Tag Archives: Bike

Thesis Prototype – Proximity Player

By Ryan | Published November 21, 2010

For this prototype, I focused on three specific aspects of the user and object interaction, which were:

  • proximity
  • user input via physical interaction
  • user relationship to the installation piece

Using an Ardweeny, small bread board, MaxBotix Ultra Range Finder, a small plastic encasing, hardboard, and a RadioShack speaker, I created a proximity-based sound box that is mounted on the edge of a bicycle wheel. The mount (made of leftover scraps of wood from the Physical Computing room here at Parsons) is attached to the wheel with zip ties.



I wanted to provide some form of physical input for the person interacting with the piece as well as recognize that if multiple people were involved, each person should have a unique sound experience. By including the bicycle wheel as the method for activating the installation piece as well as PVC pipe that can easily be moved, the user has a direct impact on the sounds that they hear.


As the sound box rotates around the hardboard platform, the PVC pipes that are placed on the platform trigger tones based on their distance to the sound box. The tone rises and falls as the pipe comes into and out of range.

I also started initial prototyping of possible patterns and designs that could be projected or otherwise provided on the platform. I initially played with simple patterns of circles, but based on a suggestion from classmate Brett Burton, I used patterns based on the golden ratio and the fibonacci sequence as well.

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Final Project – Full Description Posted

By Ryan | Published December 16, 2009

I gave my final presentation for Major Studio yesterday, and I made a page on this site with a full description of the project here. In there you’ll find a project desciption, a walk through of each step in the process, provide some examples, and talk about next steps. I hear my various locations while [...]

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Final Project – Research – John Cage

By Ryan | Published December 11, 2009

After hearing my psychogeographic sound maps, I decided to further investigate John Cage’s work in notation and sound. Dancers on a Plane: Cage Cunningham Johns had detailed discussions of Cage’s work, Concert for Piano and Orchestra, and included many pages of his notation for it. Here are a few examples: Cage made these notations by [...]

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Bike Dérive – 13 rides and counting…

By Ryan | Published December 7, 2009

Here are details on my last 4 rides: Dérive #10 Start Date/Time:      06.12.2009 / 13:09:45 EST Duration:     1hr 20min Distance:     11.3 km / 3.65 mi http://gpsed.com/track/5278031126459152558 Dérive #11 Start Date/Time:      06.12.2009 / 20:15:14 GMT Duration:     1hr 36min Distance:     18.2 km / 5.87 mi http://gpsed.com/track/5278031125774376422 Dérive #12 Start Date/Time:     [...]

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Psychogeographic Maps – Sound Prototype 1

By Ryan | Published December 7, 2009

For my psychogeographic maps of New York City, I have decided to create audio maps. While doing these rides, I became aware of my different speeds, durations, and locations throughout my travels, and I wanted to provide myself a tool so that I (as well as others) could experience the ride in a condensed amount [...]

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Bike Dérive – Prototype #9

By Ryan | Published December 5, 2009

I did my ninth dérive of New York City today. I started this edition in Manhattan, and I made a conscious decision to head West, but despite my best efforts to head in that direction, I ended up in Queens. Details of my trip are: Start Date/Time: 04.12.2009 / 12:08:26 EST Duration: 2hr 35min Distance: [...]

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Bike Dérive – Prototype #8

By Ryan | Published December 3, 2009

I did my eighth dérive of New York City today. I started this edition in Manhattan, and I made a conscious decision to head West. Details of my trip are: Start Date/Time: 03.12.2009 / 14:02:54 EST Duration: 2hr 11min Distance: 22.9 km / 7.39 mi http://gpsed.com/track/5278031126144572038 Here is a series of photographs I took while [...]

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Bike Dérive – Prototype #7

By Ryan | Published December 3, 2009

I did my seventh dérive of New York City today. I started this edition in Brooklyn, and I made a conscious decision to head towards Manhattan. Details of my trip are: Start Date/Time: 03.12.2009 / 10:15:59 EST Duration: 1hr 37min Distance: 15 km / 4.84 mi http://gpsed.com/track/5278031125465117500 Here is a series of photographs I took [...]

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Bike Dérive – Prototype #6

By Ryan | Published December 3, 2009

I did my sixth prototype for my New York City dérive series yesterday. I started this edition in Manhattan, and I made a conscious decision to head North. Details of my trip are: Start Date/Time: 02.12.2009 / 15:13:50 EST Duration: 2hr 33min Distance: 13.1 km / 4.34 mi http://gpsed.com/track/5278031126459570242 Here is a series of photographs [...]

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Bike Dérive – Prototype #5

By Ryan | Published December 3, 2009

I did my fifth prototype for my New York City dérive series today. I started this edition in Brooklyn, and I made a conscious decision to head to the Manhattan area. Details of my trip are: Start Date/Time:      02.12.2009 / 12:58:53 EST Duration:     1hr 39min Distance:     11.4 km / 3.68mi http://gpsed.com/track/5278031125887536645 Here [...]

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