WEEK7 BLOG Microscope, Noise Aquarium, and Alien Star Dust

During Thursday’s lecture, we spent a long time diving into the fascinating micro world using a digital microscope. From observing sample slices like a slice of onion, a slice of fly leg, to our skin, tattoo, scars, doll, and scoby, we gained an unforgettable experience in seeing all these tiny but gorgeous structures and patterns. We were so surprised and fascinated by the micro beauty inside each macro object, and I saw people’s mouth were wide-open, and eyes were sticking to the images shown on the screen. Once been an biology student, I had plenty of experience with microscope, particularly observing the bacteria and microorganism, and I would sometimes be attracted by the patterns of these microorganism under the light, which is transparent, jelly, colorful, and mysterious. During this class, I restarted to appreciate the beauty of objects in the micro world, and I also see a lot of potential of using such technological devices to create experimental art pieces.

Then, we had tried the EEG detective headset by doing some games. It was such a coincidence that me and Annabeth’s final project also will apply EEG brainwave detection and interaction, and this experience in class demonstrated how EEG detection could be applied in interactive games to me. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a monitoring method to record the electrical activity of the brain. Wearable EEG headsets position noninvasive electrodes along the scalp. EEG electrodes pick up on and record the electrical activity in your brain. The collected signals are amplified and digitized, and then sent to a computer or mobile device for storage and data processing (“EEG Headset”). According to research, there are four main types of brainwaves: Alpha waves, Beta Waves, Delta Waves, and Theta Waves. Typically, Alpha waves are associated with a state of relaxation, which can help reduce stress and anxiety; Beta waves indicate the person is actively thinking about something and is at an aroused state; Delta waves are associated with a state of deep sleep, which will help improve immune system and reduce stress level; Theta waves are thought to play a role in imagination and intuition (“Types of Brain Waves and Effects”). It was impressive to see how our “mind” can control the game and interact with the objects by just wearing an EEG headset.

Above that, I was mostly fascinated by professor Victoria Vesna’s project the Noise Aquarium. To be specific, the Noise Aquarium project touches upon the visualization and computer simulation of plankton and ecosystem, trying to deliver a concept of “the ecological crisis is a human crisis(ABOUT – NOISE AQUARIUM).” To be more specific, there are vast amounts of organisms living in the ocean are suffering from pollution and noise created by human beings, and thus a bunch of biologists, chemists, and artists collaborated together to created this project to raise the consciousness of protecting our ecosystem (NOISE AQUARIUM Online Meditation: Oxygen for South Asia – NOISE AQUARIUM). I was deeply impressed by the 3D model and animation of plankton, as well as the AR and immersive application of such CG simulation of plankton in different exhibitions. Moreover, I also enjoyed the Noise Aquarium Online Meditation: Oxygen for South Asia, which was held during the COVID-19 pandemic. I love the concept that “we are all interconnected and we all need air to breathe - no matter what our philosophical/political stance. ” Even though we were separated physically due to the wide-spread virus, our breaths and souls were connected through the air and through the flow of plankton. With Anna Nacher’s gentle and soft sound, the sound of gentle waves, and the sound of breath, I felt my heart was calmed down, and I felt like I was like a tiny glowing plankton flowing in the ocean wave, drifting up and down. I had hardly have any meditation experiences before, but I think the Noise Aquarium was so effective and beautiful in terms of return our tired hearts back to the nature and the ocean. This AR and mediation parts are also very inspiring for my final project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citation

“EEG Headset.” EMOTIV, www.emotiv.com/glossary/eeg-headset/.

ABOUT – NOISE AQUARIUM. noiseaquarium.com/the-project/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2023.

“Types of Brain Waves and Effects.” PsyFi TMS, 25 Sept. 2022, psyfitms.com/types-of-brain-waves/.

ABOUT – NOISE AQUARIUM. noiseaquarium.com/the-project/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2023.

AR – NOISE AQUARIUM. noiseaquarium.com/ar/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2023.

 

 

 

 

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