GMU:Minecraft Ecologies/Performing Ecology

Performing Ecology + Modding Reality

Ecosystems getting out of control in the blink of an eye!
Interact with HTS, the Human Tracking System and try to control the population of sheep and wolves using motion, gestures and facial expressions.

Natur Aufführen + Wirklichkeit Aufmotzen

Ökosysteme gehen schneller kaputt als du denkst!
Interagiere mit HTS, dem Human Tracking System und versuche die Population der Schafe und Wölfe durch Bewegung, Mimik, Gestik zu kontrollieren!

Über die Performance

Ökosysteme gehen schneller kaputt als du denkst!

Sobald du die Performanceplattform betrittst, wird dein Verhalten von HTS, dem Human Tracking System beobachtet. Durch Dein Verhalten kannst Du mit einem Ökosystem interagieren. Gras, Schafe und Wölfe bilden ein dynamisches Gleichgewicht.
Kannst Du herausfinden auf welche deiner Bewegungen das Ökosystem reagiert?
Kannst Du die Balance aufrecht erhalten?

Das hybride Bio-Tracking-System ist nicht nur in der Lage menschliche Bewegungen zu analysieren, sondern auch Mimik, Gestik und Sprache. Damit ist es gängigen Tracking-Systemen weit überlegen. Die Studentinnen und Studenten des Kurses "Minecraft Ecologies" haben nicht nur das Spiel Minecraft kreativ umprogrammiert (gemodded) sondern auch auch das Tracking-System.

Die Performance erforscht spielerisch Themen der Aneignung und Modifikation von Umwelt und Technologie. Besucherinnen und Besucher sind eingeladen die Grenzen und Regeln dieses Spiels zu erkunden.

About the Performance

Ecosystems getting out of control in the blink of an eye!

As soon as you enter the performance platform, you will be observed by HTS, the human tracking system. By your performance on the platform you can interact with an ecological system. Grass, sheep, and wolves form a dynamic balance. Can you figure out which of your movements yield a reaction in the ecosystem? Can you maintain the equilibrium?

The hybrid bio-tracking-system does not only analyze human motion, but also facial expressions, gestures and speech, rendering it far suprior to other state-of-the-art tracking systems. The students of the course "Minecraft Ecologies" have not only reprogrammed (modded) the game of Minecraft, but the tracking system as well.

The performance playfully touches on topics of appropriation and modification of the natural and technological environment. Visitors are invited to explore the limits and rules of this game.

How does the "Human Tracking System" work?

The "Human tracking System" is, as the name suggests, a way to track human movements and actions. But the acting person won't be tracked by a non- intelligent Machine or a A.I., but by the human eye, which is not just way more efficient but it also boosts the accuracy of the whole system. Since the human body is existing since tousands of years, there are also way less bugs and performance lags compared to the relatively new computer- counterpart.

What exactly was each of your roles in the final event?

The Text- To- Speech- Director(Asha)

The Computing- Superbrain(Meike)
I was watching and tracking every movement on the platform and interpreting it into system reactions ( as for example spawing or killing sheep)

The Program- Supervisor(Marcel)

What were the rule-sets you used?

RUN/SKIP/JUMP ON THE SPOT: keep game running
WALK OUT: game exits
WALK IN: game resets and starts
(jumping, backward, sideward, movement within field)

RESTRICTIONS:
- face the screen at all times
- touching your face or head, looking away from the screen towards the other players for extended periods of time(>7 seconds), stretching/relaxing in any way, making yourself comfortable: impedes/obstructs whatever you’re trying to do by pausing it or beginning to kill all entities.

COMMUNICATION: text-to-speech
WOLF - starves faster, limits on movement

(R)EVOLVING RULE SETS:
“Nature has evolved, we now have a new set of rules”

Rulesets:
Number of persons 1
Run clockwise to generate sheep
Run anti clockwise to generate wolves. Careful not to step in the centre, then everyone dies. Switch directions Run clockwise to generate sheep.
Run anti-clockwise to kill wolves. Step quickly in the centre and out, to increase wolves. Switch directions

2(pA+pB) both poeple get ‘tracked’
-pA=sheep,pB=wolf
-pA= F1,F9=spawn
-pB= F3,F7=spawn
-pA+pB= F5 ->wolf die
F4 & F6 are occupied at the same time -> sheep die

OR:
pA=WOLF,pB=SHEEP
-pA= F2,F8=spawn
-pB= F4,F6=spawn
pA jumps - wolves die
pB touches a wolf - sheep die

OR:
pA=WOLF, pB=SHEEP
-pA in F5 - spawns
pB in F5 - spawns
pA+pB in F5 - both die

3 sheep spawn=touching each other FORB:3 ppl in F1 -wolf spawn= at least 1 field between each other

- Raise your hand or jump wildly - wolf die

Jump - wolf spawn Move backwards rapidly - sheep spawn Stand at the same spot for >5 seconds - wolf die Run forward - sheep die wolf die - at least 1 field between each other both hands in the air - wolf spawn sheep spawn - when all are crouching sit down - sheep die continue 4 or more -1pp=wolf, the rest - sheep Wolf=F5=spawn Sheep=SL,SR=spawn

->wolf touches sheep->sheep die ->sheep sitting down->wolf die all are in the same field - sheep spawn all occupy different fields - wolf die 2 in the same field - wolf spawns running - sheep die 3 wolves - 1 sheep sheep person running - sheep spawn ^standing still for >5 seconds - sheep die in the same field - wolf spawn 1 empty field between each wolf - wolf die 2 wolves - 2 sheep

Observations + what you learned from the event

That people are way to easy to trick if you just play your role with your full heart and some important looking stuff is standing around.