Selwa Sweidan

Sacred Poses

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

Accumulative Collaboration - Intuiting Hand Choreographies

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.

Quantum Wandering Search

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

Installation view

Excerpt, installation view

Excerpt, digital video

Radical Sensing

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

Film still.
Collaborator: Jay Hong

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?

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

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

Collaborator: Jay Hong

Radical Sensing: scents tests and diary exercises with performer

Radical Sensing: performative prototyping

Radical Sensing: post-nose interactions

Radical Sensing: post-nose interaction

Study: self-driving car

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

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

Simultaneously 1, 3, 5 and 9

Still, digital video, 9:20 min loop, dimensions variable

Archival pigment print, 14" x 21""

Accordion book, archival pigment print, 10 pages, dimensions variable

Installation view

Observing Shadows

Still, digital film, 4:12 min loop, dimensions variable