concept
A drawing tool with algorithmic life
This project was inspired by the ants that trek across my desk each day. Ant
colonies are based on the motion and unique communication between
ants, creating a collective behavior that
is instantly recognizable to us. The frenzied
dispersion of ants combines playfully with a drawing tool designed to dissolve
off the page.
details
In creating this project, I considered the illusion of algorithmic life. I
wanted to strike a balance between pattern
and visual aesthetic by implementing a basic random motion
generator to simulate the scattering of ants. The ants were to appear as
life-like as possible, so I paid particular attention to the design of their
legs and antennae. As a group, the ants’ behavior
was to mimic the controlled scampering of a disturbed ant pile.
result
Ants is designed to encourage players to draw on the pad by using the computer mouse. Drawings
come to life as ants emerge from the black ink, scattering about the page. The
element of surprise arises after the brief, tense moment when the user
awaits feedback from their drawing. Once the ants animate, they scatter
about playfully, maneuver around the cursor if it is swept across the page,
and eventually scamper off the page.
