recents
Redesigning YouOne of seven software components in an exhibit about technologies that aid or assist human abilities. This one is a Kinect-based activity that allows visitors to jump or throw with augmented legs and arms. Built with Cinder and the Microsoft Kinect SDK.
Hollywood StarsInteractive data visualization created for one of Information is Beautiful's visualization challenges. They provide the dataset, you make whatever you like with it. Try out my interactive.
Augmented realityAugmented reality kiosk made for DorkbotPDX art show, September 2011. Built with Processing and the NyARToolkit. There were five markers on wooden blocks, and each one triggered a different visual result when recognized by the camera. My favorite was the one below, inspired by a fiber optic lamp.
Starlight ParadeI helped with the Hand-Eye Supply float for the 2012 Starlight Parade by programming some sequences for the lights. The lights were already set up to turn on and off in response to MIDI input, so that was my starting point. I used Processing to mock up the grid of lights and keep track of which MIDI note controlled which light. Whenever an animation sequence called for a light to be turned on or off, a line was written to a text file, specifying the light ID (which was its MIDI note), and whether it was being turned on or off. That text file could then be used to create a MIDI file. The handy csvmidi Unix command line tool converted from CSV (comma-separated value) to MIDI.
Family archivesIn early 2010 I wanted a new web project, and my mom acquired many boxes of historical family documents, so we teamed up to create this family archives website. I made the site, and she types in the documents (and often scans and uploads pictures of them). She's entered over 1800! There are captain's logs from whaling ships, and letters by my grampa when he was a young dreamer, and much more.
Control a TurbinePart of a renewable energy exhibit that opened at OMSI in November 2012. This interactive is paired with a physical turbine model, so you can move levers to adjust the blades and get a sense of how they work. In the exhibit the interactive is controlled by custom hardware, but you can try it below using the arrow keys-- left/right for yaw, and up/down for pitch.
Everybody PlaysAnother of the seven software components in an exhibit about technologies that aid or assist human abilities. People with limited use (or absence) of their legs can ski with a device called a monoski or sit-ski, and this activity allows visitors to imagine that experience. Visitors sit in a custom-made seat and steer down the slope onscreen by leaning left or right.
Cookie jockeyQuick project made for a DorkbotPDX open mic night, December 2012. I used a Makey Makey and Processing to control sounds by turning cookies, loosely based on the idea of turntables. The left cookie changed samples, and the right cookie changed direction of play. I had a working version going with Play-Doh by the time I made my first batch of cookies, and then discovered that sugar makes dough resistive rather than conductive! So I made a batch of salt cookies and made them look like monster cookies.
Swim with sharksThe excellent wildlife filmmaking team, Sisbro Studios, hired me to make a fun web toy to go with their shark movie. You can upload a picture of yourself, move it into place, rotate and resize it to fit, and it makes it look like you are diving with sharks. Try it out.
Libbey WhiteI'm a software developer and multi-media experimenter of sorts. I've been the exhibit software developer at OMSI since late 2010. Besides interactive exhibits and web development, I'm most fond of data visualization, generative art, and Ruby. Past jobs have included fireworks seller, ranch cook, brain researcher, traveling software consultant, pizza cutter, gecko leasher, and bookstore clerk, among others. I have a B.A. in biology and an M.F.A. in science & natural history filmmaking. I like to make animations and put googly eyes on things.
I'm on Twitter and Flickr and you can email me at libbey.white@gmail.com.
Local Voices, Clever ChoicesLaunched in 2012, this website complements a new sustainability exhibit at OMSI. You can sign up and earn virtual badges for completing challenges, and hear local stories from people who have made changes for the better. The site's also in Spanish. I made it with Ruby on Rails.
junk drawerFavorite bits of code, bloopers. Preserved at random.
