• Overall Description
  The installation features a human chest cavity made from red, blue (representing blood vessels), and orange wool as the main structure, suspended from an iron frame. At the visual center is a red-and-white balloon (representing chest movement). 

Behind a black fabric cover, there is a table containing wires, electronic components, power supplies, and two hidden computers. The setup is partially concealed on both sides with red wool stretched diagonally like suspension bridges and connected to a transparent laser-cut base. 

Users can only see one computer on the table, which displays a Processing canvas where they can input and submit text.

[Learn more about installation and decoration] 🔗

The installation revolves around a central air pump (representing the heart), which pulsates rhythmically. At the center, at the place of "spine", is a red LED strip light, designed to look like a beating heart.

After users input and submit text via the computer, a blue LED strip lights up one section at a time, representing data flow. The screen displays "message received" with a notification sound. 

Information travels through three pathways toward the pump, but gets “blocked” somewhere in the middle. As each pathway connects, the pump's rate and the central red LED strip's rhythm synchronize and increase.

Interaction: While the pathways differ, they have no fixed order. The installation can operate freely even without the creators being present.

• Pathways

First Pathway: Colorful — Representing Joyful or Exciting Messages
This pathway uses a potentiometer (via Arduino) and Processing screen communication. When a message or word is entered into the computer, it appears on the screen canvas. As the valve (3D-printed and connected to the potentiometer) rotates, the speed and number of colorful falling pixels on the canvas change. When the pixels fall for a set duration, the circuit connects, and gears begin to rotate.

Interaction: Initially, we intended to open the valve by turning it to the right. However, while mapping the code, we encountered issues that affected the LED strip... so we added a counter-intuitive “left-turn to open” arrow for clarity.

• The text that appears immediately highlights the theme of message transmission. The design synchronizes the moment when the falling pixels cover the underlying text, triggering the circuit and providing users with the tangible feeling of change via rotating gears. ⬇️

Second Pathway: Red and Blue — Representing Negative Emotions (Sadness, Anger...)
This pathway uses an accelerometer. Users must rotate a 3D-printed puzzle piece 90 degrees and place it into the hollowed-out part of a 3D-printed David sculpture’s eye, symbolizing the act of “seeing.” When the puzzle connects, the circuit activates, and the small screen content changes from "I’m waiting for your text" to "text loading".

Interaction: The puzzle design only fits when rotated 90 degrees to the right, with a prominent red outline guiding the user.

• The small screen text emphasizes the theme of “waiting for messages.” ⬇️

Third Pathway: White — Representing Calmness
This pathway uses a magnetic sensor (via Arduino) and Processing communication. At the top is a fixed socket base (3D-printed) hiding a magnet, while a thin red wool thread (capillaries) holds a plug (3D-printed) that can move upward along the LED strip. One plug head is replaced with a magnetic sensor. When users connect the lower pipe (containing the magnet) to the upper socket, the magnetic sensor is triggered, completing the circuit. On the screen, particles assemble to form the inputted text.

Interaction: The plug-socket design and “plug in” prompt are clear, and the magnetic sensor is seamlessly integrated into the plug. 

The explosive particle effect visually forms the text, giving users immediate “connection” feedback. ⬇️

[Learn about changes we made after user testing] 🔗

Learn about our project by dividing the work among different computers：

[Learn about Communication between computers] 🔗

[Get all our codes] 🔗