Wiremap by Albert Hwang

I met Albert Hwang at The Last HOPE a few weeks back and was able to check out his latest work called the Wiremap. It’s a really ingenious way to display 3 dimensional images onto a series of suspended strings. The graphics are controlled via Processing and projected from a standard LCD projector. If you like the Wiremap, which I certainly do, you can make your own because the entire project is under the Creative Commons license.

Recently I have had a few email communications with Albert about his Wiremap. Here are some of the highlights:

What is Wiremap all about?

I’m doing all of this because I’m on a mission to get cyberspace. When I say cyberspace, I mean cybernetic space. I mean the stuff that’s locked away inside arrays of data. The not so neat thing about this is that our meaty irl selves already have a strong relationship to space – we know where real things are, where they’re located, and we’re aware of how they effect our behavior. I want to get cyberspace to emerge from the computer and communicate with that part of our bodies – the part that gives us a sense of presence.

What’s next for Wiremap?

One ideal unit for this project is a public fountain. Instead of using thread, this imagined unit uses streams of water. Instead of being 3’x4’x5′, this unit is 15 feet tall. The unit is more of a theater space with 3d animators collaborating with dancers. When it’s not in use it’s a public park with patterns floating around – you can wear a swim suit, walk through, and experience bodies of light passing through your body and being rendered all around you. Musicians play live sets to music animations – like music videos but purely abstract.

Let’s hope Albert gets out to Maker Faire so we call all check out his project. It’s really something that has to be viewed in person to get the full effect. If you want to get involved contact Albert on the Wiremap website.

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