Amphibios
2016 - 2017
Electronics, wood, PLA plastic, creative coding
Dimensions variable
Acknowledgment: Jerry Tang for assisting with the construction and Damien Zhang for photograph
Amphibios, meaning living a double life in Greek, describes very well how we navigate between the physical world and cyberspace in the same manner as amphibians live in aquatic and terrestrial adaptations. Through a speculative lens, Amphibios (2016 - 2017) questions how our behavior is constantly redefined as we live between these two mediated realms of very different natures. This work produces a new species that come alive at the interface between worlds of atoms and of bits. Equipped with artificial skins with networked control units, these beings respond to participants’ touch in the physical exhibition spaces and online messaging on the project website. This stimulates audiences to deliberate how the Internet and digital technology redistribute our minds and bodies in double environments.
Amphibios (2016 - 2017), documentation video
Research Journal
1. Do they exist?
Amphibios (2016 - 2017), prototype 10: structure study inspired by animal vertebra.
The structure of the first generation mimics the fish vertebra with primarily horizontal flexibility. Designed in Rhino and fabricated using laser cutting.
2. Do they move?
Movement is achieved by stretching and releasing muscle structure (fibre) of both sides. Controlled with Arduino and steppers/servos.
Do they DIE? Sometimes...
The second generation gains more movement flexibility in the vertical direction.
3. Do they evolve?
Physical structures change over generations. These optimizations (or “evolutions”) happens according to data collected in a local network, which indicates how easily can the beings move.
4. Do they sense?
These beings can sense human touch by reading the capacitive change in the environment.
Transparent conductive screenprinting ink EL-P3145 creates a invisible skin layer. Large conductive area also allows contact-free sensing.
Amphibios (2016 - 2017), physical computing
Amphibios (2016 - 2017), data collection
Research Journal (summarized version)
