[FR] Microlife es una sound installation from a culture of microscopic algae type Euglena. It was conducted as part of the late residence of the laboratory associations The Pagliacci to Gaite Lyrique (Paris), the 22 April 2012. The computer, using the software Pure Data, retrieves data from its brightness and the culture and changes the reading pre-recorded sounds or generates sounds in turn as a response.

[ENG] Microlife is a sound installation based on an algae culture of the Euglena genus. It has been presented as part of the end of residence of the community laboratory The Pagliacci at the Gaite Lyrique museum (Paris, France), the 21th april 2012. The computer, using the Pure Data software, receives variations of sound and luminosity of the culture, and then modifies the reading of sound samples or generates new sounds in response.

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Post originally published in Papirofilia.

Interview with Sam, the collective Neurohack, around new applications tools for reading brain waves.

What is neurohacking ?

Neuro-Hack is also called tmpbci, tmp such as /tmp/lab (hackerspace original host) and BCI as Brain Computer Interface, but it is not only to create brain-computer interfaces, we would also propose a simple and creative.

Graphical representation of 1600 second acquisition. Image CC BY NC ND tmpbci/Neurohack.

When and how is it that you discovered ?

We started with a helmet mall with a single electrode dry, which was immediately thrown software stupido-marketing to write our own. That was a year ago. For several applications have been developed, mainly graphics and music and returned at workshops in association The Pagliacci or as an installation at the request of Museum of Contemporary Art Vitry-sur-Seine.

Installation Mind Processing au MACVAL. Image CC BY NC ND tmpbci/Neurohack.

Several pathways are followed simultaneously, the mutant As the project to a “engine” supporting the maximum I / O possible. Thus the hardware side accepts inputs from various commercial and helmets devices DIY, Software offers on the side 7 different platforms, a wide spectrum of uses : LAN, Internet, its, DMX projector control, videos, OSC…

Thus we can realize all the applications that can pass through your head like taking a Mindset and generate video or take a openEEG and make its. The doors are wide open imagination, OSC example allows access to Logic, LIVE, MaxMSP, MIDI, PureData, Processing, Quartz Composer, Reactor, SuperCollider, yyyy, iphone, iPAD, Android…

What are your current projects ?

After an initial round of applications in the computer screen we enter the second iteration, this time in the real world, with more electronics and music, while continuing the integration of existing hardware and software systems as openVIBE of INRIA. To give examples, we consider the use of 3D objects or emotions, to possible interactions with figurines or robots simple, the composition of music or the realization of a system measuring brain activity via oxygen consumption to replace / in addition to brain waves.

Oxygen consumption by opening and closing the right hand (MRI). Image CC BY NC ND tmpbci/Neurohack.

What is the measurement of oxygen consumption ?

For several years it has been shown that the infrared LED light “bounces” on the cortex differently according to the report of a blood component : hemoglobin with or without oxygen. The body is quite transparent to these wavelengths, a transmitter and a sensor and voila. This is one of the major pathways currently in neuroscience using this “news” physiological characteristic of the brain (local consumption of oxygen). Studies of rain everywhere, even NASA, since it is the same phenomenon studied with fMRI a ticket in millions of euros ...

Among the possible creative uses of this technology, which do you prefer ?

Control of widgets (“thingy” from the remote control car to the real vehicle) is a classical subject of academic. There are free software to do. Neurohack uses some control as a means and not as an end, actually putting the emphasis on creating.

Typically in research, find something immediately opens new questions. The latest achievement often understand the whole experience and meet the demand of a museum to offer a visualization of “mental space” was unimaginable at the beginning.

However, current achievements are all very exciting and sometimes respond to impossible dreams as compose and play songs without knowing anything about the music. This is not new, Mozart and others have already thought, but it was obviously much more features available now. In the most outlandish, with a little robot will certainly one day be a more arty of magic hat d’Harry Potter.

What are the future prospects of use of neurohacking within Hackerspaces (areas of research operated by citizen communities)?

There is little hackerspaces who are actively involved on the brain. All projects are very different, and the brmlab Prague is active to test existing technologies – more or less stringent – “modifying” supposedly the brain organ. Neurohack wants more brain interface / Machine externally and increasing our ancillary “capabilities”.

The hackerspaces are places where one can find many talents, ranging from a mechanical bunch areas of computer through the electronic. In the longer term would launch a Neurohack sister project to meet real needs interface : it seems such a scandalous USB braille display costs between 2000 and 4000 euros. We are already working on some tracks.

