The visible and tactile world that surrounds us is no longer just that. Rather it is characterized by virtual information just as much as it is by brick and mortar. Programming interaction has become an integral part of shaping that world and understanding how sensors, software and hardware need to complement each other to create real added value for users is essential for the media architects that will design tomorrows public spaces.
Just like Architecture visual programming offers a practical approach towards programming interaction that oscillates between art, design and engineering. It makes programming accessible for everybody and allows for a more intuitive exploration than language-based programs.
In the course participants will learn to use the visual programming environment TouchDesigner, a software known to be on the forefront of hybrid media installations that incorporate sensors, 3D real-time rendering, lighting, data bases, lasers, audio and robotics into holistic experiences. However fascinating the new technologies may be, participants will be reminded to critically reflect on the tools and techniques and be trained to seek meaningful interactions with a real value for the users. Further more participants will be informed about best practices and technical constrains that characterize much of the design process in reality. |