Prototypes: Set up #4 - Full Size

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...

Prototypes: Set up #4 - Full Size

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

Prototypes: Set up #3 - Colour Tracking

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.

Prototypes: Set up #2 - Processing Rough Sketch

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.