a bit from the actor. It should have communicated more with the actor (this would require a bit more preparation time and repetitions). Interaction was too distant. And lack of sound. Yep, that would have been great. I'm sorry I didn't have the time and will to code some solid sine basslines into it. I promise I'll do it next time :)

improved.ro/p5/gabriel/
Now works in a browser! finally.
(I had some issues with the so called java 5.0 - 1.5 - now resolved in a true discrete manner: switched back to good 'ol 1.42)
You can dig the controls from the source, but here's a short list:
'1' tags the words.
'2' inserts a random number (between 2 and 4 i think) of words.
'6' and '7'stand for slower or faster.
'0' and '9' do some nice things too, background change and lights() on or off.
default: wordBuffer += key; break;

How to use:
type a word on the keyboard, then press 2. repeat this with the same word for as long as you see fit. Then type the word again and press 1. that should do the magic. repeat this with different words of your choice :)

Theatre play projection update

Today the piece I did for Gabriel was screened for the first time. It turned out nice and I managed to get a good concept behind it. As it goes with most code that generates something abstract, the underlying idea may take numerous shapes. Personally, I like to think of it as responsive, generative tag cloud for the character's (actor's) thoughts, expressions and gestures. Here's a screenshot:

(not the best one but time is pressing)
How does it work? It's easy: the actor goes on reciting his monologue (yes, the theater play "Veghe" by Morris Panich is just one big monologue). I type in every word that is important, or has a special resonance, etc. (abstract tags?) and that word gets into a big rotating chaos. It pops out whenever i type it again. Multiple instances of the same word are allowed. Also, the whole business may start with a predefined list of words (list that can be anytime expanded).
This shifts the whole business to a more performance-like theater play due to the subtle interactivity insert.

Note to self: A nice expansion would be the ability to let the public send in by bluetooth their own words. Now that would be nice.

flowers in the java sun

I finally understood pushMatrix() and popMatrix(). I am happy about it. Wasn't much of a hussle. I was used to applying transformations to independent objects separately. Maybe that's why the cube worked a bit slow (10 fps in a browser, 15 fps when running locally). Huuh, a matrix stack would have been useful.
Anyway, I brewed this:


This is not online yet, but will soon be. At first i want to take some time to organize things at mprvd.r/p55 so as to not upload all the core.jar and opengl.jar etc. all the time for a new sketch.
Remember kids, the future is generative.

Updates

Recently I've been mapping a 32 channels' worth of FFT analysis on some discs (that form a cylinder) spaced out in 3D.
It looks extremely good, especially on cliq-hop. Too bad my iBook's built-in microphone isn't such a marvel of technology, but hey. All in all, it works and it's nice.
I'll edit this post later to post some screenshots. Until then, the code isn't working in a browser yet, but you copypaste and see it in action, tinker with the params and feel good.

Just testing exporting

I was recently testing exporting geometry from p55 and yep, it works. Computed in p55, rendered in google's sketchup, and text in illustrator.

Strange Attractors // Patterns in chaos

This book on Strange Attractors is so interesting I am drooling over it right now. Good for anybody, even the mathematically stupid.

A random illustration from the book.
Yep, it's free to download.
Go p55 it!