Week 01 30 oct- 03 Nov
Met up with the group and spent 2 afternoons researching information on slides for Swarms and Computational Art. We looked over our strategy for slides and decided upon our 3 slides categories: The history of swarms, The world of digital computational swarms and Physical swarms.

The slides we produced are here:

We also had an opportunity to see a computational Swarm expert Tim Blakewell a lecturer at Goldsmiths. We talked about his work and his use of different algorithms. There was some great work on swarming and uses of different algorithms and how they can used across different areas of study. One example of physical swarms he mentioned was on ants and on there use of following there trails. He also mentioned to get in touch with his colleague Dr Mohammad Majid al-Rifaie. Which we have and he agreed to meet with us and further discuss his work.

 

Week 06 Nov- 10 Nov
We met up to discuss the slide content and our title of research.
We decided upon:
Notes on thoughts for possible slide order (obv dependent on question):
1 – Introduction to what we are looking at and why
2 – History – art/film – Boids
3 – History – science (Vicsek? Other?)
4 – Early swarm art (90s? More film related or music? Ask Mohammad)
5 – How does the algorithm work
6 – Physical art – hive (science and art)
7 – Leonel Moura – ant painting (science and art)
8 – SwarmPainter (coding art)
9 – al-Rifaie work (science and art)
10 – imaginative possibilities – include slime
11 – Where is swarm art going – conclusion and our work
12 – Where is swarm art going – conclusion and our work

Our title of research:
What is the future of swarm art computing?
An examination of the application of swarm algorithms in science and art

We also interviewed Tim Blackwell (researcher and teacher at Goldsmiths) specializing in swarms. As well as arranging to meet up with lior ben gai and Mohammad Majid Al-Rifaie.

 

 

Week 13 Nov- 17 Nov
We further revised our plan into dates of deliverables.

OUR QUESTION:

1.What is the future of swarm (+art) computing?
An examination of the application of swarm algorithms in science and art.

 

Slide plan and key dates:

1. Introduction to what we are looking at and why 
ACTION: Colin to do math, Laura will do philosophy 
Due: 24 November

2. History – Boids
ACTION: Petros will compile the images and films
Due: 21 November

3. History – science (Vicsek? Other?)
ACTION: Colin
Due: 24 November

4. Early swarm art
ACTION: Laura
Due: 20 November

5. How does the algorithm work
ACTION: Colin will do it and show it to Tim 16 November
Due: 29 November

6. Physical art – hive (science and art)
ACTION: Petros
Due: 21 November

7. – Leonel Moura – ant painting (science and art)
ACTION: Laura
Due: 20 November

8. SwarmPainter (coding art)
ACTION: Laura will compile
Due: 20 November

9. Swarms in society
ACTION: Laura 
Due: 20 November

10. al-Rifaie work (science and art)
ACTION: Petros
Due: 23 November

11. Imaginative possibilities
ACTION: All of us, Petros to look at grabbing images, Colin to set up a new slack channel
Due: 27 November

12 a) and b) Where is swarm art going – conclusion and our work
ACTION: All of this…
Due: 16 November Colin to speak to Tim

Timeline:

We decided on our artifacts:

1. Trying to control swarms with kinect.
I started to play with the basic swarm mechanism following a mouse and then grabbed a kinect and started to look at the control of the swarms with a kinect. This procedure is on going.

 

2. Laura producing a artwork drawing influenced by swarm theory.
http://www.lauratraver.com

3. Petros looking at creating swarms using video cams of people.

 

Week 20 Nov- 26 Nov

Re-interveiwed Tim Blackwell (researcher and teacher at Goldsmiths) specializing in swarms. Working on 1 of our artifacts interviews with lior ben gai and Mohammad Majid Al-Rifaie. A video piece.

Working on our slides for the presentation.

Working on our swarm algorithm generative artifact. The swarm algorithm has been combined with kinect to make a interactive swarm.

SWARM ALGORITHM DEVELOPMENT

01   TRACKING KINECT INFER RED DATA

 

02   INTRODUCING A BASIC PARTICLE SYSTEM

 

03   COMBINING A BOIDS SWARM WITH KINECT