Psychogeographical Sound-drift

Abstract

This demo is one of the results of a practice-based research, which explored the generation of interactive experiences based on the cooperative collection of data for ethnographical purposes. In this case, a collection of soundscapes from Stockholm has lead to some experiments where the audio clips gathered are controlled in real-time according to a brain computer interface and a set of rules that determines a real time composition. One of the most significant inputs at this point has been the theory of Psychogeography, which posits that the territory and its transformation can be understood as an psychological and emotional setup, susceptible of being understood by means of different kinds of dynamic measurements and modes of representation. The result described here is an experimental performance and sound-video installation in which the visitors can "stroll" through a data archive, according to their brain activity, and by means of a brain scan device. The measurement of specific brain waves creates a sound and video synthesis related to the media collection. This demo seeks to expose the concept and technological implementation behind the result and also to perform the interactive sound experience at the event.