{see Research Report Alkan for complete notes… }

• summary of his studies over the last year, during his stay.
• most painful aspect was the constant wearing of the 'anthropologists' mask
• no special insights or observations, in that experience should not be 'detatched'
• more as a 'learner' or 'student' rather than observer, dissector.
• pressed about methodology, still can find an accurate answer
• no fixed, preconceived methodology, could/should be developed/co-created
• fluidity, and indeterminacy → exciting aspect of field work
• fieldwork/experience as 'experiment' or 'test' [awkwardly placed in the social sciences]
  • .. personal
  • . .of anth. toward viewing fluidity in human relations/approaches
  • rigorous relativism / occupying positions in a social field
  • yet not reducible to the position.

→ move toward the dark and luminous, do not stray from the path of the nectar/ambrosia

• after being in india, more interested in working how the physical world works
• physics, ecology, new skills →
• what to do with foam lab .nl?+
  • more presentations rather than screenings → more direct contact
  • venue for discussions between technical & non-technical audiences
  • website (communication)
• use of analogy, visual representation for understanding physics and mathematics

• looking at further details..
• how to move closer to ideas for driving 'research' w/out pressure of presentation
• preliminary thinking;
  • video textures in ogre3d
  • further adventures with particle systems
    • non-object based 3d systems / visualisation
    • ways of imposing form / structure onto particle systems
  • overlap with humanly recognisable forms (semantics)
  • real world interfacing
    • non-screen based interfaces, tactile displays
    • h/w control → fuzzy control systems / real world ↔ fuzzy logic
    • ir camera for motion tracking in projected light
  • realtime generative algorithms in more than 2d
    • algorithmic 3d systems
    • what techniques can be transferred from 2d to 3d
  • how to model growth

→ projections, mappings, etc+

• NPR texhniques
• iterated functions / strange attractor

• looking at sustainable dev. and ecological impact of textile industries
• deeper understanding of how active textiles work
• how should this be documented ?+

1. active materials

method: survey of the field, empyrical experiments, testing different techniques, selection of most promissing materials

research questions:

1a printing thermochromics

• what responsivity can you get from active materials without the use of electricity and electronics?
• biomimetic design - looking at plant mechanisms to inspire design with active materials
• which active materials are not toxic?

1b. visualising imaginary worlds with active materials

• what can we learn from processes and effects of magic, how do we translate them into designs with active materials?

2. materials library

method: survey of the field, contact with existing material libraries, survey of existing cataloguing systems, make a physical library, catalogue and sort materials and information research question

• how can we build a comprehensive and extensible library, containing both materials and information about materials? how do we catalogue active materials and processes?

3. secondary research interest: portable spaces, nomadic events (such as a circus)

• material research →
  • actively seeking out manufacturers, TU Delft, conferences, etc+
  • documentation
  • how to present foam to potential suppliers/manufaturers/etc+
• kites
  • shapes & materials for kites
  • sonifying / sourcing data from the kite
• visit a wind tunnel
  • somewhere between .nl & .be
  • throw kids into wind-tunnel
• inflatable spaces
  • look at new materials, blowers, how to improve it, make more modular

• role of the artist/designer in ecological discussions (issues of biodiversity, climate change…)
• sustainable arts and design / future of design practice
• relationships between food and ecology
  • wild foods
  • molecular gastronomy
  • demystifying the process of producing, distributing, cooking, presenting and consuming food
• low power / self sustaining systems
  • ideas behind desire and sustainability
  • how to engage an audience in these discussions
• processes of growth and transformation - in environmental studies, cooking and alchemy
• documentation and reflection of foam's first 5 years of existence

• rt audiovisuals
• qfwfq and visual programming languages
• working with fluxus, a-life, procedural graphics
• futurology (in terms of new design practices)

• how to ensure that 'research' is more than just fiddling
• reframing what 'research' can be, without diluting its meaning
• marketing / bus. dev. person.. .
• foam website
  • redesign for ease of updating..
  • how to incorporate .nl lab

is foam an apocalyptic life cult?