You plan collaborations ?

We are free of shackles, no obligation to publish or productivity, for example makes us open to all proposals, scientifically honest. One does not use medical grade materials unaffordable – even if we would be delighted to have – So the possibilities are different, but not uninteresting.

Some past and future collaborations : the control part of light projectors is based on a program is to Hackspace London. The musical space created in correspondence with the mental space uses a realization open source a student at the University of Michigan. They were among the first in a long list of collaborative artists with varied and stimulating, Composers, designers, An academic laboratory companies ... also contacted us to participate together in an event 2012 towards the public on European funds.

Do you think the brain-machine interfaces will be part of everyday life in a more or less near future ?

In practice an interface to Minority Report is not sustainable long, mouse is not dead. More than sexytude, many other characteristics are taken into account at all costs and replace a mouse with a few dollars or a few fingers on the glass is not always the most relevant. Outside the artwork very fashionable right now, is the biofeedback ré-éducatif that seems closest in a non “mystique”.

Representation of an EEG headset business. Image CC BY NC ND tmpbci/Neurohack.

The implants are already a reality in conditions such as Parkinson. The EEG signal Extra head is very weak and polluted by the movements or the electromagnetic environment requiring complex filtering of the signal. Despite marketing speech, the fiabilité, portability are still areas of research for consumer use.

Thank you very much, and soon.

For more information :

The twitter account of tmpbci, to be aware of their activities.

A page on the wiki tmpbci.

The / tmp / lab, hackerspace which led to the project Neurohack, holds weekly meetings open every Thursday at 19h at the Gaite Lyrique (Paris).

Interview with Sam, the collective Neurohack, around new applications tools for reading brain waves.

What is neurohacking ?

Neuro-Hack is also called tmpbci, tmp such as /tmp/lab (hackerspace original host) and BCI as Brain Computer Interface, but it is not only to create brain-computer interfaces, we would also propose a simple and creative.

Graphical representation of 1600 second acquisition. Image CC BY NC ND tmpbci/Neurohack.

When and how is it that you discovered ?

We started with a helmet mall with a single electrode dry, which was immediately thrown software stupido-marketing to write our own. That was a year ago. For several applications have been developed, mainly graphics and music and returned at workshops in association The Pagliacci or as an installation at the request of Museum of Contemporary Art Vitry-sur-Seine.

Installation Mind Processing au MACVAL. Image CC BY NC ND tmpbci/Neurohack.

Several pathways are followed simultaneously, the mutant As the project to a “engine” supporting the maximum I / O possible. Thus the hardware side accepts inputs from various commercial and helmets devices DIY, Software offers on the side 7 different platforms, a wide spectrum of uses : LAN, Internet, its, DMX projector control, videos, OSC…

Thus we can realize all the applications that can pass through your head like taking a Mindset and generate video or take a openEEG and make its. The doors are wide open imagination, OSC example allows access to Logic, LIVE, MaxMSP, MIDI, PureData, Processing, Quartz Composer, Reactor, SuperCollider, yyyy, iphone, iPAD, Android…

What are your current projects ?

After an initial round of applications in the computer screen we enter the second iteration, this time in the real world, with more electronics and music, while continuing the integration of existing hardware and software systems as openVIBE of INRIA. To give examples, we consider the use of 3D objects or emotions, to possible interactions with figurines or robots simple, the composition of music or the realization of a system measuring brain activity via oxygen consumption to replace / in addition to brain waves.

Oxygen consumption by opening and closing the right hand (MRI). Image CC BY NC ND tmpbci/Neurohack.

What is the measurement of oxygen consumption ?

For several years it has been shown that the infrared LED light “bounces” on the cortex differently according to the report of a blood component : hemoglobin with or without oxygen. The body is quite transparent to these wavelengths, a transmitter and a sensor and voila. This is one of the major pathways currently in neuroscience using this “news” physiological characteristic of the brain (local consumption of oxygen). Studies of rain everywhere, even NASA, since it is the same phenomenon studied with fMRI a ticket in millions of euros ...

Among the possible creative uses of this technology, which do you prefer ?

Control of widgets (“thingy” from the remote control car to the real vehicle) is a classical subject of academic. There are free software to do. Neurohack uses some control as a means and not as an end, actually putting the emphasis on creating.

Typically in research, find something immediately opens new questions. The latest achievement often understand the whole experience and meet the demand of a museum to offer a visualization of “mental space” was unimaginable at the beginning.

