First, I went through all the Kinect example exercises and make sure the code are working when I try them out!

For my midterm proposal, I want to make an eyeball chasing at people, it’s called “ I am watching you.” I started to develop the code from Dan Shiffman’s average point tracking patch, using the the threshold to control the depth and tracking location. The main subject in the project is the eyeball movement; therefore, I saved 9 images with a black eyeball on white background, and each image of the eyeball at different location. The tracking area is divided into 9 grids, and each cell assigned one image to it. Once the threshold is located in one of the grids, the image will switch to the assigned cell.

Right now, my eyeball movement is working well on my mac. I am at the stage of setting it up for projector and see if it can map well on the eyeball sculpture.
If I have enough time, i want to make a physical moving eyeball controlled by servo motor. Eyeball moves with the body movement.

(note: more videos to come)

The Eclipse platform is very new to me. I spent a lot of time on figuring out how to let Eclipse reads Processing program. Thanks to the Capture object in Snow Leopard error that causes a lot of problems. [[Run Configurations > Arguments > VM Arguments > -d32]]. I will never forget this step!
The [...]

1. Augmented Reality meets digital signage in LEGO Kiosk

Emerging technology used in a retail environment. LEGO exhibits, linking augmented reality and digital signage opens the door to a plethora of creative opportunities.
With a built-in camera and display screen, the interactive kiosk lets LEGO packaging reveal its contents fully assembled within live 3D animated scenes. Consumers [...]

1. Detect how much of face surface on the screen to control the movement in virtual environment. For example, large face surface = zoom in/ forward in virtual environment.
2. Flip or scroll page by detecting the right to left or up to down head movement.
3. Head movement detection for rhythm.
4. I am not [...]

“Write Me” is a video sculpture constructed with 100 recycled papers tied together, hanging from the ceiling. The user may contribute to the project by writing letters, answering meaningful questions or drawings that will be projected onto the sculpture.
This project was inspired by the book and website, “Learning To Love You More,” by [...]

The Dream Train is an exhibition in New York City Subway.
Mission: Dream is a magical moment that is uncatchable and uncontrollable. I want to create a physical experience to capture this essence of ultra reality. This experience will be inserted into the subway of New York City. I want to alter the daily urban routine [...]

AddressMe is a wearable project that communicates about Identity and true self and how can a true self being place in today’s society.
Society can easily pull us away from our true self. It is necessary for us to reevaluate ourselves once in a while in order to improve our life quality. By finding the balance [...]

This project has been exhibited in 2010 Re-new Digital Art Festival in Copenhagen and 2010 NIME in Sydney.
Space: Creating a Chinese calligraphy opera house in any large volume of space.
Context: Space is dimensionally defined by physical objects, like wall, floor and ceiling. However, the perception of a space often changes with the quality of humansenses. [...]

BigBook from Amy Chien on Vimeo.

Magnetic Play is an exhibit about the magnetic principles of attraction and repulsion that is being designed for the New York Hall of Science. The exhibit consists of 5 different activities meant to emphasize the principles of attraction and repulsion while appealing to the different learning styles of museum visitors. [...]