What does data feel like? What if cables that were formerly solid became liquid, and capable of being modified in a dynamic, liquid state?
This musical instrument evaporates the lines between data and then brings them back together on the surface. This is visual programming — visual synthesizing. Something that we will perhaps have at a CyborgCamp preparty in the future.
The reacTable was covered in Wired Magazine, which says:
“Each block has a different function — like changing a sound wave’s amplitude or acting as a metronome — that is denoted by a unique hieroglyph. Players move, rotate and flip the blocks, run their fingertips over the tabletop’s surface and alter the blocks’ proximity to each other to control the music produced by the machine. Pulsing visuals that light up the tabletop come courtesy of a projector beneath the reacTable’s translucent Perspex surface, making the instrument interesting to the eyes as well as the ears”.
Björk also uses this instrument. And why wouldn’t she? It is one of the most instruments I’ve ever seen.
By the way, we’re going to have a CyborgCamp Pre-party at Vidoop on Friday, December 5th, 2008. Come to the official CyborgCamp pre-party and partake in drinks and festivities before the conference in the morning! Special guests Cami Kaos and Mike (Dr. Normal) will be live-broadcasting Strange Love Live. There will be great conversations and (hopefully) drinks!
RSVP on Yahoo! Upcoming
Venue Location
Vidoop is located directly above Backspace, which is located at:
117 NW 5th Ave, Suite 210
Portland, Oregon 97209
Our DJ: Alain Bloch. Bring your Cyborg music to him and he’ll play it (or you can send it his way via alainbloch@gmail.com (put CyborgCamp preparty in the subject line).
We’ll have data visualizations, music and merrymaking, but nothing like the reacTable (yet). 
I *love* that demo. I saw it earlier this year and went and dug up all of the videos I could find on the reacTable. Very very cool.
I want an air hockey table that works that same way. Especially if the puck could leave trails. Or if there was no puck at all, just a disk of light…
2Matt Youell,
There are multi touch pong apps out there. That is pretty similar to air hokey. Check out Sponc sponc.de
I have a table and might do some reactable type stuff at Private Space.
nice add Caseorganic
Yep – I would agree with that.. Thanks for the line.
Great post I actually didn’t know that! Glad to see you updating this even during these tough economic times.
Sarah,
Watch Daybreakers Online site admin, fellow blogger.