Organic Processor #1. April 2010. Wood, glass, Porifera, jute, custom electronics, custom software.  9x9x10 inches

Organic Processor #1 is the first in a series of sculptures exploring cognition and the characteristics of empathy in imaginary organisms.  The organism comprises several “neurons” in software, each responding to stimulus in the immediate environment, within itself, and remote information such as messages on twitter.

Sample video of OP #1 deep in thought.  The software is still under development. I’m working on a number of different animated gestures that convey emotion.  As it processes sensory information and browses twitter, it will respond by displaying different moods (happiness, depression, anxiety, calm, etc.)  The video shows a generic animation for “thought” to indicate new information is being processed.