MediaScape Musings #1 : iBrush

Hello everyone, this is DSU. I’m excited to share my first article here. I’ll be diving into exciting topics like media arts, interdisciplinary performance, audiovisuals, photography, and more. Let’s embark on this creative journey together!!

Today I’m going to share a motion capture piece I just finished, iBrush:

iBrush is a prototypical concept in gestural control, utilizing inertial measurement units to transform a common smartphone into a virtual brush for painting and adjusting background music. This system is accessible to users through seamless integration with standard Wi-Fi networks and can be displayed on common platforms such as projectors or laptops, allowing for intuitive movement-based interactions 

Various approaches have been explored in the domain of interactive digital brush painting. For instance, virtual reality (VR) technology allows users to create artwork within a 3D virtual environment using corresponding handheld devices. However, VR adoption remains limited, with many individuals still unfamiliar with this emerging technology. Recognizing that smartphones are ubiquitous digital mediums carried by nearly everyone, we advocate for a more straightforward approach involving simple connections and motion instructions. By harnessing the capabilities of Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) that operate without location constraints and capitalizing on the convenience of smartphones, we can achieve remarkable levels of flexibility, adaptability, and user-friendliness in our interactive experiences. In essence, iBrush fulfills a pressing industry need by providing a user-friendly and widely accessible solution to the world of interactive digital brush painting.