Description
The Controller Project v3 is one in a series of interactive toys meant to capture the eye and encourage play. In this incarnation, a new form factor was created resembling an old arcade game or slot machine.
Inputs
For controllers, this time it uses a midi fighter for the fun arcade buttons, a Leap Motion hand tracker to capture motion of the user, and a 3d camera to take a 3d capture of the user’s shape converting it into a 3d object where every point of the object gets used as an emitter for particles, and of course audio input so all parts of audio reactive.
Outputs
It housed a 55 inch monitor for the visual feed back as well as the ability to connect to additional screens. More on that below.
Initial Designs
Designs where done in both Illustrator, Cinema4d and Fusion3d. I should have used Fusion 3d for the whole thing, but C4d was much quicker for the mock up and illustrator much quicker to plan the final cuts for the CNC machine.
Initial Mock Ups
A cardboard mock up was made by hand to make sure the form factor felt nice for the controls.
Fabrication
Close friends Justin Young and Dave Plotkin helped with the fabrication of the console. 3/4 inch Ultra Light MDF was selected for the base material, the initial cuts were made on the CNC machine at Humanmade SF and then assembled at Justin’s warehouse.
Final Product
The Controller has been shown at a few festivals and art fairs getting crowds of revelers entranced by it’s interactive audio visualizations.
In retrospect, next time Ill make a smaller form factor as one of its biggest downsides is it’s lack of transportability.
