John MacDuffie Woodburn

Slide 1
What is PIXEL?

PIXEL is a way to share your visual narrative organically with others and help to transmit your tacit knowledge.

As one person looks, Looker, through the device a camera captures their field of view and another tracks their pupil movement. The other device then displays the focused field of view, allowing the user to see exactly how the one person sees the surrounding environment.

 

Down ABOUT PIXEL: "SEEING WHAT I SEE"

How can you see what I see in the overabundance of today's visual world? PIXEL allows you to see through another person's perspective.

 

Open Source Code

 

The open source eyewriter code that is used in several eye tracking systems was modified to make PIXEL possible. Eye tracking works by first shining infrared light into your eye. Your pupil absorbs this light and appears on camera as a solid black dot, allowing software to easily lock onto your pupil position and track your gaze. PIXEL takes this a step further, using a second camera to record your field of view. The two camera feeds are overlaid on top of one another and your gaze appears as a small dot within your field of view. Since the PIXEL is held closely to the viewers face (like a view-master), calibration is not required—eye position is consistent. In this way PIXEL overcomes the main limitation of many eye tracking systems.

 

 

 

Making of Pixel

 

The PIXEL was inspired by the classic viewfinder toy. The device consists of 2 inexpensive webcams ($100 for both), a small flat screen monitor (approximately $100) , monitor converter box ($75), molded frame ($300, though this is not necessary), and open frameworks program ($0.00). What is not included is a laptop or Mac Mini. The PIXEL is packaged in a professional manner, but could also be replicated in the DIY community.

 

 

 

 

 

Genius of Pixel

 

The aspect that makes PIXEL special is the social interaction that it generates. Commercial applications, for museums and public spaces, for instance,  are driven by PIXEL’s ability to spark unique interactions and inspire dialogue. In a museum setting, the tour guide can use PIXEL to share their view of artworks with visitors in real time. Imagine seeing exactly what your guide is seeing while they explain a Picasso or Monet. We imagine that the Pixel could also be used to connect one public space to another to create engaging interpersonal experiences between passersby.

 

 

 

 

Exhibitions

 

-- 2011, Tech Museum in San Jose Ca

-- 2011, Museums and the Web Conference Opening Reception

-- 2011, Fourth Wall Arts Salon

-- 2011, UArts Design Exhibition: Active Territory

-- 2010, UArts Deign Exhibition: Design Does

 

 

Link for Pixel site

 

lookintopixel.com

 

 

 

In collaboration with Matt Miller