 |
Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
|
 |
Lifeblood And Beta Tank Bubble-Based 'Stereo Tanks'
Lifeblood is an unusual bubble-tank imaging system created by artist Stephanie Andrews. Lifeblood was exhibited at the G2 gallery in Chicago. Beta Tank is a more recent project that emphasizes more precise bubble "texting."

(Lifeblood bubble tank sculpture)
Lifeblood consists of a large tank of water; bubbles are released from 64 valves at the bottom of the tank. The valves are controlled by computer program/MIDI control board.
The software orchestrates the release of the bubbles, using them as "pixels." Directional lighting causes the bubble "pixels" to shine. The bubbles form recognizable forms as they float upward; when the bubbles pop at the surface of the tank, the image decays. Microphones record the chaotic image decay and relay it to surround speakers in the exhibit walls.
This creation is an alternative three-dimensional imaging system that plays with the inherently beautiful qualities of air and water. The animated visual and auditory rhythms of Lifeblood are a meditation on the essential importance of these elements. This piece emphasizes the highlights that occur on the delicate surfaces of the bubbles. drawing attention to the rich borderlands where the two elements are brought in contact with each other.
Beta Tank is a similar project created by Daniel Kupfer and Eyal Burstein. I like the Lifeblood project better because it is a 3D display, but Beta Tank has some excellent engineering behind it. The biggest challenge for the designers was to overcome the problem of "drafting" (the first bubble experiences more friction and eventually the next bubble in the series catches up with the first and the image is ruined). To fix the problem, Beta-tank uses a highly viscous liquid similar to shampoo in order to obtain a workable refresh rate.

(Beta Tank texting [video in HTML frame])
The reason I put the phrase "stereo tank" in the title to this article is to honor Robert Heinlein's stereo tank from his 1961 novel Stranger in a Strange Land:
"If we don't show the Man from Mars in the stereo tanks pretty shortly, you'll have riots on your hands, Mr. Secretary."
(Read more about Heinlein's stereo tank)
He also refers to it as a stereovision in what is probably the earliest description of a "screensaver" that you are likely to find.
Stephanie Andrews is a University of Washington graduate; her current research involves creating sculptural work from motion-capture data, alternative platforms for multi-dimensional kinetic animation, and nanograffiti. Read more about her at stephnet and more about lifeblood. See also the cool beta tank video. Thanks to Reg.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 11/23/2006)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.
| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories -
("
Display
")
Augmented Reality Book Covers Reveal The Inner Book
'The E-paper holograms leaped from lurid covers...' - Greg Bear, 2003.
TCL CSOT 17-Inch Printed OLED Scrolling Display
'..a wide sheet of clear material suddenly flared with light and swirling colour.' - EC Tubb, 1958.
Looking Glass Display Good Enough For Science Fiction, Fantasy
'The figure seemed to be swimming toward the surface.' - Roger Zelazny, 1981.
LG Wing Twisting Smartphone Might Be Fun
'A polycarbon screen unfurled...' - William Gibson, 1986.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
|
 |
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Wearable Energy Harvester
'... he had tightened the chest to gain maximum pumping action from the motion of breathing.'
Drones Participate In Buddhist Rites
'...a prayer wheel swung into view and began spinning at a furious pace.'
Anna Indiana AI Singer-Songwriter
'She is a personality-construct, a congeries of software agents'
Video Manicuring ala Schismatrix
'The program raced up the screen one scan line at a time'
'Feel the AGI' OpenAI Leader Now OpenWorship
'And are all the people willing to be governed by a machine?'
NASA Tests Prototype Europa Lander
Why have legs if they don't walk around?
Tailsitter Drone Aircraft For SAR
'...it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair.'
Forward CarePod The AI Doctor's Office
'It's an old model,' Rawlins said. 'I'm not sure what to do.'
Mika The Robot-Boss
'the robot-boss was busy at the lip of the new lode instructing and egging the men on to greater speed...'
Yamaha Motoroid 2 No Handlebars Self-Balancing Motorcycle
'He rode the bike with an intense lack of physical grace...'
San Francisco Autobus
'THE autobus turned silently down the wide street...'
Should Your Car Decide If You Can Drive?
'Okay. Maybe the car was right...'
Lucid Dreams On Demand From Prophetic and Card79
'the peeper did not operate by virtue of its machinery alone, but by the reaction of the brain and the body of its user...'
Honda UNI-ONE Hands-Free Wheelchair Follows 100 Year-Old Design
'Noiselessly, on rubber-tired wheels, they journeyed...'
EBS-260 Handjet Free Hand Dot Matrix Printer
'McKie held a chalf-memory stick over the dusted surface.'
Sensitive, Soft Robot Skin
'...tinted material that had all the feel and appearance of human flesh and epidermis.'
More SF in the News Stories
More Beyond Technovelgy science news stories
|
 |