Zero1 Garage hosted the L.A.S.T. festival (Life.Art.Science.Technology) on June 6/7, 2014 It's definitely worth checking out the exhibition. This is mainly for reference, for people thinking about attending next year.
There were 5 installations that I found most interesting:
1. "Attraction/Repulsion: Longwave": A small robot travels around inside a small "drawing arena", mostly bouncing off the walls: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#d7Q7Gm-Mw73TDuhHgLxyuw
It has a sharpie pen, which traces out a drawing as it goes. Microphones are setup that allows participants to vary the path of the robot, by speaking into the microphones. Certain intonations cause the robot to change its trajectory.
2. "Biosensing Garden": A hydroponic system waters some hanging plants, as well as a small garden of edibles: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#QDPOMV5H2KDfozY5whmjXg
The watering mechanism consists of an inkjet-printer-like mechanism that drip the water at various positions across the top area of the plexiglass, which causes the water to drip strategically onto the hanging plants / garden below through holes in the glass. The entire setup is controlled by a fitbit; if you meet your exercise goals of the week, then the watering system keeps the plants healthy, and available for you to harvest each day during meal time. Otherwise, the plants die.
3. "Co-related space": http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#qUkPzG-pj6F3cf-6mqk5Dg
It's a room with two laser light show controllers, positioned a few feet off the floor. A webcam detects the position of people in the room, and the lasers draw out circular shapes around the feet of participants, plus curves that connect the circles. As people move around the room, the circles can merge/divide, sort of like bubbles.
4. "Samadhi": mechanized Hindu and Buddhist instruments: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#r9raPUcMYK3MsC3mv7aUeg
5. A Kinect/video projection system that allows you to draw particle flares with your hand: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#ZuTXmtLP3ePW6VLQ9Cz4cw
Other exhibits that were interesting but not must-see:
"SoundPool": a musical string instrument: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#uZjkzVKArLt0IzsiJgy-yg
"Vigil": You attach an iDevice to your arm, which detects motion/rotation, and draws lines that interpret the result: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#Fx57PMaDZtwEry5DWHMkew
Qi-Visualizer: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#iFTj6IBgf3QWnMp9imjjpQ
It uses the heart rate monitor of an iDevice to sense your Qi, then turn that into a visualization, which is displayed by a video projector.
"Coactive systems": http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#_G4wNUpb67JJo3u4SYLOxA
Devices that emit light from bioluminescent plankton, in response to human interaction. There was a setup in a totally dark room: you spoke into a microphone, which caused bubbles to percolate through a flask of plankton, which caused them to emit an eerie green light.
Another Kinect/video projection system that creates bubble distortions within the silhouettes of participants: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#fBlmygCVXXU2a0sN9pxn7Q
A video projection that interprets your brainwaves: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ
An fully-immersive, interactive video projection system: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#0UaFd0KtiaVYP6iQCabxUQ
During the exhibition, there was a performance artist interacting with both participants and the exhibits: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#PKYbjuhY7O6SjNyLFSrInQ
The Exhibits were not without glitches: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zero1-the-art-and-technology-network-san-jose-2?select=ycb-KskigznE9dpDfgqcxQ#rG1jsFKCsLRAnwGjPIvIAQ
But overall, definitely worth attending, especially since it was free. read more