RANDOM READINGS, through visual telecommunication systems.

2012-ART/INSTALLATION. Is a series of video-images analyzed by a computer application which taking visual values directly from the computer screen. It works by detecting the threshold changes in five different points located on the image surface.This application transforms algorithmically the visual information in alphabetic code, according to an antique and obsolete visual telecommunication system invented by Joseph Chudy in 1793. The result is a flow of characters decoded by a logical system in order to don´t get any kind of valid information from surveillance cameras, Internet live video captures and video-games.

Action [Web_Cam to Real_Time]
Live from NYC, Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets.

Action No4 [Night Vision Camera].

1.

EXHIBITIONS:

-USE AT YOUR OWN RISK , Interface Culture, <strong>ARS ELECTRONICA.</strong> 2013, 3-8 September. Brucknerhaus Linz, (Austria).Ars Electronica.

Action No1, <e[A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z]

Images taken with the laptops web cam of the screenshot, shows the alphabet neatly.

Input device, inspired by antique optical telegraphy systems; Through a web-cam and tracking-video detects the fingers placement on five equidistant holes in an opaque surface and converts a quintanary code in alphanumeric , allowing communication via computer.

On March 22, 1792, The meeting of the French National Brotherhood, entrusted to the priest Claude Chappe to build the first Optical telegraph line between Paris and Lille, which began operating in 1794.

Located on top of towers could form a communication network, Its repetition at a distance of three miles could afford to send a message faster than a rider on horseback.Fig1:Telegraph Chappe. Louvre, French.

The first optical telegraph line between Paris and Lille was twenty-three relay stations between four and ten miles away, depending on the terrain.

Joseph Chudy in 1796, used the theater and opera in order to draw attention in his invention, which he had built nine years earlier. It was a device for transmitting messages through a combination of sounds and images.

It was formed by a large proportions panel, inside there was five horizontal and equidistant perforations.

In the backside of the panel was equipped with five shutters, one for each hole. It was driven manually, opening or closing each of these five elements, allowing or restricting the passage of light. (Diagram: Fig 2).

The communication principle takes place when the five lights are on, [OOOOO]. When the last lamp was closed was the letter A [OOOOØ].B [OOOØO]. C [OOOØØ]. So on until a total of thirty-two signals. This could represent the five letters of the alphabet and the combination of these, in what we can call quinary code. This code was also transferred to the sound with bells.

1. DESCRIPTION.

Creating a physical interface and portable, mediating between the symbolic code of Joseph Chudy and the alphabetic code. With the aim of establishing dialogue, between humans & computers.

The interface consists of a wood or plastic box of an approximate size 15x15x15cm, with five parallel and equidistant holes of 5 mm in diameter, at a distance of 15mm from each others, on one side of the box. Inside, a webcam recognized by tracking when the hole is closed by the positioning of the fingers.

Using programming code (Processing) It is transformed the binary code in alphabetical.

Form of use:

The end outcome is a peripheral of the similar proportions to the mouse. The application start when the user placing his hand on the top position and it is covered each one of the holes with the fingers, pressing the corresponding hole.

1. REFERENCES.

[1] Ziegfried Zielinski, Deep time of the media, toward an Archaeology of hearing and seeing by technical means. The MIT Cambridge, Massachuserrs London, England.
<http://mitpress.mit.edu >. Págs 183-194.

Paper Chudy 2012. [eng].   Paper Chudy 2012. [sp].