Touch #2 is a playful virtual environment and an interactive, musical instrument. Viewers become participants through play.
The work transforms any flat wall into a touch-sensitive surface. A projector and infrared camera mount on the ceiling and infrared emitters mount on top of the wall, allowing the work to detect as many as 10 touches at once. A virtual environment of suns, stars and planets projects onto the wall. Gravity, inertia, friction, and wind are all physically modeled. The work can be any size and is typically around 8 ft wide by 6 ft high when installed.
Each planet has a unique pitch; participants if they choose can build musical sequences. As people move their hands along the wall a magical sound would accompany.
Touch #2 is designed to be more like a traditional analog instrument than a digital interface. Partipants do not have the direct control they are used to from more traditional digital interfaces such as keyboard, buttons, and mice. This creates the opportunity for them to interact more deeply with the work, naturally changing their motions to be more beautiful and a part of the art itself. It seemed to capture a lot of kids’ imaginations as well.
