Project 3 - Chain Reactions Final Sounding

The final interaction, with an adjustment of the sounds so they are ordered from left to right appropriately, and the removal of the beats refined such that they can be removed in reverse chronological order by right-clicking. Not needed, but certainly allows another level to be added to the interaction through a resemblance of some control.

Project 3 - Bringing back the Mouse Force

A decision was made to return the mouse force alongside the placed beats / forces so that a semi-constant of the beats can exist, and a moving flowing force opposite the mouse. Placing the force opposite the mouse allows a level of fun trying to control the mirrored force, plus allows the user to see how large they are making the expanding forces.
An initial experiment into being able to remove the placed beats was also undertaken, however they are still being removed only after right-clicking multiple times.

Project 3 - Coding the Initial Placeable Beats

No more mouse interaction for now, no more initial base beat. Instead, we start with a completely blank grid of blue circles, until the user places a force within the field. Holding the mouse button expands the field to a maximum size, and then the field is fixed in that position. Clicking again adds another beat up to a maximum of 9.

Project 3 - Starting to Remove the Balls Finally!

Removing those damned balls, then on to putting in a more suitable interaction.

Project 3 - How to Create an Expanding Beat Experiment

A quick experiment to figure out how to place an expanding beat instead of the bouncing balls.

Project 3 - Adjustments to Reaction Lead to Major Lag

Adjusted the code in some manner resulting in major lag, must be time to remove those balls now and simplify the code.

Project 3 - Adding Gravity to the Balls

Furthering the experiment with the ball reactors, gravity has been added so that they can be a bouncing nuisance on the screen... will need to get rid of these again later, they just are not cool!

Project 3 - Adding an Idle Force for Beat

To allow the experiment to have an idle state when the user isn't interacting with it, a constant force has been added in the centre of the window, creating a changing reactive beat by pushing the surrounding circles away.

Project 3 - Larger Push and a New Player

To add a new level of control to the field, an experiment into including a positionable reactor on the field was undertaken. This instance is a minor fail of an experiment, as the element is stationary unless pushed, then remains stationary wherever it is pushed to, but maybe adding a gravity force will help with that?

Project 3 - Additional Sounds Across the Board

Adding yet another level to the interaction, different sounds have been applied to each column of the interaction, providing a stronger capability of creating a work of sound rather than just noise.

Project 3 - Chain Reaction Gains Sound

Sound comes back into play here, with every circle becoming its own element with a sound associated. Every time a circle touches another, a sound plays, creating a cascading ensemble of sound with each chain reaction.

Project 3 - Chain Reactions Become Interesting

A swap of colours and a new level to the reaction between each circle. With each touch, the circle suddenly grows in size, pushing its neighbors further and making them in turn grow in size, before shrinking at a slow rate when not being touched. Check it out, awesome fun to play with!

Project 3 - Pushing Circles React More Realistically

Next up, adjusting the force around the mouse to increase the interactions appeal and reaction.

Project 3 - Pushing Circles React to Each Other

Stage three was to add a level of realism to the interaction. The more that a particular circle is pushed, the more its colour changes. If the circle hits another circle, they push each other and change colour even further.

Project 3 - Pushing Circles that Return

Stage two was to get each element to want to return to its original position, with an increasing urge the further it is from its origin.

Project 3 - Pushing Circles

The first step towards creating the final interaction was setting up the base interaction - a grid of seemingly simple circles that react to a force around the mouse.

Project 3 - Sound Experiments

 

The above are links to the first experiments in processing using sound and interaction. The codes call the user to touch / hover over the circle in the middle and, while over, a sound plays, accompanied by a reaction by the visuals. Please select to see the interactive versions.

Project 3 - Sound Shape

For this project, an interactive processing project is called for that incorporates sound into the interaction. However, the sound isn't only to be added to the project, but become part of the interaction as an additional dimension.
For this project inspiration is coming from the below text-particles simulator where interaction causes a reaction due to a force around the mouse.