The Imp Pods is a project about producing compelling personal engagement with installations and animation. The first version of the project was the Imp Table, where small shadow people slid from under a plate and cup to interact with the shadows of the viewer.

In working on the Imp Table, I developed questions about interactive narrative, and how the piece could tell a story while retaining its simplicity. I have also wanted to create a more intimate interaction and further explore the relationship between 2-D and 3-D space. Especially the points at which they appear to blur and our brains are willing to suspend disbelief in order to take part in something magical.

This version leaves the flat table surface and is presented within inflated pods. Viewers must put their heads inside the glowing white spheres, where they encounter small shadow imps. The imps react to the presence of the visitor with fear or curiousity, depending on how the viewer moves within the space. Viewers from a distance see people placing their heads within these strange glowing structures that seem to have small shadows moving within them. The distant viewer may wonder what the person in the pod is witnessing. No two experiences within the pod will be exactly the same.

Personal Statement

I am interested in creating more immersive installation environments. I have made large inflatables that are projected upon from outside with a 360 degree video view so that viewers within the space are actually inside the screen, which wraps around them completely. The imagery I've been using on these inflatables is big in scale and abstract in concept. It is difficult to tell stories in that context, and telling stories is what I want to do. I've been thinking a lot about interactive narrative in this new media world. I've thought about introducing character to these large inflatables.

Also, especially through the Interactive Screens class, I've been looking at more installation and site specific work by interesting artists, and find that I'm drawn to those pieces which encourage a personal intimacy between the viewer/participant and the work. There is a lot to be said for the huge pieces that can be seen by hundreds. And yet, especially in the city of millions, constantly surrounded by information that can be and has been accessed by thousands before you, there is something very exciting about that which is private and unique. I've been interested in making work that is experienced by one or two people at a time and provides a small moment of contemplation and surprise.

This all relates to this imp project I began work on a year ago. Honestly, I'm not sure how these little guys popped into my brain, but one day they were there. I filmed myself, worked on the video and then animated these guys using flash. They told a little simple story on a table. They got mad when touched too much, and did a dance (watch a video of the installation in action). It was a good start, and people responded positively to the little human 2D figures occupying the 3D space in a natural but new way. The projection screen and technology disappeared for the viewer and the little guys seemed to come to life.

In wanting to take the next step on the Table Imp project, I examinede the narrative. There was something about the table that wasn't fitting right. Why a table? Is this about food? Why would people approach the table in the first place? How could the imps occupy this physical space in a meaningful way?

Then I started thinking about combining the Table Imps with the inflatables with projections that I've made. It allows people to step into the world of the imps and have personal experiences with them.

Background (Research)

The Table Imp Project:
This earlier phase of the project involved much research into interactive narrative, animation and video technique and programming, sensing systems (proximity sensors, java computer vision, Open Frameworks, Jitter)

Projecting on inflatables:
I am a member of a small video collective called Glass Bead Collective. We have been creating large inflatable structures that we project video onto, mixed live, for 2 years. We've explored various projection and construction techniques.

Audience

The imp pods are for those who are brave enough to put their head inside this strange structure, but also for those who choose to stay outside and wonder what the pod viewer may be seeing.

User Scenario

Inflated white pods are suspended from the ceiling. They glow, there seems to be some flickering movement from within. The viewer approaches and sees there are openings at neck level. They look through the small opening and see that there seem to be images of people moving around inside. They decide to put their head all the way into the inflated pod. As soon as they do so, the images of the little people seem to look at them and start running away from their head with frightened expressions. If the viewer stays still, the little people stop running and cautiously begin to approach. They each look the same but move differently, each distinct. If the viewer moves their head, the imps will run away again, but if they remain still, the imps may run towards them and fall out the hole where their head is.

Implementation

The project includes: inflated plastic suspended from the ceiling with fan on the floor, projector suspended from the ceiling, iSight camera, computer running Max MSP/Jitter for camera vision and animation of imp videos. ing the plastic, then are suspended from the ceiling and adjustments for projector placement made accordingly.

References

Christian Croft helped immensely with trying to figure out computer vision and programming for the project using Java before I moved on to using Max MSP. Professors who have helped on the process include Marianne Petit in Methods of Motion, Michael Schneider in PComp, Douglas Rushkoff in Non-Linear Narrative, Veronique Brossier in Flash 2, Luke Dubois in Live Image Processing, and Marina Zurkow in Interactive Screens and Cinematic Objects. Students in all of these classes have given invaluable feedback.