Cell[ular]Flux. Cellular Cities.

Cellular Flux is a network navigation interface concept ("Honoray Mention" at the 6^th International Browserday competition), developed further to an interactive installation project.

Developed in 2002 at the Academy of Media Arts (KHM) in Cologne, Germany.

Idea:

Various network nodes: mobile devices, carried by people, or installed on moving and non-moving objects are parts of parallel, multiple cell interaction. In addition to client-cell-server, client-client and client-cell-client communication there are agent-like hybrid devices and data protocols, that facilitate communication among cells themselves. Similarly to the biological world, cells with their digital 'membranes' via 'cell liquid' sense and 'talk' to each other, enhancing data exchange and service robustness. Various devices can share or swap communication protocols, depending on user preferences, like: communication type, bandwidth or cost saving and privacy level. User, surrounded by a swirl of its own 'species' of micro cells, can turn them mutate into larger mega-cell-extensions.

Urban and rural areas are characterized by maps of ambient cell(ular) 'life form' presence and their behavior such as cell 'breath in', 'breath out', feed zones.

The ambient cell presence is characterized by metaphor states:

Cell(ular) Ice – 'stand-by' state.

Cell(ular) Liquid –  fluid data access levels, sometimes: data traces.

Cell(ular) Plasma – extreme mode where cells work in unified form of service.

Navigation and configuration intercellular communication options, is enhanced by a 'spatial context lens', 'cell filter' and 'cell feeder'.

Realisation: SEE VIDEO AS REALMEDIA

Interactive installation with variable configuration –

- as single video projection

- as double screen projection

- stereoscopic projection (for shutter- or polarising glasses)

+ stereo or quadraphonic or 8-channel 3D sound

Technical and space requirements:

a darkened room, approx 4x6 m.

Hardware:
 
- 2 DLP/LCD projectors on silver (polarising) material (or alternatively 1 CRT projector on white screen)
- stereo shutter glasses (or passive stereo with polarisation glasses)
- 1-2 game joysticks +

optionally: 6DOF spacemouse + data glove