| Concept
Description
In
the nightclubs the significance and the quality of the Vjs
are increasing every day, and it is becoming a respected job due the maturing
of the professionals involved, more or less as happened with the Djs in
the 80’s. But, at the same time, more and more the public misses
the interaction or even the show feature that can be found in concerts
and band exhibitions. This model of nightclubs with DJ-pickups, VJ-laptop/mixer
and a big screen with images that caught all the visual attention looks
like that there is no humans using their skills to do things in real-time.
And,
looking from the other side, it is also frustrating to the VJ to be attached
to a computer, in a constrained and introspective position, and at the
same time try to generate a expansive, exciting and extroversive video
output. Usually the desire is to go down from the stage and join the people
at the dance floor and still keep control over the video, but from a different
point of view. Or even try to get the energy from the dancing people sharing
with them some simple control over the real-time inputs, just getting
info from the dance movements.
The idea here is
to create a tool for the Vjs control remotely, without
wires, and with more natural gestures (than keyboard, mouse and sliders)
the video mixing. The secondary feature is to allow people use this same
tool in a kind of simpler “user mode” to play with the video
in the big screen, without need of previous learning (they will learn
“on the fly” by the visual feedbacks).
Features
Specification
Before
define the feature specifications, it is better to make clear the main
concerns that are wanted to be kept on all the process:
-
This tool should allow more natural or intuitive movements for controlling
the different properties of the video/sound.
-
Flexible enough to let the user use a different garment each time according
to his fashion desire.
-
Allow flexible movements and feel comfortable on sustained use.
-
Have a simple version/user mode that can be easily used by anyone without
further explanations.
-
Maybe have a professional version/user mode that allows more complex
or specific controls.
-
Real-time feedback. A gesture movement would generate a correspondent
action in the video and must happen again if the same gesture is repeated.
-
Don’t get lost in using thousands of sensors and a too complex
algorithm to try to recognize all the subtle nuances of the human gestures.
- Be
a conceptual device in this stage, but keep in mind that the next step
will be do it for real use.
With these constrains
in mind and after some exploration (ex3, ex4,
Dance Positions) and references,
the Wrist Brace VJ aroused as the best and feasible solution.
The prototype consists
in a wrist brace and more 8 independent pin-buttons with icons that identifies
basic commands for VJ. The pin-buttons can be attached to the garment
using the pins or using Velcro. The Velcro can be also used to do simple
bracelets to the ankles, wrist and other nude parts. As wireless reception
device, there is a box that must be attached to the computer by the USB
port, and it sends Midi signals to the software.
The professional
user (VJ) wears it in the wrist and chooses the position of the
pin-buttons in the body, according to convenience, comfort and personal
desire. For the professional use, with the product will come together
a tutorial with some examples and suggestions of use and videos of live
performances. The idea is that after a while of practice the VJ starts
to create his own customized usage adapted to his personal movements.
The button-pins are
basic commands (like “play” or “increase speed”)
that can be used as discrete events or toggle switch functions commands.
Actually, the command set that will come with the product is just a well-tested
suggestion, and the VJ can change the icons of the buttons just opening
them and change the interpretation of the Midi signals in the software,
according to his personal mixing style.
Besides the discrete
button-pins commands, the VJ can use arm and body movements (that causes
the arm to move) to produce analog and continuous changes into the video
properties. For example, if this arm input is set to control the playback
speed of the movie, putting the hand above the head can mean increase
speed and put the arm down can mean decrease the speed. For keep the video
fixed in the desired status or to rest the arm there is an on/off button
just at the range of the finger when you fold the hand.
For the clubber
user (someone in the dance floor), it must and will be really
simpler. He should just wear the wrist brace and use the analog input
with the arms to play with the video. It can be possible to him to use
the pin-buttons too, but for that it will be necessary a short explanation
before start. The VJ can then set the property and other features that
can be controlled from the wrist brace.
Target
User Description
The
target users are the professional and the amateur VJs. These users are
familiar with video softwares and with the main commands that are used
to control the mixing. A considerable part of then already tried a Midi
input device to manage inputs, which will make the learning curve of the
wrist brace really short. For the shy Vjs it can be used get inputs from
the dancing people or just for not to be in the stage :-) .
It
can be also used in audio/video performances, once it is simply a Midi
input device.
Technology
The
Wrist Brace VJ has basically three elements in the communication process.
There are the pin-buttons, the wrist brace and the base box that connects
to the computer.
The
pin-buttons are RF-Id tags that are read-only and have
a unique number that will be assigned a specific command.
In
the wrist brace, the ECM110-02 RF-Id reader will get
this number and send to the PIC16F628 chip that will send this information
to the RF transceiver. The PIC will be also managing and sending out the
inputs from the accelerometer ADXL210E that is sensible to vertical and
horizontal movements, the 2 axes defined by your stand up body and the
arms opened.
This
data sent by the wrist brace transceiver arrives in another transceiver
in the base box. At the box, this information will be
processed by software in a PIC 16F876, interpreted and converted to Midi
signals.
Then
the Midi signals go to the USB of the computer and are
recognized by the software that the VJ uses. He can use the suggested
assignment of the commands or can configure it according to personal style.
Storyboard
Scenario
The
first step was identify the possible commands that can be set with this
tool. This exploration is documented in the Dance
Positions Study page.
Video
Scenario
Click
here to see the video for the GoDance! wearable tool for VJs.
Process
Pictures
Click
here to see images of the different stages of the process.
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