http://www.michellecalabro.com Michelle Calabro Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:12:19 +0000 http://www.michellecalabro.com en http://michellecalabro.com/Equals http://michellecalabro.com/following/michellecalabro.com/Equals Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:12:19 +0000 Michelle Calabro 3227942 (2012) Our initial spark has faded. We’ve found each other’s boundaries, insecurities, dirtiness. Will you stop looking for proof that we’re incompatible? I love you. We grapple through this world together. Your triumphs are ours; my victories ours. Whatever is eating at us is temporary. If you give me your fears, I’ll give you mine. Won’t you tell me what you really want? “Equals” is my gift to us, a conversation I desperately want us to have. <img src="http://payload46.cargocollective.com/1/2/90611/3227942/MCalabro_Equals.png" width="670" height="376" width_o="1263" height_o="710" src_o="http://payload46.cargocollective.com/1/2/90611/3227942/MCalabro_Equals_o.png" data-mid="17164819" border="0" align="left"/> In romantic relationships, conflict is inevitable. Participants in romantic relationships must develop skills to resolve conflicts in accordance with their shared principles. During a conflict between partners in a romantic relationship, is it possible for a programmed device to facilitate active listening toward mutually beneficial solutions? “Equals” is an interactive sculpture to be used in the home, which provides an objective context within which romantic partners can resolve their conflicts. As they proceed through the steps of integrative negotiation (Fisher, Ury and Patton, 1983), it monitors how well they are listening to each other based on their Language Style Matching score (Pennebaker, 2010), a measure shown to correlate with active listening between two speakers. Research has shown that listening ability is correlated with successful hostage negotiation (Taylor and Thomas, 2008), a practice that relies on conflict resolution techniques. If the couple experiences a conflict and decides to use “Equals” to resolve their conflict, they place the orb between them on a table, each with their own conflict resolution prompt interface facing them. They respond to the Structure Question that’s visible through the hole in the orb. Once the couple has finished responding to a Structure Question, the orb’s custom program presents their Engagement (LSM) Score from the transcript of that round of their conversation. The couple then turns the knob on the top of the orb to proceed to the next Structure Question, and repeats this process until they’ve responded to all of the Structure Questions. Completing the process results in negotiating toward mutually beneficial solutions. Over the course of several sessions, the partners become more aware of their ability to listen to each other, which may make them better able to resolve their conflicts. My Deepest Thanks: My Parents, who continue to set an example for an equal marriage. Marko Tandefelt, my Thesis Professor and Advisor, who continues to push me even after my thesis is complete. Michelle Jackson, my Collaborator in mediation and negotiation, who partially inspired this work. Tex Morgan, my Collaborator in programming, who provided grounding and creative insight to this work. Dr. James W. Pennebaker, Psychologist, who so graciously allowed me to build upon his groundbreaking body of work. Will del Hagen, Programmer, who enthusiastically collaborated with me in the development of this work. Dr. Paul Taylor, Psychologist, whose work provided precedence and grounding for this work. Ian Blood, Linguist, who provided personal support, and who partially inspired this work. Rob Trostle, my Design Advisor, who provided valuable insight into the design of this work. Mark Stafford, Professor, who supported the narrative development of this work. Chris Romero, Thesis Professor, who pushed the execution of this work. Ethan Silverman, Thesis Writing Professor, who pushed the written articulation of this work. Shan Liu, Designer, whose skill and insight supported the ideation and execution of this work. Alvaro Soto, Designer, whose skill supported the execution of this work. Kaho Abe, Designer, whose generous support came at a very crucial time in the development of this work. Alex Staudt, Mechanical Engineer, whose skill supported the execution of this work. Rend Shamma, Designer, whose skill and aesthetic supported the execution of this work. http://michellecalabro.com/MIDI-Typewriter http://michellecalabro.com/following/michellecalabro.com/MIDI-Typewriter Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:02:36 +0000 Michelle Calabro 3227844 (2011) A user testing video of Kate Watkins' MIDI Typewriter. "The music instrument that I am proposing offers a new form of a hybrid performative experience. The project revolves around patterns: patterns of language, music and visual representation of the two. By analyzing