Final Project
Loss Prevention
The inspiration for this project stems from the teddy bears that parents can buy and place in their children's rooms to monitor the babysitter's interaction with them while the parents area away. While discussing this with a friend we came to a realization/question: why do parents have to hide the fact they're trying to protect their kid?
One of the art projects which inspired my final concept is Amy Alexander's surveillance art pieces--specifically SVEN. Her art used surveillance cameras and made a commentary on surveillance in our everyday lives. http://amy-alexander.com/Alexander_Installation.html
Another art piece that inspired my final project is Rejane Cantoni's Mona Visa. Her art piece reverses that idea of the viewer and the viewed. I liked the idea that the painting would follow the viewers as they walked around the gallery. An interesting reversal of roles.
http://www.rejanecantoni.com/monavisa.html
My project is a teddy bear in ammo gear and have one glowing red eye and one terminator eye (a webcam connected to a computer with tracking encoded). The bear's head will turn using servo motors, a PVC pipe, and a wooden/plastic piece. With the original idea, the bear was going to turn its head/camera according to where the person is at (tracking). Essentially it was going to move its head (servo motors) to position its head so it can see people/follow people. For the final I'll move the head using a joystick instead of on its own.
My reasoning is that people buy these cute and inconspicuous teddy bear surveillance cameras: http://www.chipchick.com/2006/03/teddy_bear_surv.html
I want to argue that parents shouldn't have to hide a camera inside a bear to protect their child. It should be outright and obvious. The bear will follow the "nanny" making someone feel like they're being watched.
