pentagl
november 2011
Ryerson University's pursuit of a fully integrated multi-media experiential platform manifests itself in Pentaglo; an interactive installation that sustains itself off of real and virtual human intervention. The installation itself provokes social participation through the virtual media of communication. Currently, there is an ongoing pursuit of information and the immediate necessity to share it. There exists a massive range of methods to facilitate this exchange, yet the observed experience is the type of information being passed-on. Pentaglo's approach to the investigation of informational exchange begins at the core of this phenomenon, where it is generated. A stage is created that allows the participants to physically influence the landscape, and encouraged to share their configuration virtually. Within the virtual realm of the installation, the participants can observe other messages that originated within the periphery of their configuration's time period. In essence, Pentaglo becomes a virtual time-map of raw data that seamlessly flows from its physical origins.
parts 1
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The big picture and its parts
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Once the conceptual idea was solidified, design development commenced in parts. These parts ran in tangent with each other and is basically wha makes up the entire PentaGlo installation.
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Pentaglo was an idea that stemmed from seven graduating students at Ryerson University. Together we generated a rigorous component cutting schedule that incorporated the CNC axial router, laser cutter and the tradition woodworking shop. The movable prism components that generate the landscape are constructed from quarter-inch acrylic, and upholstered with half-inch polyester padding and 100% nylon fabric. The floor system is entirely composed of an MDF structure that was cut by CNC technologies and the table saw. Finally, the floor's electrical system was wired with 14 gage stranded 600V wire in a 5 bulb series format. The 250W Phillips bulbs are triggered by a micro switch that is inset within the MDF base, that activates upon depression.