Swarm Art 2003 worked differently than the 2002 version. A camera/Video Information Server (see examples) in the ceiling looked down on a table full of colored balls. The Video Information Server tracked the balls and fed the ball coordinates to a swarm simulation. The swarm simulation in turn used the ball positions to set simulation parameters. A rendering system displayed the swarm projected onto a wall beside the table.
A view showing the entire installation in the Nickle Art Gallery.
Jerry put this table together from rough lumber. Participants interact with the installation by moving the balls around the table.
This is the camera in the ceiling looking directly down onto the table.
These are examples of the swarm as observers saw it. Entities in the swarm are rendered with spheres and textured discs. The textures were created by Jerry with acrylic paint on old floppy discs removed from their sleeves.
