Mochi Cube, November 2009.
The Mochi Cube provides a unique form of non-verbal communication between two users mediated by the G-Speak system. It is designed to bring awareness to body gestures, movements, and the intangible space occupied by our bodies. As the users move across the room, their motions are traced by reflective sensors worn on their bodies through an array of cameras installed on the ceiling. Our system then translates these movements into a continually morphing form, projecting it onto a screen.
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To begin interacting with Mochi Cube, both users must first wear reflective sensors that are placed on multiple locations of their body such as elbows, knees, head, and hands. There is also a physical device indicating x, y, and z axes that assist the users to initially create a form, to rotate its orientation, and to zoom in and out in space. The control device is designed to be held by one user while the other user uses their hand to create a basic cubic structure. When the users move towards the screen, or closer in distance to the display wall, the dimensions of the quadrilateral on the screen increases, likewise it decreases the further away the sensors are to the screen.
The first step of the Mochi Cube experience is to simply create a quadrilateral shape by using the hand held control device and a glove, both with reflective sensors attached. Using the control device and the glove, users start out by making a quadrilateral shape, confirming it, and then re-orienting the space by rotating or zooming.
Once the desired form is created, one of the users can confirm the form by closing his/her thumb in. At this point, the created cube becomes a new space for both of the users to enter and begin the form-shaping stage. Inside the cube, users may move their bodies while the form of the cube morphs simultaneously with the body gestures. The surface expands or contracts based on various push and pull movements from the users, the size of the space varies based on the distance between the two users. The shape on the screen reflects every movement by the users. The resulting effect is a virtual shape/space created through the combined effort of two people’s movements in physical space.
Our inspiration for this project came from our interest in the way sensors are tracked through space by the G-Speak system. It seemed as though an invisible space was being defined as two people move throughout the room. The system made us realize that there is a defined space that we cannot touch or see that is affected by the body language and proximity of two bodies in space. The projected screen has allowed for a visual representation of this idea, emphasizing the space defined by our location and movements in the physical. Mochi Box aims to help its users understand the relationship of tension and space between two people, and how our movements may define the positive or negative energy of a seemingly neutral space.