The Art of Ping Pong

Eye Cue

2011-09-30T11:05:00.002+01:00

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LEGO has just dipped another toe into electronic gaming with their clever “Life Of George” iOS title. The game uses 144 pieces and a piece of cardboard covered in a dotted pattern. The game is simple: George shows you a picture from his travels and asks you to recreate it using Legos. You have to dig around in your box of pieces to recreate the image and then take a picture of it on the Playmat. Using a brick recognition system from Eye-Cue.

Prototypes: Set up #4 - Full Size

2011-02-25T21:13:00.008Z

The Art of Ping Pong Prototype #4 - Full Size from Jono Sandilands on Vimeo.

Using the same rough sketches as the last prototype (see here). The application uses colour tracking to track the red ball.

I set up a makeshift table using really thin sheets of board - they kinda absorbed the bounce making it really hard to play normally - will need to get a better surface even to test on - even an old ping pong table would be great - if anyone can help?

So hopefully in the video you can see how the projector and camera are placed at a high angle to the table - this test has confirmed that the projector and camera (especially) need to be directly above (or below if I can source a reasonably priced short throw projector - see table plan option 1 here).

Next:
A lot of work needed on the application
More tests of actual gameplay at full speed - I think the camera I currently use may not pick up high speed play.
Also work on plans for construction of the final table.

One step further...

Construction: Table option 2

2011-02-25T20:47:00.004Z

So after a test with projector at a slight angle above - it confirms the tracking camera and projector would need to be directly above the table - if the inside table, original idea (see here) is not plausible. Would need a transportable rig to firmly hold the projector and camera and the idea would be to have two large tripod stands with a gantry frame/ rig over table.

Source website: http://www.cokerexpo.co.uk/lighting.htm

Prototypes: Set up #4 - Full Size

2011-02-25T20:27:00.001Z

Quick screen grab from video clip of full size working set up. Video coming soon.

Construction: The Table

2011-02-22T21:57:00.012Z

Rough Table model - produced in Google Sketch Up
Note: 1 clear side on top and 1 side panel absent to allow view inside table.

I had always planned to build a 'special' table for The Art of Ping Pong, but I have only recently begun to think about how it may look. It does need to be within a budget so have tried to come up with something which works to that.

I should think about how to transport this and also store it - can it come apart? Flatpack? Fold up?

Technology: Ideally everything would be housed inside the table - but have not tested out all potential routes yet. (ie short throw projector could be expensive + camera to track motion may have to be placed above table). The printer could be accommodated in a much cleverer way (perhaps much like a photobooth style when photo drops out).

Build: There would be a frame of rough sawn timber and boxed in bottom and sides with plywood and doors for access. The top would consist of perspex sheeting which allows for backlit projection. With standard table tennis equipment. I'd also plan to 'brand' the table with vinyl logo etc.

Brainwave: Just another thought for marketing - get printed ping pong balls with logo + web.

Prototypes: Set up #3 - Colour Tracking

2011-02-22T21:23:00.008Z

The Art of Ping Pong Prototype #3 from Jono Sandilands on Vimeo.

After a bit of getting back to basics in Processing over the past few days - here is another test/rough sketch but this time using colour tracking using a camera above, specifically of a red ping pong ball.

Basically the red ball acts like a pen and draws it's path onto the screen. There are two versions in the video - one which just builds up ellipses and one in which the ellipses become smaller with each update. (Screenshot below)

Be quite good to get this tested on a bigger scale - with actual gameplay. I will use projector from high angle with keystone and create makeshift table with camera directly above.

I can maybe even start thinking about more dynamic graphics and importing vectors. Other thing to think about with this is - people wearing clothing the same colour to the ball - also scope for using a collision sensor or microphone in the table to only record when the ball actually hits the table. - When doing these tests I placed my hand on my test piece of perspex - and could feel the vibration when the ball hits the surface - may not work on larger surface but be worth a test... soon time to get Arduino out.

Learning: Daniel Shiffman

2011-02-22T15:57:00.004Z

A bit more advanced & in depth than the YouTube tutorials I have been working through. Looks great!
http://www.learningprocessing.com/

Learning: Processing 101

2011-02-21T19:54:00.016Z

I feel like I need to do a course on Processing - so I am going to go through this set of basics lessons/tutorials on YouTube. It will be beneficial just to go over everything and get it explained. They are starting off really simple but think its good practice.
~~00 - 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 - 11~~
Ok, complete - at the end of the last tutorial the guy promised further tutorials but I can't find them, which is a shame as they were just getting good!

