| contact name | William Tremblay |
| artists' names | William Tremblay, Rob Gonsalves |
| artists' locations | Allston, MA USA |
| art name | Janken |
| art media | Interactive computer graphics, projection, video camera,
plexiglas, sensors, rock, paper and scissors |
| art dimensions | 8' (tall) * 8' (wide) * 10' (deep) |
| art date | 2005 |
| art description | Janken is the Japanese word for the common game known in the
US as "Rock-Paper-Scissors". Roughly translated, it means "hand game"
but also implies fist, strike and gambling. Janken presents two
aspects: when interacted with, it engages the viewer with a very
familiar hand gesture game. Without human interaction, it reverts to
the performance of a random and unfamiliar sign language. |
| art proposal | Janken is a video installation featuring a projection of a real-time rendered 3-D animation of a skeletal hand. It operates in two modes. With no human interaction, it runs through random, though physically possible configurations of joint angles to create a form of unfamiliar "sign language". This mode is mysterious and quite interesting to watch passively. Additionally, it will provide an "attract loop" to draw the viewer into interacting with the piece. In the interactive mode, the installation plays a game of "Rock-Paper-Scissors" with the viewer.
The viewer will be presented with four pedestals, located toward the front of the space and a large projection surface at the back of the space on which the hand animation will initially be displaying its random gestures. Three of the pedestals (closer to the screen) will house physical objects in Plexiglas cases: a rock, a sheet of paper and a pair of scissors, fitted with delicate sensors. The fourth pedestal will consist of two columns attached at the base, defining an open space to permit a human hand to enter. A camera set up to view the defined area within the fourth pedestal will scan the gap for the outline of a human hand.
The interaction is accomplished by means of a video interface. Image recognition software will discern the gesture as one of the three possible shapes. Graphic signage located on the front pedestal will describe the game and the gestures.
To begin the interaction, a viewer will make two quick downward hand motions. The next motion they make will be interpreted as a symbol. Janken will then present its symbol in response, by commanding the hand animation to make a specific gesture. This symbol will be selected based on the transient electrical and acoustic characteristics of the three physical objects housed in the three objects contained in their respective pedestals. The viewer's interpreted gesture will be represented by illuminating the corresponding object.
If Janken wins, it will display a victory gesture of "thumbs up". If the viewer wins, Janken will perform the gesture of clapping with one hand. |
| art placard | Janken is the Japanese word for the common game known in
the US as "Rock-Paper-Scissors". Roughly translated, it means "hand
game" but also implies fist, strike and gambling. |
| art url | soon to come ( will email before 2/13/05) |
| date | Thursday, February 10, 2005 |
| time | 12:53 AM EST |
| contact affiliation | Collision Participant |
| contact address1 | 35 Allston Street |
| contact address2 | Apt. #3 |
| contact city | Allston |
| contact state | MA |
| contact country | USA |
| contact zip | 02134 |
| contact phone1 | (617) 512-9363 (cell) |
| contact phone2 | (617) 783-4913 (home) |
| contact email | w.tremblay@comcast.net |
| artist1 phone1 | 781-237-4467 |
| artist1 phone2 | 781-591-9061 |
| artist1 email | deep\_devices@compuserve.com |
| art status | The work partially completed. The output hand animation display is 90% complete, having a full range of motion and the ability to create rado hand gestures (it must still be modified to accept incoming gesture commands). The image recognition software is as of this time yet to be written, but Rob is confident that it can be accomplished with time to spare. The physical elements are not created yet, but Bill can create them within the time frame. We have a dedicated place to stage the installation and all tools and resources to finish this piece. Estimated completion time is mid-March 2005. |
| art maintenance | This piece is mechanically simple and the software will be robustly tested. It should run unattended for at least a full day, and in principle it couls run continuously. |
| art auto | To conserve bulb life, the piece should be shut down at night. This will involve turning off the projector and then shutting down the projector. After a cooldown period, the power distribution for the installation (a power strip) will be switched off.
At the start of each day's showing, a person will need to turn on the power strip. This will cause the computer to boot the program. The projector will then manually switched on. |
| art sound | There is no sound planned for the piece. Other sounds in the room will not be a disturbance. |
| art light | Being a projection, the primary display will work to best effect without direct light. Absolute darkness is not required.
There will be some lights in the piece itself, but they will be directed and dim. |
| art needs | We just need floor space and electricity. We will provide all structural elements. If located next to avery bright piece, a partition wall may help make the projection more viewable. |
| art safety | There are no potential hazards associated with this piece. |