Cometale - an interactive showcase of comets

• Main Author: Xue, Fuguo
• Other Authors: Chua Hock Chuan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Computer science and engineering::Information systems::Information interfaces and presentation; Engineering::Computer science and engineering::Computing methodologies::Image processing and computer vision; Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/167573
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Cometale is an interactive installation that explores the relationship between comets and our world through the lens of Artificial Intelligence (AI) painting technology. Inspired by "Divination by Astrological and Meteorological Phenomena," a Chinese silk book that demonstrates the divination practice using astrology and meteorology, the installation consists of a scroll-shape projection screen displaying a series of AI-generated synthetic comet animations, creating a unique and personalized experience for each participant. The objective of Cometale is to create an immersive and engaging way to connect modern audiences with traditional Chinese cultural heritage, while also showcasing the potential of interactive technology in art installations. By combining ancient divination practices with modern techniques, Cometale offers a novel perspective on our relationship with the universe and our attempts to understand it. I have developed a TouchDesigner program that receives the viewer's position data from the Kinect and translates it into animation parameters. The animated projection is delivered by a short-throw projector placed on the floor, with an AI-generated background soundtrack playing on a loop. Audience feedback has shown that Cometale is successful in creating a captivating and immersive experience, as well as sparking curiosity and interest in traditional Chinese culture.