Projections
The insect projection system is an effect that is being rendered in real time. A computer is running a mathematical model of the insect and its movement. The program also contains a model of the scene the insects are being projected into, as well as a lighting model. The coupling of these three effects together is what creates the jaw dropping of insects on the wall.
Because the effect is rendered in real time and not pre-rendered each individual insect is making decisions based on its current state at a rate of about 70 times per second. The high framerate allowed by computer games also gives them a very fluid motion across the screen. Each insect has a knowledge of itself, its surroundings, the insects around it, and an array of additional external triggers. This knowledge base allows the insect to interact with the elements in the room in a variety of manors. The knowledge the insects around it can create group based motion as well as simulated social interactions. The external triggers can allow for any number of effects. Bang on the wall and all the insects scatter, open up new areas for them to crawl in, basically any behavior you can imagine an insect having can be turned on or off on the fly.
The program contains a dynamic model of the scene it is being projected into. This allows interactions between the insects and the actual elements in the scene. The primary two functions are avoidance and occlusion. We can add areas the insects will avoid, and elements the insects will run under. Secondary functions are areas of interest and areas of disinterest. The model of the scene can also be dynamic. That is to say that the insects can be avoiding an area for a given period of time or based on a trigger, and then suddenly invade another portion of the scene.
The lighting is dynamic as well. It can be rendered as any shape a real light would make. It can be rendered in any color. Multiple light sources can be modeled as well. The lights can be actively dimmed, this can be done quickly to simulate an electrical short, and aggressively to simulate a strobbing effect. It can also produce an even more dynamic effect of an object existing between the light source and the wall, such as a fan, or even the light source itself moving.
We are now offering this amazing effect without our wall panel systems. A simple user interface is included to allow you to point and click your scene into the computer on the fly and get the same effect we had at the show with your existing scenes.
