The Paskian Tree
"Actions lead to impacts on the environment that lead to sensing and further modifications of actions" - Gordon Pask

Proposal for the 2008 Festival of Light at the Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin.
It's a fusion of Design, Art, Science, Technology and Interaction by humans to make it happen. To show that light can be controlled by voice and computer and not just light switches and dimmers.

Co-created with..
the architect Alan Gilmore.

What is it
two seats and a Polished Stainless Steel Tree with LED glow lights, a sound system, a PC system and lights connected up via two circuits to the trees on each side of the courtyard

In the seats are a PC, Speakers, Lights and controls

How it works

Each user / seat can talk to the tree and the tree will respond using light and sound.
When the tree is responding it controls light to the trees on the to the side of the courtyard that the speaker is on. The speaker can influence the reaction be altering voice tone, rhythm and loudness.

If you whisper it will respond with a feint glow sound of leaves swaying gently in the breeze at the same rate as your speech

If you talk it will respond with a glow of light and sound of leaves rustling in the breeze at the same rate as your speech

If you shout it will respond with the sound of leaves and branches moving at the same rate as your speech

if you roar it will play a belt of Thunder with arc light from the tree


The Paskian Tree – homage to Gordon Pask

o What kind of project – installation

Location
in the main courtyard in Trinity College

Vision for the project

To create something beautiful, to touch hearts, to touch minds.

Actions lead to impacts on the environment that lead to sensing and further modifications of actions.

Relevance to the Festival of Light – It's a fusion of Design, Art, Science, Technology and Interaction by humans to make it happen. We would need assistance from Trinity researchers in developing the light glows and sound response and computer programming.

• Technical Details and Requirements
Installation proposals to include:
o physical dimensions –
2m Wide x 5M High


any special power – electricity Supply to the platform and electrical and lighting control to each tree in courtyard as indicated.

networking/IT needs – PC installed under the seat, remote access reqd.

no maintenance reqd, ability to run reliably over installation period etc.

Dawn, Dusk, Night and Dark Days are most suitable for this installation


• Summary Budget
To include
o Costs of fees for creation, delivery and installation - € 110,000 +VAT
o No sources of funding available/secured


• Production Schedule
Timeline – One month to develop, two months to construct, 5 days to install
With 5 days to install – electrical supply and speakers will be our only requirement.

• Health and Safety
Because the installation is outdoor. It will be installed as a permanent piece.
Normal architectural H&S requirements will apply.
The piece can be dismantled after two weeks

Further info on Gordon Pask can be found here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Pask
http://www2.venus.co.uk/gordonpask/