[dorkbotpdx-announce] DorkbotPDX 0x09 on Monday, June 18th 2012

[Jason Plumb]

http://dorkbotpdx.org/dorkbotpdx_0x09

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Dorkbot PDX would like to welcome you to the latest installment of our
semi-regular presentation series:

DorkbotPDX 0x09
(zero-based)

When: Monday, June 18th, 2012 - 8pm
Where: Backspace (map)
Who: All ages -- open to the public
Cost: Free!
What's happening? Two great and inspiring talks!

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LAMOSO
Christi Denton

The LAMOSO (LAsar/MOtion/SOund) is a MIDI controller; that is, it's a
device that sends MIDI to my computer. MIDI is a standard music protocol
that allows electronic musical instruments (e.g., the LAMOSO) and
computers to communicate with each other. It's not audio - it's digital
data that includes values for pitch, length, volume, etc.

So... the LAMOSO uses lasers and photogates to send signals to a
computer, which then turns that data into sound.

The lasers hit (or don't hit) photogates. The photogates connect to a
Teensy++, a "microcontroller development system" (it's the computer chip
thingy in the pictures), and that sends my computer data about whether
there is or is not a laser beam light hitting the photogate. Max, a
music programming language, is used to interpret that data into music.

Visually and musically, what this means is that there's lasers
crisscrossing an area, and when those lasers are broken, it changes the
music.

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Digital Painting
Jeremy Rotsztain

Jeremy Rotsztain writes software to generate digital images that closely
resemble
paintings. Instead of working with paints and pigments, he prefers to
use digital materials. He collects popular images from the Internet and
iconic scenes from Hollywood films -- and uses their pixels and sounds
to generate entirely new
compositions.

Jeremy will be presenting and discussing two recent works:

1) "Obsessions" (prints made from photos of adorable pets)

2) "Action Painting" (abstract expressionist animations made from high
octane car chases, violent punches, fiery gun shots, and sublime
explosions).

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OpenDork
You!

An open-mic session for those looking to show off a project, ask a
question, solicit help, or incite collaboration.