Intelligent Fans combined numerous elements from our previous work with some new and fun additions. The installation revolved around a fan suspended from the ceiling to form a pendulum. Attached to the fan was a rudder controlled by an RC servo motor. As the fan powered up the pendulum swings, and rudder motion can control the direction of the swing.

Two frames supporting LCD displays sit on either side of the pendulum. The left frame has two displays while the right has only one. On the left, a motion swarm interaction system uses some of our recent work on video interaction to give gesture-free video control of the fan and rudder. A camera mounted on the bottom of the frame provides the video input. Icons in the display indicate the state of the fan motor and rudder. To the right of the video controls is a display showing textured shapes moving in response to the pendulum's motion. A camera placed on the floor, in the corner, looks up at the fan. A set of motion swarm particles reacting the the motion acts as control points to create the shapes in the display. The colorful texture that is the focal point of this display is a digitized image of one of Jerry Hushlak's oils in the foyer of the ICT building at the University of Calgary.

The frame on the right supports a display using a recycle Swarm Art system. Now the Swarm Art reacts to the pendulum, rather than directly with the participant. This display also generates sounds in concert with the motion, adding audio depth to the installation.

The left frame: display of fan control and moving shapes	The right frame: Swarm Art and sound

This video shows me controlling the fan speed and rudder. It was a bit of a challenge to do this while holding the camera, but I manage.

Here is an example of the shapes moving with the fan. We did this in lab while testing.

Another example of the shapes and fan, this time from Computational Aesthetics in Victoria, May 2009.

Here we see the shapes moving while the pendulum is swinging wildly.

The fan is getting a good workout here. A solid connection to the ceiling is essential.