Prelude

Terrains Beyond is an addition to our previous inquiry towards the exploration of multiple facets within the subjects of generative, interaction and simulative design. The current body of work, which involves interactive projections of environments, are inspired by natural places that are considered to be inaccessible.

Process

Our team was interested in exploring how it would be possible to create and express environments that are extremely difficult to reach within a space. This led us to conceptualise and study the visual elements that are present in these locations. We intended to experiment with creating a faux interactive environment by utilising a projector.

Sketching and studying the elements and textures of these environments was a big part of our developmental process. Here, we look at how these places could be visually represented, and how we can input the element of interactivity to it.

Here, we look at some of our draft sketches, from geometry importation to other forms of generative art.

Experimentation

In touchdesigner, we mainly utilised and combined the following functions into a single integrated projection

i. Audio and Keyboard Mapping
ii. Motion Detection through Frame Difference
iii. Optical Flow to ParticlesGPU
iv. Metaball to Particles SOP
v. Noise, Composition, Feedback

Outcomes

The end outcome is a series of five interactive screens that aim to bring these inaccessible terrains to the people.

i. Cave of the Crystals
ii. Caño Cristales River
iii. Waitomo Glowworm Caves
iv. The Sahara
v. Naruto Whirlpools

An immersive experience.
Bringing terrains to the touch.

Post-mortem

Overall, our project turned out successful due to the motion capture which did not only provide visuals of the places but also provided a physical interaction with it. Additonally, as specific sounds were utilised in our project, it has created a realistic impression and experience of being in that particular natural place, while interacting with the projected visuals.

However, it would have been better if we had an empty space of five different visuals projecting on each wall as people could interact individual works at the same time by moving around the place.