the frequency of each letter key on the typewriter, then grouping them in appropriate sectors that are then converted to a range of MIDI notes, my goal is to create a performative experience where individuals discover the connection between language and music as they play and interact with the MIDI typewriter interface. The visual output will be mapped in a grid similar to a digital MIDI sequencer piano roll notation, where the frequency level appears along the x-axis and the duration moves across the y-axis. My goal is to make the graphical score connect the meaning between the language that’s being typed and the MIDI notes that are being outputted." http://kateewatkins.com/MIDI-Typewriter http://michellecalabro.com/It-s-A-No-Shoes-Game http://michellecalabro.com/following/michellecalabro.com/It-s-A-No-Shoes-Game Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:11:24 +0000 Michelle Calabro 3227731 (2011) A physical game that repurposes a deck of cards. Stalling and calling out the other team when they break connections is encouraged. Game Design: Michelle Calabro Nicole Del Senno Amy Findeiss Pavel (Pasha) Mamontov Anchalee (Ashley) Muller Illustrations: Nicole Del Senno Amy Findeiss Video: Michelle Calabro This is a four person game with two teams consisting of two players each. GOALS: • Work together as a team • Stay connected using cards as prompts • Collect all of your team’s flags • Get to opposing team’s home base first BOARD: 1. Use a 3 x 7 block grid as your playing surface. 2. Alternate ground level spaces with elevated spaces in a pattern similar to a chess board (diagrams shown below). You can use blocks, pillows, crates, large stones, anything that you can stand on. 3. Provide each team with an elevated block for home base, placed at each shorter end of the board. 4. Write card connections table on a board or piece of paper where you can view it from the playing board. <img src="http://payload46.cargocollective.com/1/2/90611/3227731/Screen shot 2012-04-18 at 2.01.22 AM.png" width="232" height="387" width_o="232" height_o="387" src_o="http://payload46.cargocollective.com/1/2/90611/3227731/Screen shot 2012-04-18 at 2.01.22 AM_o.png" data-mid="16530662" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload46.cargocollective.com/1/2/90611/3227731/Screen shot 2012-04-18 at 2.01.28 AM.png" width="334" height="339" width_o="334" height_o="339" src_o="http://payload46.cargocollective.com/1/2/90611/3227731/Screen shot 2012-04-18 at 2.01.28 AM_o.png" data-mid="16530663" border="0" align="left"/> Fig.1 Diagrams showing the setup of the board. The gray rectangles represent elevated spaces, while the black represent ground level spaces. Both elevated and ground spaces are used. GENERAL RULES: Choose a card to make a connection for each turn (connections shown on next page). Can only move one space at a time. Can move horizontally, diagonally, or vertically from your teammate (this also means you can use both elevated and ground spaces). Cannot use the same connection twice in a row. Can sit on stools as long as you are in your space. Partners keep the same two connections until they move to the new space. Then drop the oldest connection and add on the new connection *(see fig.2). There are always two connections kept by each team at all times. Capture all of your flags before reaching home base. Stalling and calling out opposing team when they break connections is encouraged! If your team is caught breaking a connection, your team must go back to home base and start over. SETUP: Limit the playing card deck to the Ace through 7 cards of each suit. Shuffle all cards. This is the only deck you will be playing with. Deal each player 7 cards. Each person picks a card randomly from the top of their deck. The two highest cards make up team A and starts first. The other two leftover people are Team B. HOW TO PLAY: Each team starts on their home base indicated on the grid above. All players then look at all of their cards and strategize. Each card determines the connection that will be made (see next page for list of connections). You must hold your cards with you while playing but discard the ones you have used (i.e put them in your pocket). Discard your card every turn. Each team moves towards capturing their flags (via mouth if necessary), then get to home base. If the other team catches that you have broken a connection, your team must go back to home base and start over. If you use all your cards, you can reshuffle with your partner and play the cards again. TURNS: (example diagram on next page) The first player from team A picks their card. The player deciphers their position to fellow teammate using the connections key (next page). The second player from team B picks a card. That player also deciphers their position to fellow teammate using the key and discards their card. Then the first player from team A picks a new card and reconnects to the second player in a new