Suppliers: Perspex

2011-02-21T16:18:00.002Z

If I go with a backlit projection from within the table I will need to source perspex sheeting to allow light to "shine" through. For a uni project I used a company in Dundee called Stockline Plastics (website).
Have also found this site: http://www.theplasticshop.co.uk/

Research: Projectors

2011-02-20T17:11:00.007Z

Update: This may help (http://www.projectors.co.uk/) And to clarify what I will be looking for: a big image from a short throw distance. (Ultra short throw projectors) (also more here)

Update 2: This one seems to be just about perfect - will worry about price later (most likely out of budget).

My plan is to have a projector within the table (rough plan/model coming soon) The problem I may face is there may not be enough depth in the table for the projector to fill the entire surface of the table. Need to look at the technical details of the projectors to get info. I imagine this post will update over time and the following (cheaper) projectors may not be 'eligible' for the table.

Optoma Projector

Acer Projector

HD Projector for games consoles/laptops etc

Research: Printers

2011-02-20T16:57:00.003Z

One of the main ideas of the project is that after a game the piece of art is printed - I originally thought it would be printed on A2 but that would cost way too much - It would be quite neat to have them postcard sized and there are a few low price standard photo style printers around, they also allow borderless printing.

Canon SELPHY

Polaroid PoGO

Resource: Table Dimensions

2011-02-20T15:45:00.002Z

Source - Wikipedia

Prototypes: Set up #2 - Processing Rough Sketch

2011-02-19T18:59:00.001Z

Been a while since the last prototype/test (see 9 May 2010 -Sound prototype)

The Art of Ping Pong Prototype #2 from Jono Sandilands on Vimeo.

Set up consists of LCD TV covered by a piece of perspex acting the table, the MacBook which is running a rough processing application using the camera & Myron.

Basically it is using the camera to track the motion of the ball - it is slightly rough around the edges - perhaps a bit slow - but I am happy with this for now knowing I really need to push my abilities in Processing to make this better.

The mock table works great - but when I shift up to a full size ping pong table, I will have to think about a different idea - as lots of screens could be expensive. Projection would be possible, and preferably back projection. I will be drawing a rough plan for what I propose for the actual table soon.

Screenshots of the tests - part of the idea of the project is after a game the piece of art created is automatically printed and hung up on the wall while more games are played. There is a way to export a PDF of the application - sure there must be a way to automatically print a file when it is updated.

So, still loads to do, but feel I'm a step forward and back on the right track again.

Resources: Open Processing

2011-01-24T14:07:00.000Z

http://www.openprocessing.org/

"A website to share Processing sketches

share your sketches with others

help and collaborate with the community

improve and polish your programming skills

follow classes around the world teaching processing"

Note to self: Control mouse with webcam

2011-01-21T13:32:00.000Z

http://camspace.com/ (windows only, boo)

http://webcamxtra.sourceforge.net/

"Myron is the cross-platform, cross-language, open source, video capture and computer vision plugin. One core C++ object gets cross-compiled as a handful of high level language "wrapper" libraries. The wrapper for Java and Processing is called JMyron. The wrapper for Macromedia Director is called WebCamXtra. The aim of the project is to keep computer vision free and easy for the new media education and arts community."

Research - Webcam Motion Tracking

2010-11-23T22:02:00.000Z

AS3 Motion Tracking from Justin Windle on Vimeo.

A demo of simple motion detection and tracking in AS3, used to control a swarm simulation. This piece was originally installed in a gallery space where the movement of visitors influenced the ever-changing generative composition.

http://blog.soulwire.co.uk/code/actionscript-3/webcam-motion-detection-tracking

Research: Ping Pong Screenprint

2010-11-15T10:59:00.000Z

Lovely video and prints by Grid Plane. (Via Ok great)

KO-OP Invitational Print Day from Gridplane on Vimeo.

Research: Build your own multitouch surface computer

2010-11-02T11:39:00.000Z

There are a lot of homemade DIY touch screen mock ups and tests out there. These are never quite perfect but maybe something to consider and test?

