Complexity-based Systems Presentation

"Playing with Chaos"

Purpose & Concept

Playing with Chaos is an interactive touch-based application built in Processing that encourages interaction between observers and mathematical chaos through play. It aims to visually inform about the nature of chaotic systems and allow users to spawn their own instances of chaos within the system.

This project is intended to be installed on large touch screens monitors at least 5 to 6 feet wide, but preferably in a much larger array. The idea is that if only one user is present, she should be able to stretch and not reach the edges of the screen. Sweeping motions and play are encouraged.

Playing with Chaos (Progress Demo) from Justin Sheehy on Vimeo.

Future Work

• Test on touch screen devices to work out any potential bugs
• Add ambient sounds to create a more immersive environment
• Explore alternative random algorithms that might better map to the color space with a more normal distribution
• Utilize the HSL color space so that the perceived brightness does not fluctuate without explicit instruction
• Improve grid code to fit better on a multitude of displays
• Unify timers (since all code is synced to the same tick) to save on processing and allow for larger grid arrays.
• Add modes for responsive interaction ("attract" mode, smooth, live "restart" transition)
• Explore additional gestures for user interaction