Wing Swing is a visual neuro-feedback tool, functioning as an interactive installation. It influences brainwaves, the deepest processes in the human body, with the ultramodern equipment, effectively blending artificial and natural together. The poetic name of the installation is taken from Russian sci-fi movie "The Adventures of Electronic".
Concept
Hypnosis, meditation and other dream-like conditions of the brain have always interested people. Thomas Edison and Salvador Dali regularly used their own methods to immerse into the border states, encompassing the traits of both sleep and wake. This is where the vision of the things get deeper dimensions, keeping both fine details and overall volume of the whole picture. That shimmering awareness state, also known as Beta-Alpha Bridge (named after brainwave frequences), was accidentally discovered while playing with Emotiv scanner and became a basis for this installation.
Concept
Hypnosis, meditation and other dream-like conditions of the brain have always interested people. Thomas Edison and Salvador Dali regularly used their own methods to immerse into the border states, encompassing the traits of both sleep and wake. This is where the vision of the things get deeper dimensions, keeping both fine details and overall volume of the whole picture. That shimmering awareness state, also known as Beta-Alpha Bridge (named after brainwave frequences), was accidentally discovered while playing with Emotiv scanner and became a basis for this installation.
Principle & Function
Core principle is based on the feedback effect. Emotiv Epoc headset is used to obtain realtime EEG scan of the participant, while he is observing some onscreen visuals. Type of the visuals depends on the measured brainwaves:
1) when beta rhythm dominates over alpha (which means wake/alert state), repetitive hypnotic opart pattern is shown, aiming to reduce beta rhythm and induce alpha one;
2) when alpha rhythm starts to dominate (which corresponds to "dreamy" state), hypno pattern is interrupted and more complex 3D visuals are shown instead, pushing brain to interpret it somehow and therefore get back to wake/alertness, raising beta rhythm again.
This swing-like process goes on and on, making participant's brain balance on the edge between sleep and wake frequencies, which eventually leads to some kind of meditation. Screen capture of the first version https://vimeo.com/106762718
1) when beta rhythm dominates over alpha (which means wake/alert state), repetitive hypnotic opart pattern is shown, aiming to reduce beta rhythm and induce alpha one;
2) when alpha rhythm starts to dominate (which corresponds to "dreamy" state), hypno pattern is interrupted and more complex 3D visuals are shown instead, pushing brain to interpret it somehow and therefore get back to wake/alertness, raising beta rhythm again.
This swing-like process goes on and on, making participant's brain balance on the edge between sleep and wake frequencies, which eventually leads to some kind of meditation. Screen capture of the first version https://vimeo.com/106762718
