Approach (Technical Methodology)
The Hearth Installation focuses on three specific datasets, each with a different methodology for extracting that particular information. The datasets that drive the Hearth Installation are: real-time purchase information, consumer identity, and product information.
Real-time purchase information
An integral part of the Hearth Installation is its link to the Artos Cafe. In particular, the real-time purchases that occur at Artos on a day to day basis is one of the datasets that drive the installation. Through use of this dataset, purchases made at the Artos cafe are allowed to directly and instantaneously affect the outcome of the installation. Real-time purchase information is read through a barcode scanner which identifies the products being purchased.
Consumer Identity
With the concept of collaboration and interaction as one of our design goals, recognising the consumer's individual identity as a dataset is important. It allows for an ego investment to be made in the installation, and encourages playfulness and experimentation on part of the user. The consumer identity dataset is collected as personal snapshots of the user via webcam.
Product Information
The Hearth Installation focused on the subsets of Product Barcode, Energy and Price (see mapping section for more detailed description of their contribution to the overall installation). Energy, as the focus of our concept, was obtained from the nutritional panels of each product. Product Barcodes were also obtained from the product packacing. Product pricing was obtained from the Artos Cafe staff. These values were stored in an XML database, to allow easy retrieval during the runtime of the installation.
Hardware
Computer
A PC is used obtain inputs, run software, compute results and output these to devices to form the installation. The input and output devices and software are described in more detail below:
Input Devices
Barcode Scanner
The barcode scanner is utilised to obtain real-time purchase information occuring in the Artos Store. Barcode information is read into a text field in the Flash file, and used to determine which product has been purchased, and what actions should follow due to the specific product purchase.
Webcam
The webcam is used to obtain a snapshot of the user during the time of product purchase, and thus allows the consumer identity to be logged. The command to take a snapshot is sent via Flash, when a new barcode has been read into the system from the Barcode Scanner. The snapshot is sent to Flash to form part of the virtual projection.
Output Devices
Clipsal CNI Interface
The CNI Interface is used for communication between the computer and the C-Bus Unit. It allows commands to be sent to the unit, which controls the electrical side of the installation.
C-Bus Unit
The C-Bus Unit controls the state of the electrical installation (heater and lights) by communicating with the computer via the CNI Interface to obtain on/off commands for the electrical devices.
Martec Halogen Heater
The halogen heater forms one portion of the electrical installation (see mapping section for more detailed description of electrical installation). It provides both heat and light when running. It is controlled by the C-Bus Unit.
Fairy Lights x 2
The fairy lights form the second portion of the electrical installation (see mapping section for more detailed description of electrical installation), providing a series of white lights when running. It is also controlled by the C-Bus Unit.
Projector
The projector is used to output the artwork formed in Flash as a result of real-time product purchases (see mapping section for more detailed description of Projection). It outputs the Flash .swf file onto the column.
Software
Macromedia Flash 8
Flash 8 was the core of the Hearth Installation, obtaining inputs from various devices and outputting the final projection, as well as sending commands to drive the Electrical Installation.
Clipsal C-Bus Toolkit
The Clipsal C-Bus Toolkit was used to setup the electrical units running on the C-Bus System. The software also allowed communication between Flash and the C-Bus Unit to occur.
Scripting
Flash 8 Actionscript
The Hearth Installation was coded using Flash Actionscript. The following sites were referenced for several functions:
Flash Developer Center Articles
The webcam snapshot function required a good understanding of the BitmapData class, which allowed webcam output to be attached to a movieclip as a bitmap.
Webcam Motion Detection: Using the BitmapData API in Flash 8
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/webcam_motion.html
Introducing the Image API in Flash 8
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/image_api.html
Kirupa.com
Online Flash tutorials from Kirupa.com were referenced to code the hittest function for the projection and the timer function.
Infostudio 2006 Clipsal and C-Bus Tutorials
We referred to tutorial slides and programming examples provided by our Tutors Nick and Matt particularly regarding Clipsal C-Bus Integration in Flash.
Clipsal C-Bus Connection (Flash)
Barcode Scanner Integration (Flash)