Microbe Simulator

Overview

The prototype was built using a laptop and Processing 4, in which I wrote a generative art code that mimics the behaviour of fungus. Using projection mapping and a projector, a virtual reality is drawn on top of the real one, giving the illusion that they are really like a biologist in the lab researching the behaviour of all these microbes. The reason for using this hardware and software is because I was already a bit familiar with this and I wanted to expand my technique and knowledge about it.

Process

Brainstorming:

I had quickly decided to work with projection mapping, so I quickly decided to do some research on that and see what was possible. I came across this design studio on the internet, which really inspired me and then I decided to brainstorm from this idea.

First, I translated this concept into a little ball that you put on something. This still didn't seem very creative so my next concept used sliders in a circle where the position of each slider is a corner of a pentagon, so you could adjust it in real life.

Then I remembered the concept of generative art that I was also working on a while ago. I found the idea of growing something very interesting, then I thought about growing fungus, and how to simulate that. I started iterating from this concept.

Generative code:

Since I have little experience writing code for something that draws something on its own. I decided to work iteratively step by step, so first I started by drawing a line. Then a new line will be drawn from the end point of the previous line. Generative art uses algorithms and randomness to create something unique each time, so the direction the lines go in is randomized.

Once this worked, I wanted to code behaviour that no line can cross, and that there were splits in the lines. Eventually, this didn't work and I stopped going down this path, instead going to work on making sure that from 1 point, multiple lines would go each way. Then I added shifting colour that made it look like the fungus was also affected by the time of day.

Finally, I added variables to adjust the hue, length, spread and number of starting points.

Arduino implementation and second test

I wanted the design to be interactive and playful. So instead of adjusting variables in Processing, I used an Arduino, sliders and buttons, making use of the serial connection. I noticed that using the computer keyboard as input, doesn't sell the illusion. So with this

input device, the setup really feels like a mixed reality setup.

The black wood did not reflect the light of the projector well, so I decided to quickly spray paint this to make it white. 

In addition, I wanted people to be able to play more with the colour of the fungus, so I experimented different ways to implement this, which would be fun and make sense.