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/maximum_pc_builds_a_multitouch_surface_computer

Maximum PC's Multitouch Surface Computer from Maximum PC on Vimeo.

Long time no post - Research: Touch Screen

2010-11-02T11:31:00.001Z

It's been a busy old summer. Looking to get back into the project over the cold winter months.

Just a quick thought about the display of the table - and how to track where the ball hits in a different kind of way & saw these touch panels which can adapt an existing screen into a touch screen.

Link: Virtual Village

"Transform your PC monitor into an interactive display screen with this high quality and accurate widescreen 22” touch panel. The 4 wire panel is the most popular version and can be used by a large variety of contact types, i.e. gloves, stylus, fingers etc.

Ideal for use as POS (point of sale) or for giving directions or instructions – touch screens are an eye-catching and technologically advanced way to communicate in pretty much any business:"

Arduino Starter Kit Arrived!

2010-06-22T09:54:00.000+01:00

Now, find time to get stuck into some awesome geekery!

Hardware: Phidgets

2010-06-07T09:43:00.000+01:00

Portage: Crossing Points (click for micro-site which, with I worked on with the help of Paul Mackinnon of Dundee University) when setting up the exhibition, which is currently on in Bonhoga Gallery, Shetland, I heard one of the artists speaking about a "Phidget"...

"What are Phidgets?

Phidgets are a set of "plug and play" building blocks for low cost USB sensing and control from your PC.

All the USB complexity is taken care of by our robust API. Applications can be developed quickly by programmers using their favorite language: C/C++, C#, Cocoa, Delphi, Flash AS3, Flex AS3, Java, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Max/MSP, MRS, Python, REALBasic, Visual Basic.NET, Visual Basic 6.0, Visual Basic for Applications, Visual Basic Script, and Visual C/C++/Borland.NET."

Website: http://www.phidgets.com/

Hardware: Arduino

2010-06-04T12:09:00.000+01:00

Over the past few weeks I have been reading up on some books, some posted in earlier post Book List. One which I read in one sitting was "Getting Started with Arduino", has made me very excited about stating to work with Arduino on this project.

I must say, all the books Ive been reading are targeted directly at designers/artists of projects just like this, so the books have given me a great understanding as they talk on the same level, I would thoroughly recommend them for any artists or designer thinking about interactivity in their work!

There is a long way to go yet but I now know that what I thought was impossible for me to do, will be totally possible, especially with the help of these books and advice/help from people who are interested in becoming involved. Another thing to explore is the online communities for the likes of Arduino, they will be a great resource for understanding and problem solving!

My next step with this project is to start prototyping using hardware and programming, I am just going through what best hardware to purchase, from the Arduino website there are a number of suppliers in the UK.

Arduino Website
Arduino Forums - to explore!

Suppliers UK:
Cool Components
SK Pang Electronics
oomlout
Robotiq
RobotBits

Got my eye on this one to begin with (Arduino Duemilano Starter Kit - E v2) from SK Pang.

Prototypes: Set up #1 - Sound Test

2010-05-09T16:45:00.000+01:00

The Art of Ping Pong Prototype #1 from Jono Sandilands on Vimeo.
Just now I am working how best to do this project, and had this idea to use sound to react to the sound the ball makes when it hits the table.

Shown in the video is a normal computer screen covered by a piece of perspex, using the internal microphone on the MacBook running Modul8 to change and show a random colour every time the microphone picks up a sound. Obviously this will happen with every sound but it could be possible to set up a microphone to pick up sound in only a specific place or frequency.

This is a very simple set up, and I would like to start developing this and also looking into slightly more dynamic set ups using sensors. Long way to go yet, but keep track of my progress on the blog. Thanks for looking!

Research: UVA Speed of Light

2010-05-09T16:40:00.000+01:00

Previously blogged (here) United Visual Artists installation at the Oxo Tower Wharf, South Bank, London, in April this year. http://www.uva.co.uk/

"Speed of Light celebrates the tenth anniversary of broadband in the UK. Stripped back to its essentials, optical fibre is a thin strand of glass, with nothing more than a flickering beam of light traveling along it. United Visual Artists have used this beam as the starting point for the work."

More info:
Speed of Light

Prototypes: The Art

2010-05-06T11:39:00.001+01:00

Thought I would post one of the example pieces I did last year of what a final Art of Ping Pong piece could look like. During a game of ping pong on a specially built table, sensors embedded in the table record where the ball makes contact with the table during a game. Not only does this allow player interactivity on the animated surface but, after game play an original piece of artwork is automatically printed and hung as a piece of art during further gameplay at an event.

