pacifist pixels--Tyler Hallett
This project started off as something very basic and as I added more and more, I discovered new uses and ultimately created a simple, but fun instrument. The process of creating was very new to me because the possibilities were endless, but more importantly the end product resulted in an interactive instrument, a piece that can be documented and recorded. This is a new way of working and thinking but I thoroughly enjoyed the process.
The original idea started with the idea of randomly generating pixels in a confined area and then randomly taking them away. The confined area became a column, which divided the screen into 6 parts, each having one source creating a colored pixel and another source creating a black pixel, thus taking away. After this I wanted to blend the columns more so they were not as obvious, so I changed it so both sources inside the column now randomly generate pixels with new colors every few seconds. I liked the effect of this, but it still read very systematic and organized. This led me to connect the mouse movement to the colors of the pixels, allowing the user to control what colors were being generated. After finishing this step and playing with the new interactive feature, I noticed that the project took on a whole light. By adding interactivity the visuals of the piece can now be changed not only by color, but also by different movements the actual shape of the piece changes too. This element is really exciting and allows this piece to become an instrument to play rather than a thing to watch.