Author Archive for matthew venn

TEDxYork mood lamps!

We’ve put together 50 kits for TEDxYork attendees! Click here for the instructions.
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more info on other workshops can be found on my learning-to-learn.org.uk site.

mazepuzzlebox.co.uk is live!

After many weeks of frustration, I’ve finally managed to get an online service that makes it easy to create your own puzzle boxes!

Head over and make a maze! http://www.mazepuzzlebox.co.uk/create

maze puzzle box

I’ve been working on a new project over the last 5 months, but keeping it quiet so I can surprise people with it… Well I’ve now posted an instructable so the cat’s out of the bag!

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Head over to the instructable for all the details! Oh, and while you’re there, please vote for me so I win the laser cutter!

Virtual graffiti becomes Friispray

I’ve linked up with the jam jar collective in Leeds. They have independently developed a virtual graffiti tool called Friispray.

Last weekend I went up to Leeds for a mini residency to develop the software and hardware further. It was great working with Stuart, and we managed to come up with a way to track where the can is pointing (a big problem with both our previous versions).

Here’s a sneak preview of our new laser based system…

For all further developments of this project, please see the Friispray website, or our github wiki and source code repo

The science of Snow

The “science of snow” is an interactive exhibit that starts by illustrating how snowflakes form and ends with a unique snowflake postcard to take away.
press image
By controlling environmental conditions, you grow a unique snowflake; its shape is a visual history of the journey from cloud to ground.

The exhibit has been shown at many galleries including The Crypt (London) Motorcycle showroom and Lakota (Bristol).

More photos of the build process and the final product including example snow flakes. Source code is here.

I would like to thank Janko Gravner, David Griffeath and Clifford A. Reiter for their research in the field. Their work was used extensively to build this computer model. Lou Smith for his interest and work building the physical installation. Rachel Carless for help with the funding application. David Murray-Rust for computer help and advice. The open source community for providing all the excellent free software with which this exhibit was built.

Comments by the public:

  • We came for our christmas party had such great fun , made xmas cards and snow flakes. Thank you
  • Loved it all, but especially the snowflake machine and advent calendar.
  • I loved the snow flake guys work Thanks.
  • Personally thought the snowflake was the best ! Thank you for an interesting afternoon.
  • We particularly enjoyed the installation by Matthew Venn where we produced our own digital snow flake.
  • Loved the snow flake machine.
  • I made my own snowflake to take home great idea.
  • I made the opening night and it was absolutely mind blowing, came back again to play on the snow flake machine.