reapers

Technology shortens. Abstractly and physically technology trims, cuts, and shortens all it encounters. For example email, mobile phones and the internet shorten the time and abstract distance of communication. The physicality of the mobile phone itself mimics this aspect as it grows shorter and shorter in size, no longer spanning the distance from ear to mouth. Technology’s own life grows shorter due to our insatiable consumption and short attention span. As for human life, while pharmaceutical technology might lengthen existance (but often does the opposite), the life lived is abstractly “shorter” in every instance including travel, relationships etc.(courting is often done online, and set up as a business transaction).

This installation of razors embodies this abstract and physical shortening that technology imposes. The razors are technology that shorten hair, the abrasive music created is the result of the shortening process.

Process

Eight 5 volt TTL digital out pins on the wiring board are used to trigger higher current capacity relays that close the electrical circuit of each hair trimmer. The code is very simple as I'm just turning switches on and off with varied intervals. Actually creating an interesting rhythm was difficult however. I coded the rhythm measure by measure, specifying the activity of all eight trimmers every four beats.

Originally I tried to dynamically modify the frequency of the hair cutters blade in order to create a melody (changing the speed it oscillates back and forth). However, hair trimmers have "synchronous motors" and oscillate only at 60hz.

So instead, I changed the pitch of each razor by modifying the distance the blade has to travel back and forth as it oscillates. I also altered the tone by placing a household light dimmer in the circuit and adjusting the amount of current each razor received. By these two methods I was able to tune each razor to have a specific "voice".

Lastly I attached motion sensor. The motion sensor was a common infrared motion sensor used to turn on outdoor lights when cars are sensed on the driveway. With slight modifications, the "music" was turned on with approach of the viewer.

email steve (stevenlevon at gmail dot com)