This cross-cultural movement research examines three distinct movement traditions a) Muslim prayers (Salat); b) Tai Chi (Yang Style); and c) Yogic sun salutations (Surya Namaskar). Motion capture technology is used to record one dancer’s body performing each of these movement sequences, from which we launch a cross-comparative movement analysis using physiological, choreographic, and computer science topologies. https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/sacredposes

PI: Dr. Virginia Kuhn, Co-PI: Selwa Sweidan, Dancer: Valerie Chen



In collaboration with Christine Meinders
“Accumulative Collaboration - Intuiting Hand Choreographies” uses machine knowing to design for contagious embodiment. It is both experimental and site-specific research in which we investigate “embodied knowing” alongside “machine knowing”. In “Accumulative Collaboration”, we worked with an open-source, neural network (a form of artificial intelligence) to facilitate human to human connections and embodied knowing. Participants are asked to improvise gestures with their hands in front of a computer to train a neural network, which learns the movements. The hands train the neural network and a duet between machine and human ensues.

Still, digital video, 3:12 min. loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 3:12 min. loop, dimensions variable

Still, digital video, 3:12 min. loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 3:12 min. loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 3:12 min. loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 3:12 min. loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 3:12 min. loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 3:12 min. loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 3:12 min. loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 3:12 min. loop, dimensions variable
Installation view
Installation view
Excerpt, installation view
Excerpt, digital video
Winner of the Microsoft Design Expo '15
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Radical Sensing is a body of work at the intersection of wearable technology, brain computer interfaces (BCI) and the sense of smell. Radical Sensing explores the potential of designing for a radical augmentation of smell in the form of a radical nose prosthetic.Collaborator: Jay Hong
Radical Sensing is a body of work at the intersection of wearable technology, brain computer interfaces (BCI) and the sense of smell. Radical Sensing explores the potential of designing for a radical augmentation of smell in the form of a radical nose prosthetic.
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Film still.Collaborator: Jay Hong
Film still.
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Radical Sensing: 3D wearable noses
Radical Sensing: 3D wearable noses
Through performative prototyping, 3D modeling, a speculative use case 
film, and physical computing - Radical Sensing raises questions about 
what it means to experience an enhanced sense of smell through a 
neuroprosthetic. Can the removal of a body part become aspirational? How
 does the ability to share scent impact “smell literacy”? What does 
“sensorial consensus” mean? How do we design for an ability to control 
or relinquish control of smell?
Through performative prototyping, 3D modeling, a speculative use case film, and physical computing - Radical Sensing raises questions about what it means to experience an enhanced sense of smell through a neuroprosthetic. Can the removal of a body part become aspirational? How does the ability to share scent impact “smell literacy”? What does “sensorial consensus” mean? How do we design for an ability to control or relinquish control of smell?
Radical Sensing imagines a future in which people have chosen to 
replace their noses with a “super smelling” neuroprosthetic or a 
“post-nose”. The neuroprosthetic amplifies, isolates and records scent 
with hand gestures and customizations to the “post-nose”.
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Radical Sensing imagines a future in which people have chosen to replace their noses with a “super smelling” neuroprosthetic or a “post-nose”. The neuroprosthetic amplifies, isolates and records scent with hand gestures and customizations to the “post-nose”.
Collaborator: Jay Hong
We created a family of prototypes iteratively. Our first prototypes were
 analog. We rapidly prototyped, 3d printed nose-plugs with breathing 
holes attached to long straws. Then we began making variations on the 
nose plugs based on the findings. This includes two-person nose plugs, 
uni-nostril nose plugs. We also tested functioning prototypes including a
 nose mesh (a canvas for placing interactive microelectronics and 
sensors), and an open-closing nose prototype that reacted to the breath 
(using a servo + arduino microcontroller).
Collaborator: Jay Hong
We created a family of prototypes iteratively. Our first prototypes were analog. We rapidly prototyped, 3d printed nose-plugs with breathing holes attached to long straws. Then we began making variations on the nose plugs based on the findings. This includes two-person nose plugs, uni-nostril nose plugs. We also tested functioning prototypes including a nose mesh (a canvas for placing interactive microelectronics and sensors), and an open-closing nose prototype that reacted to the breath (using a servo + arduino microcontroller).
Collaborator: Jay Hong
How do you design for a technology/ability that does not exist? This 
challenge led us to the idea of working with performers (specifically 
those with specialized movement or dance training). We started calling 
this process “performative prototyping”. Performative prototyping 
involves leading performers through improvised movement followed by a 
debriefing of the performers. Instead of narrowing, it is a divergent 
and generative process.
Collaborator: Jay Hong
How do you design for a technology/ability that does not exist? This challenge led us to the idea of working with performers (specifically those with specialized movement or dance training). We started calling this process “performative prototyping”. Performative prototyping involves leading performers through improvised movement followed by a debriefing of the performers. Instead of narrowing, it is a divergent and generative process.
Collaborator: Jay Hong
We conducted three scent tests with a group of diverse performers. We 
were interested in the relationship of language to smell. We asked the 
subjects to verbalize their reactions. We were delighted to see, not 
only whether the subjects were able to identify the scents, but also the
 range of memories and associations the smells triggered. The subjects 
unanimously expressed wanting to compare their understanding and 
experience of the scents. These tests led us to speculate, would an 
augmented nose prosthetic facilitate richer discourse of smell? Would 
this lead to smell literacy?
Collaborator: Jay Hong
We conducted three scent tests with a group of diverse performers. We were interested in the relationship of language to smell. We asked the subjects to verbalize their reactions. We were delighted to see, not only whether the subjects were able to identify the scents, but also the range of memories and associations the smells triggered. The subjects unanimously expressed wanting to compare their understanding and experience of the scents. These tests led us to speculate, would an augmented nose prosthetic facilitate richer discourse of smell? Would this lead to smell literacy?
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Collaborator: Jay Hong
Radical Sensing: scents tests and diary exercises with performer
Radical Sensing: scents tests and diary exercises with performer
Radical Sensing: performative prototyping
Radical Sensing: performative prototyping
Radical Sensing: performative prototyping
Radical Sensing: performative prototyping
Radical Sensing: performative prototyping
Radical Sensing: performative prototyping
Radical Sensing: post-nose interactions
Radical Sensing: post-nose interactions
Radical Sensing: post-nose interaction
A movement study which explores the user experience of the self-driving vehicle of the future. Collaborator: Nick Meehan
I, You, She, He, It, We Teleport explores a psychic violence and mechanics of teleportation as a vehicle for questioning our relationship to (outer) space and otherness. The film is narrated in Arabic, and partially subtitled in English.

Still, digital video, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 9:20 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 9:20 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 9:20 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 9:20 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 9:20 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 9:20 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital video, 9:20 min loop, dimensions variable
Archival pigment print, 14" x 21""
Archival pigment print, 14" x 21""
Archival pigment print, 14" x 21""
Archival pigment print, 14" x 21""
Archival pigment print, 14" x 21""
Archival pigment print, 14" x 21""
Accordion book, archival pigment print, 10 pages, dimensions variable
Accordion book, archival pigment print, 10 pages, dimensions variable
Accordion book, archival pigment print, 10 pages, dimensions variable
Accordion book, archival pigment print, 10 pages, dimensions variable
Installation view
Installation view
Installation view
Installation view
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable
Built on Krop