SUB_TRACKER
The backbone of the installation SUB_TRAKT is the software developed
especially for this project.
On the one hand this software functions in the way of a "classical"
tracker: it generates the parameters for the sound installation out
of position, size and motion of the objects in the camera image (image
-> sound; Lichthof 3).
On the other hand the tracked motion contributes in a new fashion
to the forming of a virtual sculpture (image -> 3D object, Medientheater).
To be able to create the specific organic look and vividness of the
3D object, it was necessary to be able to control every step in the
generation of this sculpture through programming. The transformations
of the sculpture are used to create another sound scape that correlates
with its shape and enhances its spatial character (3D object ->
sound).
Furthermore, the SUB_TRACKER collects the motion data of each day
and cartographs the structure of the average spatial usage (image
-> compressed image). The motion maps also reflect the influence
of the installation on the visitors.
SUB_TRAKT uses regular Windows-PCs and was programmed in C++. The
algorithms were either developed completely from scratch or customized
to fit the specific problems and aesthetic aims. The incoming video
image is analyzed and interpreted through a combination of up to ten
transformation steps.
The program itself consists of 33225 programming lines (including
comments), and uses various and overlapping procedures to reach the
desired interpretation of the original image data.