I’ve done a small test render to visualize the sculpture in 360. Some error in the HDRI though, but I haven’t figured it out. Anyway, it’s just a simple render so people can see. The CAD model will be finished this week and shipped off to get quotes from modelling workshops.

http://www.subconch.net/more.html

This week the CAD drawing for the conch sculpture will be finished and I can go ahead and find a contractor to produce it. Looking forward to beginning this part of the project. Also, I’m eagerly awaiting the dry sensor version of the headset from Emotiv, which is expected this quarter. I’m pretty sure the new headset will make my gallery installation much less of a hassle for the average audience member.

Also, Emotiv shipped be the DLL I need to make a general release for all Emotiv users of the subConch software application. I’m hoping to get this done in the next couple of weeks.

This might be a bit sneaky since it doesn’t concern the subConch, but another project of mine. However I need to get word out to as many as possible on this other effort. It’s the crowd funding of an underground comic book of mine: an ambitious piece about war, media and politics called “Just King” If you are interested in supporting this please read more about it here on Ulule.

I hope I have written my last bit of c++ code for a while, at least until the bug reports come flowing in. It’s been quite a ride. I started with absolutely no knowledge of c++ at all. I knew Flash Actionscripting and some Javasript. But in c++ there is a whole world of libraries, linking, preprocessor directives, debug and release configurations, dependencies(!), memory leaks, awkward type casting… the list just goes on. Actually I more or less finished a working application a year ago, but I needed a break and worked on some other projects. It still had many bugs and I knew nothing about deployment. Mind you, I have still only tested it on Windows XP 32-bit, where it seems to work just fine, but I’m looking forward to some feedback.

The release is an 0.8.0 version, so it’s still kind of BETA. I’ve codenamed the public freeware verison as “subConch - Charonia", differentiating it from the (internal) version I’m using in the gallery installation. The differences are few, but the gallery version outputs OSC messages and has a different initial setup as well as different audio for the voice.

Right now the application is awaiting approval at the Emotiv Store. Since it’s free I’ll put up a download option here on the subConch site as well. I’ll keep you posted.

The release of the software version of the subConch is now just around the corner. I have finally managed to deploy a working release configuration on another computer and everything seems to be working just fine. Some work still needs to be done though, like a small user manual, some new voice instructions and perhaps some new graphics for the interface. All in all it’s looking good. There will probably be a free “BETA” version out first where people can use it and report bugs back to me.

After discussing it with product designer Ragnhild Haugum I have decided that the conch sculpture as I have designed it will be nothing more than a “speaker” with an audio socket in the back. I previously toyed with the idea of a self contained solution where the PC and all other components would be built into the sculpture as well, but have concluded that it will create nothing but problems: cooling, wiring, power supply, upgrades etc. The PC with all its externals will now be placed outside. This is the simplest and most scalable solution. The driver in the conch will be an Eminence KAPPA Pro 10 inch. The plughole a 6.35 mm jack.

A friend of mine sent me this link he found. Makes my subConch feel a tad pretentious…

After a well earned three-month-break from the project, I am now back at the desk. The main goal is to complete the gallery installation version. I’ve got the application hooked up to MAX/MSP via UDP fine now. I’ve recorded some new audio for the instructions. I’ve also been ironing out a lot of bugs in the training session - this part needs to be super smooth in a gallery setting. Now you can hit the reset button like a madman and still not cause a bug :-) I’ve also ordered a DMX interface that I will use to control lights in the room, also via MAX, using this little external. From what I’ve read it’s the safest bet. The only big thing missing now is a tailored visual interface for contact qualities.

I have created a new demonstration video showing some of the visuals I have developed.

Coming up is this great event in D.C. Washington based Bluebrain probed for the possibility of my attendance at the show, but alas, I’m broke and stuck in Oslo. I can recommend their latest album though, “Soft Power” (LP).