More examples coming soon. Thanks for following!

Research: Distance Lab

2010-05-06T11:01:00.000+01:00

"Distance Lab is a creative research organisation bringing together digital media technology, design and the arts to redefine and overcome the disadvantages of distance in learning, health care, relationships, culture and other domains.

In addition to conducting academic research, the Lab works with briefs from industry and governmental partners, providing advice, generating ideas and building prototypes that inspire and can lead to new innovative products and services."

www.distancelab.org

Funding!

2010-05-06T10:55:00.000+01:00

Great news! The Art of Ping Pong has received a Shetland Arts Visual Artist Award, this will go towards bringing the project forward and develop my technical skills with the aim of having a finished, or well developed prototype by next year! Big thanks to Shetland Arts!

Over the coming summer months, I plan to be cooked up inside working on test pieces, I am still very interested in collaboration and advice/ideas anyone may have so please get in touch with me: hello@jonosandilands.com

Research: Jenny Holzer

2010-03-09T09:36:00.000Z

Exhibition @ BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art

Jenny Holzer Projections

Book list: Interactivity & Design

2010-03-08T23:50:00.000Z

As a reference, can't see me getting my head around all these books... times like this when you miss the uni library...

Processing A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists by John Maeda

Processing: Creative Coding & Computational Art: Creative Coding and Computational Art (Foundation) by Ira Greenberg

Making Things Talk: Practical Methods for Connecting Physical Objects by Tom Igoe

Creative Code: Aesthetics and Computation by John Maeda

Physical Computing: Sensing and Controlling the Physical World with Computers by Tom Igoe

Physical Computing: Sensing and Controlling the Physical World with Computers by Tom Igoe

This next one looks like a good place to start.

Programming Interactivity: Unlock the Power of Arduino, Processing, and OpenFrameworks by Joshua Noble

Im sure this list will grow...

And here it grows:(6/5/2010)

Learning Processing: A beginners guide to programming Images, Animation and interaction by Daniel Shiffman

Note: Look into Arduino
Book:

Getting Started with Arduino by Massimo Banzi

Software: Pharos

2010-02-25T17:30:00.000Z

Found this software via the Mirrie Dancers project here in Shetland. They are using the software to take in user generated videos and output to lots of LED light units (each with 36 individual LED's inside I should add). These lights are installed to different structures around Shetland.

Anyway the software seems to be generally used for large scale projects and architecture, lots of arts related projects much like Mirrie Dancers.

Lots of info and hardware/software available from them on their site: Pharos Controls

Research: Interactive LED unit

2010-02-24T23:19:00.000Z

Work by Ross Colquhoun. An interactive LED unit that includes motion sensors. Quite like how you can see all the 'gubbbings' inside, through the perspex top.
A process of the build on flickr is also very interesting Interactive LED Unit Build Process (Set).

Research: LED dance floor

2010-02-23T19:39:00.000Z

A project from some MIT students, Looks really interesting and must have a good read through the info on the site, also includes lots of photos, videos and downloads of software etc. Brilliant resource for the display. http://www.scotttorborg.com/disco-dance-floor/

Now add interactivity...

Love Sport - Love Ping Pong

2010-02-12T10:48:00.001Z

These are all cool, but Ping Pong! Awesome fun.

Research - United Visual Artists

2010-02-08T16:40:00.000Z

"United Visual Artists have created a new site specific work for the Oyane Plaza, in the Roppongi Hills district of Tokyo, to mark the opening of UK-Japan 2008. Contact is a responsive floor based installation which allows visitors to use their kinetic energy to generate audiovisual forms that will interact with the user, and communicate with each other. Contact marries advanced computer vision techniques, physics simulation and a unique display surface to create an experience that aims to highlight the results of peoples interactions with each other, and their environment."

Saw this installation piece in the video posted previously for openFrameworks (post). Shows brilliantly the sort of idea I imagine for the screen again, and also for the type geometric graphics I envision and used in examples for The Art of Ping Pong - some fantastic images below and video (its great shows how the interaction with the shapes work) on United Visual Artists site.

