FLOCK
An interactive installation
By PLAN B

Description of the work

FLOCK is an immersive interactive environment populated by audiovisual entities, humans, and spherical electronic interfaces.
FLOCK questions the spatial relationship between architecture, objects and human beings present in a given space. FLOCK proposes a sensible environment that invites its components to a creative dialog.
FLOCK happens in a space gallery where three balls (the spherical interfaces) lie spread about here and there on the floor. By simply picking up, or moving, one of the interfaces, the visitor influences the installation's environment: sound and video entities flock around any interactor that manipulates one of the spherical interface.
These audiovisual entities retain a certain independence, while being irresistibly drawn to the interactor.

Basic principles

Based upon the general methods of granular synthesis, FLOCK's audiovisual environment is constructed by the accumulation, collection and interrelation of small audiovisual building blocks called granules. These granules are either a portion of the video projection or 5 to 100 milliseconds samples of a sound file. Granules are usually used for the creation of sound masses of random density, but in FLOCK, each granule has a behavior and a relationship to other granules, evolving into an entity of it's own right. These entities are then grouped into 3 audiovisual flocks whose sound and video mass can be sculpted by the interactor.

An audiovisual flock, defined by a specific color, sound character and spherical interface, groups 4 visual entities and 32 sound entities. Every entity's position and movement is mapped in a virtual model of the installation space. Their motion is directed by Craig Reynolds' basic flocking model, that "consists of three simple steering behaviors which describe how an individual [entity] maneuvers based on the positions and velocities of its nearby flockmates" . A local positioning system also maps the real world location of the three spherical interfaces into the virtual model. The entities chase these virtual spherical interfaces while maintaining the coherence of their flock. All of the entities are then mapped back into the real world through two different methods:

1) Eight speakers provide the means for the spatial distribution of the 96 sound entities as defined by their virtual position.

2) A robotic mirror array splits the reflection of a single projector's image into the 12 distinct visual entities. Twenty-four motors tilt and pan the mirrors, positioning each projection in relation to it's virtual counterpart.

Audiovisual details

All of the audio content is generated by the micro sampling of only three audio files. Since the positions of the spherical interfaces controls the accumulation, the sampling range, the sampling duration, the playback interonset and the delay of the micro samples, new audio content is constantly generated from the same sound sorce.
The images can be change to fit a specific presentation of the installation. Images can be real-time or prerecorded video, 3D graphical images or simple static images. The visual content engages the interactor in a spatial relation that influences each of their own displacements and spatial attitude.

The technical structure

Three main technical components constitute the interactive structure of FLOCK:
- A real-time location system (RTLS).
- A reactive mirror array.
- Custom interactivity software.

The real-time location system

Using ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology, Ubisense's (http://www.ubisense.net) real-time location system (RTLS) locates the three dimensional coordinates of the spherical interfaces within 15cm / 6". A network of 4 Ubisense sensors is installed in the gallery and connected into FLOCK’s computer. The sensor network detects and reacts to the position of 3 Tags (radio emitters) inserted in each of the spherical interfaces. The sensors send the tag location information to the Ubisense software platform, which creates a detailed, real-time view of the environment. The Ubisense Platform responds instantly to changes even within a complex indoor environment. The RTLS can track each tag several times a second. The system also dynamically manages the update rates of individual tags so that fast-moving tags will be located more frequently than stationary or slow moving ones, simultaneously increasing system performance.
PLAN B, has been using Ubisense's technology since the system's prototyping stage and is part of the Ubisense research network as independent artists and benefit from its technical expertise.

