S.A.R.A. – Synesthetic Augmented Reality Application, Costume and Documentary Short (2012)

//benitez_vogl (Margarita Benitez and Markus Vogl), United States

Description

S.A.R.A. – (synesthetic augmented reality application) is an App exploring the potential of a mobile device as a unique and wearable musical interface. S.A.R.A. was originally developed as a standalone App to translate the surrounding environment into sounds on mobile devices (iPhone and Android) creating a digitally augmented synesthetic experience. The imagery captured via the mobile device’s onboard camera is translated into synesthetic-inspired sounds. In its original development S.A.R.A. has been graciously supported with a 2012 National Endowment for the Arts – New Media Artworks Grant.

To demonstrate the capabilities the technology //benitez_vogl (Margarita Benitez Kent State University and Markus Vogl University of Akron) entered into a collaboration with Kimberly Karpanty (Kent State University) and her Travesty Dance Group in July 2012 to showcase the capabilities of the open source device. The choreography calls for several dancers wearing the app playing on a portable device in conjunction with a mini projector.

S.A.R.A. is not only an interface and an interactive software application for consumption, play, discovery and joy but a jump off point for a larger discussion on transformational strategies in regards to both S.A.R.A. as a wearable musical/performance interface but additionally in the Open Source distribution of S.A.R.A. as a tool.

For more details, visit http://s-a-r-a.com

Medium

iPod touch, laser pico projector, neoprene, chiffon, mesh, RGB LEDs, Conductive thread, TinyCircuits TinyLily and LiPo battery

Techniques

Industrial embroidery, body scanning of dancers to ensure proper fit of bodysuits and tunics, and standard construction techniques for both the garment and electronics

Image credits

//benitez_vogl (Margarita Benitez and Markus Vogl)