Rough notes and impressions from a visit to LEVEL and meeting with its Director, Andy Williams on 12-01-16.

 


About LEVEL

LEVEL is a modern, somewhat utilitarian building – featuring a 12x6m main activity room, a 6x6m multi-media space, an office, small breakout rooms, a ‘tea bar’ and general facilities. There’s also a separate art studio (a portacabin ?) close by – though I didn’t visit it.

While this might not be a typical day I saw a group of ~15 users involved in a workshop in the morning in the main activity room. There seemed less around in the afternoon. One or two hung out in the tea bar.

Staff seem really nice… and genuinely pleased that I’m developing something bespoke.

Existing works

Three digital works set up at the moment:

  • a piece by Will Hurst – on plasma screen in small room – button interface
  • delay + mirror effects – in Isadora – on plasma screen in corridor

I didn’t see anyone actually play with them.

About Touch:See:Hear

The aim is design our way towards some immersive, multi-sensory interactive installation – quite what this is and how it might behave is open to suggestion.

The strategy is to test ideas and principles – gauge responses and design something that responds to needs.

The final iteration needs to be robust, easy to set up, easy to operate – the team aren’t very technical.

Have to appreciate there are very different levels of understanding and appreciation of interaction processes between users. A case in point is a young autistic male who worked out by himself that some small visual ‘fireflies’ used in another project could be synced together by pressing their trigger buttons. Others will be less aware of processes.

The proposed multi-media space isn’t huge but has 4 projectors + 4 speakers + basic lighting + Mac Pro Tower with three graphic cards
TO DO – check out the current set up in action

Approach

Start by testing out ideas – staff will select groups at LEVEL that could be involved in testing.

Use simple existing technologies:

  • controllers currently used by LEVEL e.g. big buttons
  • Wiimote (+ nunchuck?) via OSCulator
  • Xbox One Kinect v2
  • other inputs mechanisms
    • iPhone – GyrOSC
    • iPad – TouchOSC
    • Logitech ‘Dual Action’ game controller
    • monome

Function changes according to a different colour?

Start with sound
– develop sound palettes
– work with field recordings ? e.g. the local Caudwell’s Mill and it’s profusion of water driven machinery

Develop ‘literal’ visualisations of these sound – produce a basic sound + (moving) image palette

Admin Stuff

Janette – admin – documentation + social media.
Arrange for LEVEL to invoice MMU for some or all of the equipment budget?

Check with Andy re their schedule and days I might work at LEVEL
Mondays – usually out in Derby
Closed during half-term – w.c. 15th Feb – so would be a good time to work in building.

LEVEL have clearances for most user wrt documentation
– check clearances agreed for group involved in user testing

I don’t require a DNS – I won’t be working alone with any of LEVEL’s participants and the arts team all have suitable Advanced DBS in place.