This project is based around the idea of proximity sensitive speakers. A small number of unassuming pillars (maybe 8-10 and approx. 4-5 feet tall) will be scattered about the installation space. The pillars will also all be “whispering” out loud via the speakers hidden inside them. However, when you get close to any one pillar to maybe hear what it’s whispering, the pillar becomes silent until you move away again.
Other aspects would make the piece even more interesting/interactive. Some pillars might start talking and then begin to whisper again when approached. Others, when being silenced by a viewer for too long, might shout out. If a viewer were to talk in the “presence” of a pillar, the pillar might “shhh” the user. A lound noise in the installation space might also temporarily quiet all the pillars.
A good deal of the project would involve manipulating various sound clips via MSP, not only in a random/unpredictable way, but also making sure each pillar adheres to the “rules” decided upon as far as behavior relative to proximity. Pillars would need to be constructed and speakers/microphones would need to be installed.
The other big challenge is the proximity sensing. Infrared proximity sensors are relatively inexpensive, but can only sense in one direction. If 4 sensors were used per pillar to sense the 4 cardinal directions, that quickly multiplies the number of required inputs to near 40 just for the proximity sensing. Another option might be embedding pressure sensors in the floor, which would be much more expensive and likely harder to use, but require much less overhead as far as the number of inputs and processer use.
