University of Texas Neuroscience
Using EEG(electroencephalogram), a technique that measures brain activity from the surface of the skin, we created several commissioned works for the University of Texas’ Neuroscience Program.
These interactive installations went through several variations and served the purpose of taking the complex data of the mind and creating fun art experiences for neuroscience students and the general community.
The first variation of this installation worked with eye-tracking and EEG to allow the users to experience watching a movie the variables of where they look and what their brain activity is doing used to create different effects over the movie in different areas of the screen.
The second variation of this installation was the experience of creating a symphony of layering audio sounds driven by the progression of a users brainwaves. This existed as a 3 minute experience in which we sat the user down and asked them to close their eyes. We then instructed them to relax their mind and sounds will begin to appear that represent this relaxed state of mind. The music would build in complexity and then end with a chime leaving them elated. This was extended to their friends and colleagues in the room through an extra pair of headphones and custom visualization of the sounds on a screen so they could also experience it with them simultaneously.
The third variation of this was connecting the brainwaves to specialized lighting in a warehouse. Event lights were placed throughout the event area in the 4,000 sq.ft. warehouse. The user was asked to put on the wireless device and then allowed to experience the lighting change based on the users brain activity to create a greater or lesser perception of the space around them. This was given to users through the span of a night at a party switching between the audience to have the ability to create the lighting in the space everyone would be enjoying.
These projects were in collaboration with music producer Aaron Benavides, interaction engineer Jerome Morrison, Topology art gallery and studio, The Museum of Human Achievement, and Dr. Laura Colgin. Commissioned by UT Neuroscience Department for their recruitment events and for their event Memory Matters, a panel on the current research on memory.