Snake investigates the extent of interactivity/responsivity between a designed object (an interactive sculpture) and a human agent, modelled on performed engagement. The key objective with Snake will be to design the interface between sculpture and human to facilitate a direct responsiveness that is conducive to a corporeal, tacit engagement, rather than a codified, learnt response. The intention is to work towards an interactive sculpture which can engage a viewer in a ‘dance duet’, through use of appropriate sensors, both responding to existing mood and suggesting/creating alternative mood. The design of the moment of engagement between duet partners takes account of its emergent nature, arising from a real-time encounter where the partners have equal influence. The sculpture will be a major contributor to the continuing process of dynamic change. It will produce movement in response to its human partner, and translate that movement into a lighting vocabulary, spatially amplifying the dynamic changes to define a physical space inhabited by both sculpture and human.

Simple 2-stage development model of the Snake robot.