position. Players alternate turns and pick up the new connection, keeping two connections at all times, always dropping the oldest connection. WIN STATE: The game has ended when the entire team has traveled from their home base to the home base of the opposing team and has collected all their flags. BOTH players must be on the home base. <img src="http://payload46.cargocollective.com/1/2/90611/3227731/Screen shot 2012-04-18 at 2.01.08 AM.png" width="458" height="305" width_o="458" height_o="305" src_o="http://payload46.cargocollective.com/1/2/90611/3227731/Screen shot 2012-04-18 at 2.01.08 AM_o.png" data-mid="16530661" border="0" align="left"/> Fig. 2 Example connections diagram. First connection - hand to hand. Second connection - head to head. Third connection - add knee to knee, drop first connection (hand to hand). MASTER TABLE OF DIRECTIONS AND CONNECTIONS / HOW TO READ THE CARDS: The card number indicates the physical connection you make with another player. The possibilities are listed in full below. Connections ACE Elbow Link 2 Hand to Foot 3 Foot to Foot (FEET CANNOT TOUCH THE GROUND) 4 Hand to Back 5 Foot to Knee 6 Knee to Knee 7 Head to Head INFLUENCES: Twister Connect Four Tic-Tac-Toe Camp Games Capture the Flag http://michellecalabro.com/TransLife http://michellecalabro.com/following/michellecalabro.com/TransLife Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:22:12 +0000 Michelle Calabro 3183785 (2011) A group of faculty members and students from Parsons, The New School for Design travelled to Beijing, China to produce and install art pieces for the TransLife International Triennial of New Media Art at the National Art Museum of China. Very Special Thanks: Sven Travis, Zhang Ga, Raoul Rickenberg, Ben Bacon, Joe Saavedra, Chris Piuggi, Leif Percifield, Shan Liu, Estefanie Duque, Laura Simpson http://michellecalabro.com/Emoti-bots http://michellecalabro.com/following/michellecalabro.com/Emoti-bots Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:37:58 +0000 Michelle Calabro 1870770 (2011) A user scenario video of "Emoti-bots", robots designed by Burcum Turkmen and Katie Koepfinger. "Emoti-bots are a line of prototypical products for future homes that simulate and stimulate emotion. They are experiments developed in an effort to transform common everyday objects into potential interfaces for computing. They look to the affordances and current uses of those objects to develop more natural, instinctive and emotional methods of human-computer interaction." The project was featured on several blogs and online publications, including Engadget, Robot Activate and in the tech section of the Wall Street Journal. Please visit the project site for more information: http://emoti-bots.com. http://michellecalabro.com/Through-the-Garden http://michellecalabro.com/following/michellecalabro.com/Through-the-Garden Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:37:56 +0000 Michelle Calabro 1166323 (2011) An animation composited from still images and video footage. http://michellecalabro.com/Fort-Tryon-Park http://michellecalabro.com/following/michellecalabro.com/Fort-Tryon-Park Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:19:13 +0000 Michelle Calabro 1313449 (2010) A short film that was shot in Fort Tryon Park in New York City. http://michellecalabro.com/Seeds-to-Soil-Interviews http://michellecalabro.com/following/michellecalabro.com/Seeds-to-Soil-Interviews Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:24:13 +0000 Michelle Calabro 1882692 (2011) A series of interviews around the issues of food access and environmental sustainability in Central Harlem. producer and interviewer - Michelle Jackson director of photography and editor - Michelle Calabro In October 2011, we hosted an end of season barbeque in the Carrie McCracken TRUCE Community Garden to share the Seeds to Soil interviews with our friends from the neighborhood. http://michellecalabro.com/Portrait-of-David-Langley http://michellecalabro.com/following/michellecalabro.com/Portrait-of-David-Langley Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:41:36 +0000 Michelle Calabro 1461175 (2011) A short documentary about the career of commercial photographer David Langley. http://michellecalabro.com/Bell-Chase-No-Face http://michellecalabro.com/following/michellecalabro.com/Bell-Chase-No-Face Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:41:24 +0000 Michelle Calabro 1870614 (2011) A music video for BELL, http://bellinspace.com/ Everything on the face was happening in real-time, via a hacked Kinect, laptop and LED projector, with no post-production effects. It was programmed using FaceTracker code from Jason Saragih. The music video was featured on several blogs including wired.com, BoingBoing, LikeCool, theawesomer.com and Motionographer. Projection Visuals Zach Lieberman, Francisco Zamorano, and Andy Wallace Lighting Design and Videography Michelle Calabro Video editing Francisco Zamorano Behind the scenes: