Exploring unconventional human-computer interaction through movement, projection, and collective behavior

Leiden University – Experimental Installation Project

Before setting any fixed outcome, our goal for this project was simple: explore new forms of interaction. Together with my teammates, we created an interactive installation using a projector, a motion sensor, and a table as the projection surface. The visual inspiration came from a type of slime mold known for its ability to autonomously seek out and connect to food sources via the shortest possible path. We were fascinated by its organic logic, and wanted to see how it could translate into an interactive experience. In this installation, a central “colony” reacts to the number of hands detected on the table. If the number of hands is odd, the colony contracts inward. If the number is even, it expands outward — the more hands, the faster the growth. The system didn’t instruct users what to do. Instead, we observed them experiment, misinterpret, and gradually figure out the interaction rule. Some thought the slime would follow the direction of their hands. Others guessed the more hands, the better. Eventually, through trial and error, they discovered the underlying logic. This project wasn’t about solving a problem — it was about inviting exploration. It was as much an experiment in human behavior as it was in interface design.

• Tools used: Arduino / Kinect / Processing / etc.

• Team size: 3

• My role: concept co-creation, interaction logic design, behavior observation

• Duration: 3 weeks