YCAM "TECHTILE" Intensive Workshop Report
An event called "YCAM InterLab Camp vol.2" TECHTILE "Intensive Workshop" was held on March 9th and 10th at "Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media [YCAM]" in Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. YCAM Interlab, an in-house art engineer team owned by YCAM, is a Keio University researcher with the aim of "developing technology for" tactile sensation (expression that actively incorporates tactile sensation) "and forming an expression community." It is an event that combines the results of "TECHTILE", which has been jointly researched and developed with Mr. Yasuaki, Mr. Masashi Nakatani, and Mr. Kota Minamizawa, as well as outreach. On the second day, a panel discussion was held with panelists from the fields of design, literature, philosophy, media theory, and industry. This time, I would like to report on the contents of this panel.
Before we get into the panel, there's one device I need to introduce. The "Techtile Toolkit" developed in this project. The device, which is said to "easily enable tactile prototyping," is a toolkit for recording, editing, and playing back tactile information.
Tactile sensation is a complex sensation that integrates various multi-sensory sensations, but for the time being, tactile sensation is the vibration given to the skin by one's own movement or external contact. With a microphone. Then, by reproducing it with a speaker or a vibrator, it is an attempt to make the subjective "tactile sensation" objective and useful for media art and research.
You might think it's just a sound. Sound is certainly the information that is collected and edited on a PC. However, when played well, one can feel it as a tactile sensation. For example, a microphone called a "tactile sensor" is attached to the bottom of the cup, and marbles are rattled and turned. If you receive it with an empty paper cup with a speaker or oscillator attached to the bottom, you will feel as if the marbles are spinning. It's a kind of illusion. Looking at the contents, the illusion fades because it is empty. However, if you don't look inside, it really feels like a marble is spinning. Moreover, somehow, the wrist is moved according to the rotation of the marble that can be felt in the hand.
In addition, the badminton racket is used to record and play the tactile sensation in the same way. When you actually hold the racket and play it while showing the image of hitting the shuttle with the racket, you can get the feeling that you are really hitting the shuttle. It matches the movement of the hand more than a marble. The movement of the body is induced in a way that matches the tactile sensation that is reproduced. However, there are limits to this tool, and it can't be recorded well unless it's in close contact, and it's the same during playback. On the contrary, if you poke it well, you can deceive people's senses. For the time being, it is a tool that will be sufficient to trigger discussions.
On the 9th of the first day, using the techtile toolkit, "tactile sensation (" tactile sensation "as perception with other sensory information, memory, and context" is called "tactile sensation" in this project. ) ”Was held as a workshop for citizens to participate. And on the second day, the panel was held with the participants. In addition to tactile vibration data, this techtile toolkit will be released as open source hardware such as board layouts and circuit diagrams in the future.
Also, in this series, in 2010, we delivered "Manipulating Tactile Sense Digitally-The 3rd" TECHTILE Exhibition Tactile Reality "Report". Some contents and researchers are connected, so please have a look. "TECHTILE" is a word that combines "TECHnology based tacTILE design", that is, "Technology" and "Tactile". It is said that it is an activity that aims to create value that is conscious of tactile sensation.
An example using the techtile toolkit. You can convey the feeling of a marble spinning in an empty cup. Another example "Haptic toy" from the exhibition at Keio University KMD Show.When you move the toy train by hand, you can feel the feeling of a gatangoton. Associate Professor, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University Yasuaki Kakehi Specially Appointed Lecturer, Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University Kota Minamizawa Researcher, Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University ， Columbia University Doctoral Research Fellow Masashi Nakatani YCAM Interlab Soichiro Mihara Features of Techtile Tool Kit Wireless Textile Tool Kit