Information
Technology
Hardware
Set of self-dependent units (cubes) that can interact. The units are highly integrated and are built in SMD-technology. Each cube is driven by a 16bit-MCU from Motorola (MC68HC812) that offers high performance at low power consumption in a very small package (TQFP 112).
Interconnection is made by a four time multiplexed IrDA-based interface with a proprietary protocol.
The whole system operates in real-time with a frequency of ten Hertz: within that time all adjacent cubes mutually refresh their operation status and calculate and display the new light pattern.
All software is written in assembly code.
Descriptions & Essays
Digital Cubes consists of four cubes with a display on the top side that show various light patterns depending on how they are arranged. The Digital Cubes react very dynamically. One cube alone is dark and seems to be passive. When two cubes are put together side by side, they start to exchange information, and their displays come to life. The displayed light pattern symbolizes information flowing between the cubes. All connected cubes form a simple data network, and depending on their placement, different dynamic light patterns appear on the top side. Noise pattern, readable words, and disturbed images symbolize different configurations of overlaying data streams. With just one source, the information will not be interpreted and noise is displayed. With two sources crossing in one cube from different directions, the picture noise clears up, and readable words appear. The theme of square pixels appears in the 8 by 8 rectangular shaped LED matrix that forms the active surface and also in the cubes themselves. They are 'pixels' that form a modular display self similar to the LEDs they carry. Also the abrupt changing light patterns at a rate of 10 pictures per second can be seen as time pixels. When you take the cubes and put them together you do a very elementary thing of digital signal technology: assembling a more complex information flow out of small units
Literature
Exhibitions & Events