Software - openFrameworks

2010-02-08T16:29:00.000Z

"openFrameworks is an open source C++ toolkit for creative coding."

made with openFrameworks from openFrameworks on Vimeo.

Software - Processing

2010-02-08T16:23:00.000Z

"Processing is an open source programming language and environment for people who want to program images, animation, and interactions. It is used by students, artists, designers, researchers, and hobbyists for learning, prototyping, and production. It is created to teach fundamentals of computer programming within a visual context and to serve as a software sketchbook and professional production tool."

Notes: Free, multi platform, online resources:

OpenProcessing
Processing @ Vimeo
Processing @ del.icio.us
Processing @ Flickr
Processing @ YouTube

Video below made in processing, by previously researched company: Postspectacular (see research post)

Happy 2010! from postspectacular on Vimeo.

Research - Moment Factory

2010-02-08T10:27:00.000Z

Fun, interactive wall display in Canada, by Moment Factory. As people walk past the wall it is animated with a range of different graphics on the large LED display.

"The installation includes tracking devices and low-resolution LED displays and is capable of showing many different visualizations based on the presence and movement of people...generated by 35,000 LED light bulbs."

Wow.

(via FormFiftyFive)

Research - 21.19

2010-02-08T10:11:00.000Z

Some seriously good work by Australian studio 21.19. They must be fans of Ping Pong as they have this great self promotion piece (below) and on the front page of their site you can play some pong.

21.19 Self Promotional film from Adam John Bracegirdle on Vimeo.

Below is quite an interesting still from the video, how they have traced the path of the ball, mapping out where it is making contact with the table.

Thinking for 'The Art of Ping Pong' to have two cameras motion tracking the ball? - one from the side (like below) and one from top to sense exact x-y-z position of ball on table?

Software - Max/MSP

2010-02-06T15:15:00.000Z

"Interactive visual programming environment for music, audio, and media"

"In use for over twenty years by performers, composers, artists, scientists, teachers, and students, Max is the way to make your computer do things that reflect your individual ideas and dreams."

Notes: Loads of tutorials and examples on YouTube.

Software - vvvv

2010-02-06T15:03:00.000Z

"vvvv is a toolkit for real time video synthesis. It is designed to facilitate the handling of large media environments with physical interfaces, real-time motion graphics, audio and video that can interact with many users simultaneously.

vvvv uses a visual programming interface. Therefore it provides a graphical programming language for easy prototyping and development.

vvvv is real time. where many other languages have distinct modes for building and running programs, vvvv only has one mode - runtime.

vvvv is free for non-commercial use. Commercial use requires a license. Get the latest version from the Download section.

vvvv is being developed by the vvvv group."

Notes: PC only. Interesting examples of use @ vvvv on Vimeo

interactive multitouch bar from tonfilm on Vimeo.

"interactive multi touch cocktail bar. video tracking using infrared light. software is vvvv."

Research - LED touch sensing

2010-02-06T14:20:00.000Z

"Multi-Touch Sensing through LED Matrix Displays

Using an LED display bidirectionally to optically detect finger touches"

Video example/test posted by Jeff Han, Computer Sciences New York University.
More projects about multi touch and tracking (below human tracking) on his profile at NYU here.

Research - Postspectacular

2010-02-06T14:08:00.000Z

Postspectacular have some fantastic work exploring software and interactivity. One project for the launch of KEF Muon speakers (video posted below - link) they have a large LED floor which is reactive to sound. It looks fantastic!

I wonder how an array of LEDs like this can be set up to track the location of the ping pong ball?

Kef Muon – sound reactive installation from Moving Brands on Vimeo.

The Concept Video

2010-02-05T12:40:00.001Z

The Art of Ping Pong - YCN/Anomaly Commendation 0809 from Jono Sandilands on Vimeo.

Welcome to The Art of Ping Pong

2010-02-05T12:33:00.000Z

'The Art of Ping Pong' is the outcome of a brief to encourage people to play more table tennis and was set as part of last years YCN awards. At this stage the project is a concept which uses specially built technology to record where the ball makes contact with the table during a game. This allows player interactivity and game play to create original pieces of artwork, which are printed and displayed during further gameplay at an event. The concept project received commendation.

I am currently developing this project and applying for funding to build the table.

During the next stage of development for the project I will be documenting my process on this blog.

There is scope for collaboration, and would like to hear what people think.