Video 1 - Annotated XML Flowgraph

This flowgraph creates data that measures the distance (over a certain amount of time) between the player and an object. The data is stored in an external xml document, giving you the total distance covered over the time frame. 

S.W.O.T Analysis of Pachube Feed

I've chosen Arduino LightSensor Feed from Pachube, Arch1391.


"This feed displays light input data ranging from 0 to 1023, as collected by a light dependent resistor within an Arduino scheme. A high value currently represents low light intensity and a low value represents high intensity. these values are translated into an angle value from 0 to 90 degrees which forms the rotation of one or more servos.These servos power circular shutters which block circular openings in a facade system during periods of high daylight intensity, and un-block the openings during periods of low intensity. In this way, the facade is able to maintain soft natural internal lighting at all times."

S.W.O.T Analysis 

Strengths 

This idea is simple but is an innovative way to control lighting in a room. It is a simple, intuitive way of varying light levels without having to manually flick a switch. The amount the shutters move varies depending on light intensity and therefore allows for varying and incremental light levels in the room. The overall outcome means that the occupants of the room are experiencing an appropriate amount of light and therefore are comfortable in the space.

   

Weaknesses 

The obvious weakness would be if there was an obstruction covering the sensor and therefore producing inaccurate information to determine the positioning of the shutters. The idea of having a consistent level of lighting in a room may not be suitable for all activities or purposes for the room and consequently may need to be able to be switched off and/or used in conjunction with a manual lighting system.

Opportunities 

In public spaces (being used during daylight hours) I imagine this could be a useful way automatically controlling light levels. For spaces which need consistent lighting (day and night) and in the instance of dark days, I think this system would be further enhanced if the sensor was also attached to an artificial lighting system to ensure a consistent level of lighting at all times. The possibility of having different settings which adjust the scaling of the information to accommodate for a range of different purposes for the space would be another opportunity for this kind of technology.


Threat


The main threat I can see with using this feed is how common the theme of light is among the various feeds. I imagine it could, therefore be compared directly to many other analytics engines.

Final Video

Installation model

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=e80618dbbf3b2cd82fc52a5d9bb33055&prevstart=0

Crysis Files

http://www.gamefront.com/files/20765690/BENV2423_z3331009.zip

My Documentary

I've seen past documentaries for this assignment where I am unable to understand what is going on and probably miss the message completely. When developing my documentary I wanted there to be a clear link between my installation and the purpose of the documentary.

I've created a documentary very much based on an expository mode, where I've used images and clips of my installation to support the theme and purpose of the documentary, rather than the installation itself being the sole focus. I find this technique creates a stronger argument, with more focus on the themes involved and in-turn probably involves the viewer more and creates a greater emotional response. Overall I think the expository mode of documentary is a clearer way of representation when dealing with relatively unknown technologies (Crysis), ensuring that the main idea behind the documentary can be realised by a broader audience.

Thanks to help from jules, I've been able to implement a flow graph which causes the player to loose health at a slow rate between the hours of 6pm and 6am. I thought this was a condensed representative of the increased desire for heaters etc. in colder months, which correlates with the large increase of Co2 emissions.

The health decrease stops when the player is within range (10) of the heater, indicating that when the player is warm the player is happy and the dependence of humans on technologies to keep warm.   

My Installation so far..

I wanted the heater to clearly reflect the results and impacts of Co2 emissions represented in the feed.

I wanted the flame to get bigger, relative to distance, to reflect the cyclic and ongoing effects of carbon-based emissions and the exponential impacts on humanity caused as humans become increasingly reliant on these technologies. I used the "make entity taller as you get closer to it" flow graph from the lectures as a bases to make the flame of the heater increase as the player gets closer to it.

I also wanted the heater to injure the player to reflect the long-term results and impacts of being reliant on carbon based technologies. After doing some research I came across the nodes; EntitiesInRange and DamageActor and used them in the following flow graph. The Timer node checks (every 2 seconds) to see whether the Entity and the Player are within a certain range (2), if true, the DamageActor is triggered and deducts health from the player (sometimes resulting in death).

I am still working on a way to decrease health with a TimeOfDay trigger, to represent a reliance on technology at certain times of the year.

Model - Heater

After finding my new pachube feed, I began thinking of ways to represent the outputs of the Co2 sensor in an installation. I liked the concept of using fire as it ties in with the contradiction of safety and danger. With that in mind I decided to design a heater, it keeps you warm and safe, yet can be quite dangerous. It also represents one of the main causes of increased Co2 in cooler months.  

New Pachube Feed

University of New South Wales - Weather Tunnel (Perth) 

https://pachube.com/feeds/22587

Co2 levels over 3 months

I was doing some further research on Pachube to find a feed that would be more interesting and more appropriate to base my installation on. I came across this interesting feed on Co2 emissions in Perth and found it fascinating as over a three month period, the Co2 levels clearly increase (going into the colder months).

In regards to Pure War, this feed links to the concept of war between technology and environment, and in-turn people. The war being waged is the effect of Co2 emissions on the environment (global warming/climate change) caused by technology (electricity generation and consumption). I think this idea engages with the concept of an ongoing war; while humans are increasing Co2 levels, engaging with a war on the environment, the war of climate change is fighting back against it. This cyclic and ever increasing war is a clear example of Paul Virilio's concept of an invisible war between humanity and technology.
The upward trend in Co2 over the winter months (caused by woodfires, heaters etc.) could be clearly represented in an installation.