“Keen-skin” is an installation based on haptic sensations by combined tactile and kinesthetic feedback measured through electroencephalography. Streamed data create a sound experience generated by real emotions of involved users.
Keen-Skin consists in an immersive interactive installation that intends to create an augmented reality of human tactile senses. The installation will take place in a square almost dark room or in a gallery space. The room will be equipped by a coffee table, few chairs and a soft light table lamp. The environment should be very warm and the light soft (not daylight).
Two or more participants will wear EEG wireless system and data will be streamed and processed in order to create an intriguing environment in respect of the emotional state of the participants. Participants will be asked to touch each other (hand, face, neck, arms). The important aspect will be to create a “skin to skin” contact. The space will be shared by active and passive participants. The virtual environment will be created through sounds generated by the electroencephalography data gathered during the users interaction. The Neurological Data mapping is programmed in respecting the aesthetical idea of composition of a sound-environment made by human senses. The original software is programmed used Max/MSP over OSC-router and the sound will be spatialized through a quadraphonic high quality sound diffusion system.
Thematic statement
Humans haptic interaction relates to all aspects of touch and body movement but also to the application of human senses to the digital interactive language. This involves not only sensation and perception, but also emotional response. Interpersonal touch is an undervalued aspect of human nature; the proposed installation aims to create an environment where the most profound communication channel for humans takes a renewed meaningful role. “It is touch that give our sense of “reality”…. Not only our geometry and physics, but our whole conception of what exist outside us, is based on the sense of touch.” (Russel 1969). The virtual environment will be created through sounds generated by the electroencephalography data gathered during the users interaction. French novelist Michel Houellebecq (1998) envisioned a future in which all contact between people is mediated by technology. This installation aims rather to demonstrate that technology can help to explore the tactile dimension of social life and emotions that can derive from a social contact.
An Installation where the space-time perception is decompressed and tactile senses are augmented by a virtual sound experience can represent a challenging liberatory space where people can re-configure their sense of selves and their social relations through a digital media installation.
Technical and logistic requirements
- Quadraphonic high quality sound diffusion system plus subwoofer.
- 2 NeuroSky MindWave Headsets
- Gallery space.
- Storage space to hide part of the technology
- Secure locked exhibition space, staffed during open hours
- A coffee table, 3-4 chairs, a soft table lamp.