THE MESSAGEBOARD


Overview _____________________________________ Digital information is everywhere. Electronic displays, plasma screens and projections give us the latest travel times, news and ads. Yet the way information is presented does not always match the platform. Advanced technology should provide opportunity for play and creative innovation. That's what The Message Board is all about. _____________________________________ Extruded experiments	Brief _____________________________________ The Message Board is an interactive software tool that produces three-dimensional typographic animations in real time.The Message Board animates letters into words and sentences.These can be manipulated to form anything from straight lines of text to abstract visual shapes (see Applications). The Message Board accepts a variety of interactive inputs that can be used to trigger or control the behaviour of the visuals. The Message Board's intended use is with data projections or big screen displays. It can create vibrant backdrops for theatrical performances, but also practical information through interactive installations in show-rooms and shop fronts.	Background _____________________________________ Again, big monitors and billboard sized LED displays surround us both indoors and outdoors. Department stores tempt shoppers and galleries inform visitors via oversized plasma screens. Buses beam the latest film adverts at us. We have become accustomed to absorbing information through electronic devises. Technology is rapidly being adapted for different commercial purposes, but the way information is displayed on the latest screens is rarely cutting edge. Despite having state of the art plasma screens at their disposal, many still opt for a power point style presentation. Creativity should be applied to the visual display, not just the framework. Designers can help people interpret complex information by putting it into a relevant visual context. Data can have fascinating aesthetic qualities. Representing information visually can produce unpredictable yet beautiful results. The Message Board can translate continuous data streams into text based animations that can be tailored for any intended purpose. Information is indeed everywhere, so why not have some fun with it.

© CO 2006


Features _____________________________________ The Message Board outputs a video feed that can be used with projectiors or monitors. The Message Board also accepts a variety of inputs which can be used to control the behaviours of the animations. _____________________________________ Multiplication of a sigle letter	Inputs _____________________________________ Fonts The Message Board use AFM files to identify the font spacing. It can use any ttf or otf font. The letters are rendered as polygons and can be scaled infinitely without resolution loss. Sound Simple FFT analysis lets the visual display bounce to sound like a graphic equaliser. Different audio frequencies can trigger effects allowing for playful forms of voice interaction. Midi Midi can be mapped to any operation. A typical way of using midi is in a music performance. The midi controlling the sound in a composition can be used to produce on-the- millisecond co-ordinated visual events. Camera The colours of a video image can be applied to the letters, generating a low resolution impression of the video feed. The shades from a video clip can also cluster the letters. The mass and density of a video image can be used to track motion.	____________________________________ Video Typographic animations can be used in combination with video as a text overlay. Files External text files (.txt) can be used to display pre-generated content. Sequencing Specific characters in a text file can be used to change the behaviour of the display. This is a simple way of programming change over time. Models A Model loader enables The Message Board to plot letters on the co-ordinates of a 3D model (from a modelling software). Keyboard A regular keyboard input makes it easy to type straight into the display. Joystick Support for remote-controlled joysticks means the user can be mobile. Network Support for network activity enables dialogue between/across multiple displays and off-location computers.	Outputs _____________________________________ Graphic information The Message Board plots letters on x,y and z co-ordinates. By employing different trigonometric formulas the tool can produce an unlimited number of layout constellations. Audio vision Activity on The Message Board is called an "event". Any event can be used to produce midi, which again can be routed into synthesisers to generate sound. Image output A computer using The Message Board can produce a tiled image across up to three projectors/monitors. Capture and edit The Message Board can also be used to generate video animations for information vignettes or music videos. It outputs full resolution image grabs that can be stitched into high quality video with or without an alpha channel.

© CO 2006


Applications ____________________________________ Public spaces Real time feed of information allows for continuous updates Lobby installations Tailored constellations of information produce impressive displays in building atriums and lobby spaces Shop fronts Animated displays attract attention night and day, as well as maximise benefits of prime locations Gallery environment Customisation features let information be integrated into a designed space Stage shows Live audio input analysis produce synchronised animations Special events Colours, shapes and words work beautifully as projected lighting Fashion shows and cat walks Dynamic settings mean ever-changing backdrops Show rooms Interactive features allows for participation	Live information _____________________________________ Last minute changes are inevitable for any ongoing event. Programmes or time tables may need to be updated. When displaying such information electronically, it's crucial that this can be easily be done. The Message Board combines a practical solution with playful animations. The software loads content on demand and can retrieve this across networks from remote databases.	Dynamic lighting _____________________________________ Data/video projectors are great for showing images on a large scale in dimly lit spaces. Projectors can also illuminate an entire room or individual items within it. The text projected by The Message Board can be choreographed live to produce an ever changing information environment.	Interactive displays _____________________________________ Public and commercial settings where people mix and mingle are ideal for interactive displays. Consumers who contribute are potentially entertained as well as informed. They spend more time at the location and the visit becomes an experience. The Message Board can interface with most forms of off-the-shelf interaction devices, like video cameras, touch screens, reactive surfaces, infra red and RFID's. _____________________________________ Transparancy and lighting

© CO 2006


							CO-Designers _____________________________________ CO-Designers is a London based cooperative that works across the wide range of graphic information design. CO- helps clients to organise ideas, data and research into visual language. CO-'s history with the production of typographic animations gave birth to this project. The Message Board was developed to overcome the frustration of working with video editing software and tedious preview renderings. The Message Board is built on the Pure Data (PD) framework, a graphic programming environment for real time signal processing. For more information go to www.puredata.info or www.co-designers.co.uk

	© CO 2006