The Giving Tree
2007 Burning Man Grant Recipient
To achieve this, the tree first detects weather the participant present is either friend or foe. It does this by using several ultrasonic sensors with microphones surrounding the tree, to measure a rate of change in both pitch and motion of a participant. If the participant is labeled as a foe, that is to say that the participant is loud and highly animated, the tree will attempt to sooth the participant with calming music. If deemed a friend, the tree will allow the participant to record five seconds of audio. This audio is then trimmed, tagged and stored in a language database. The more participants interact with The Giving Tree, the more it’s own language grows. Once this database has exceeded a specific amount, The tree then attempts to communicate with participants using its own language. Through the use of matching users frequency and rhythmic variations the tree will play back audio in a call and response attempt to communicate.
2007 Burning Man Grant Recipient
The Giving Tree is an interactive installation that forces us to rethink our communication with nature by reversing the terms on which we assume we interact with our environment. The language that we speak with nature is the product of our mutual efforts, and what we choose to add to that shared vocabulary is a matter that changes the world itself. The Giving Tree provides a literal instantiation of this concept. By allowing participants to literally change the language that nature speaks—and speaks back to us—The Giving Tree asks that we rethink, whether gravely or in celebration, our awesome power to change, and change with, the world around us.
To achieve this, the tree first detects weather the participant present is either friend or foe. It does this by using several ultrasonic sensors with microphones surrounding the tree, to measure a rate of change in both pitch and motion of a participant. If the participant is labeled as a foe, that is to say that the participant is loud and highly animated, the tree will attempt to sooth the participant with calming music. If deemed a friend, the tree will allow the participant to record five seconds of audio. This audio is then trimmed, tagged and stored in a language database. The more participants interact with The Giving Tree, the more it’s own language grows. Once this database has exceeded a specific amount, The tree then attempts to communicate with participants using its own language. Through the use of matching users frequency and rhythmic variations the tree will play back audio in a call and response attempt to communicate.