The robotic mirror array (RMA)

The RMA was designed and produced by PLAN B specifically for FLOCK’s needs. An aluminum structure supports 12 square shape mirrors (7.5 cm X 7.5 cm) fixed in 3 rows of 4 mirrors. Each mirror is control by 2 servomotor providing 1800 of freedom in the X and Y axis. The RMA is interfaced to the computer by the SCC-32 serial servo controller. The RMA has high resolution (1 uS) for accurate positioning, and extremely smooth moves. The RMA gives an immediate, timed and speed controlled response in regard to the movements of FLOCK’s enties. A video projector, placed 1 meter in front of the RMA with its beam pointing towards it, provides the images to be reflected by the mirrors.

Custom interactivity software

FLOCK runs on Debian Linux. FLOCK was developed with Pure Data (http://www.puredata.info/). The virtual world code, granular synthesis, mapping algorithms and visuals where programmed by PLAN B. The flocking behavior is made possible with code developed by Eric Singer, Jack & Andr Sier, Simon Fraser and Craig Reynolds. The openGL rendering is done with Pure Data's GEM external.

Source of the work
FLOCK take its source from Marc Fournel's project Tontauben and is part of an larger research and creation project called Transduction that Fournel started in 2003. Transduction wants to explore and confront the different modes of appropriation of our architectural space (space-time-gesture-presence) and their integration in the construction of different artistically sensible ecosystems in which audio, video and architectural manifestation are influenced by the components of the ecosystem itself; its architecture, its other constituents, and interacting individuals.

The first version of FLOCK was presented by Interaccess, Toronto (Canada) from November 24, 2006 to January 13, 2007.

The creators
PLAN B is a collaborative team form by media artists Marc Fournel and Thomas Ouellet Fredericks.

Marc Fournel is an "undisciplinary creator," a jack of all trades and an independent coffee drinker active in media art since 1995. Fournel's artistic practice includes video and sound single-channel works and interactive audio and video installations. His present art research focuses on social dynamic, sound algorithms, biological structure digital images, innovative interactive systems and immersive environments. He curated and organized many media art events (in production and presentation) and was deeply involved in the Canadian independent media art scene. A founding member of the collective Vitamin Beziehungen (an artists' and researchers' collective focusing on cybernetic and art practice) and associate researcher of the LMI (Interactive Media Lab, Department of Communication at the Université du Québec à Montréal), Fournel lives, loves, eats and works in Montréal. More information about Fournel can be found here

Thomas Ouellet Fredericks is an independent artist, a part-time university teacher and a consultant. After completing a Master's degree in communications at Université du Québec à Montréal in 2003, he specialized in the creation of interactive installations, whose user interfaces are modeled on behavioural and psychological contemporary research. Fredericks' work often uses biological elements, or their simulation, and poses a definite emphasis on the sense of touch. For the last year he has been investigating the emergence of complex reactions from densities of simple agents propagated in the physical space, resulting in the latest collaborative piece, Flock. He is a proud member and active participant of the open source and Creative Commons movements. Fredericks' work has been shown nationally and internationally. He lives and works in Montreal. More information about Fredericks can be found at: http://tof.danslchamp.org

Equipment and space needed for indoor presentation

Minimum space:

80 m2 (9 m X 9 m) with 3 m ceiling height (If space is tight contact us and we can give more precise measurements with lower overall square footage an ceiling height.)

Equipment provided by the artists:

-1 PC (Linux/PD)
-1 audio Interface (Maudio delta 10/10)
-1 Ubisense system (4 sensors + cables)
-1 robotic mirror array
-1 Ethernet switcher
-3 spherical interfaces

Equipment to be provided by the presentation organization:

-1 video projectors (minimum spec: True 1024 x 768 Resolution / 2500 ANSI Lumens / 2000:1 contrast ratio resolution)
-VGA cable to computer
-1 computer monitor + 1 keyboard
-8 speakers + amp (direct control)

NOTE: The floor surface should be suitable for video projection

Creators:‭ ‬

PLAN B
For this occasion PLAN B was formed of ‬Marc Fournel and Thomas Ouellet Fredericks
Financial support

-PLAN B
-Fondation Daniel Langlois pour l'art, la science et la technologie