However, current achievements are all very exciting and sometimes respond to impossible dreams as compose and play songs without knowing anything about the music. This is not new, Mozart and others have already thought, but it was obviously much more features available now. In the most outlandish, with a little robot will certainly one day be a more arty of magic hat d’Harry Potter.

What are the future prospects of use of neurohacking within Hackerspaces (areas of research operated by citizen communities)?

There is little hackerspaces who are actively involved on the brain. All projects are very different, and the brmlab Prague is active to test existing technologies – more or less stringent – “modifying” supposedly the brain organ. Neurohack wants more brain interface / Machine externally and increasing our ancillary “capabilities”.

The hackerspaces are places where one can find many talents, ranging from a mechanical bunch areas of computer through the electronic. In the longer term would launch a Neurohack sister project to meet real needs interface : it seems such a scandalous USB braille display costs between 2000 and 4000 euros. We are already working on some tracks.

You plan collaborations ?

We are free of shackles, no obligation to publish or productivity, for example makes us open to all proposals, scientifically honest. One does not use medical grade materials unaffordable – even if we would be delighted to have – So the possibilities are different, but not uninteresting.

Some past and future collaborations : the control part of light projectors is based on a program is to Hackspace London. The musical space created in correspondence with the mental space uses a realization open source a student at the University of Michigan. They were among the first in a long list of collaborative artists with varied and stimulating, Composers, designers, An academic laboratory companies ... also contacted us to participate together in an event 2012 towards the public on European funds.

Do you think the brain-machine interfaces will be part of everyday life in a more or less near future ?

In practice an interface to Minority Report is not sustainable long, mouse is not dead. More than sexytude, many other characteristics are taken into account at all costs and replace a mouse with a few dollars or a few fingers on the glass is not always the most relevant. Outside the artwork very fashionable right now, is the biofeedback ré-éducatif that seems closest in a non “mystique”.

Representation of an EEG headset business. Image CC BY NC ND tmpbci/Neurohack.

The implants are already a reality in conditions such as Parkinson. The EEG signal Extra head is very weak and polluted by the movements or the electromagnetic environment requiring complex filtering of the signal. Despite marketing speech, the fiabilité, portability are still areas of research for consumer use.

Thank you very much, and soon.

For more information :

The twitter account of tmpbci, to be aware of their activities.

A page on the wiki tmpbci.

The / tmp / lab, hackerspace which led to the project Neurohack, holds weekly meetings open every Thursday at 19h at the Gaite Lyrique (Paris).

Materials Needed :

• Plastic champagne glass.
• Liquid lens.
• Soap dishes.
• Tues marin.
• Rubbing alcohol (preferably very cold, tenuous in the fridge).
• Sputum.

Process :

1 – Spitting extensively in champagne glass, without expelling phlegm. Sputum cells naturally contain the’epithelium buccal (the tissue covering the cavity of the mouth), which we will extract DNA.

2 – Add a drop or two of dishwashing liquid. This will cause the bright or destruction of cell membranes of epithelium, for releasing the cellular contents in the solution, DNA including the. Cell membranes consist of lipids (fat), and for this reason a soap used to wash the dishes can also destroy cell membranes.

3 – Add the liquid lens. It contains peptidases, proteins that are capable of other proteins fragment. Its usefulness in our reaction will be to reduce the amount of protein which will precipitate with the DNA.

4 – Add a small amount of salt (about 2 g). Its function is to stabilize the electrical charges of the solution to protect the DNA molecules.

5 – Mix the solution for one minute, shaking the glass with a rotational movement.

6 – Add the rubbing alcohol very slowly, so as to form a layer on the solution without they too do not mix. The DNA is not very soluble in alcohol, and for this reason it will precipitate a point higher than the rest of the components of the reaction. Few minutes to reach the DNA proves.

These white filaments floating in the glass fibers are condensed DNA.

Conclusion

Through this experience, it is easy to precipitate cellular DNA fibers, where the genetic information of living beings is codified. It could even be retrieved and used for another experiment, purifying them first.

The photographs belong to a practical workshop conducted by Loïc Lauréote to Gaïté Lyric, whom I thank. And information on the extraction method were extracted mainly from the experience Instructables.

Materials Needed :

• Plastic champagne glass.
• Liquid lens.
• Soap dishes.
• Tues marin.
• Rubbing alcohol (preferably very cold, tenuous in the fridge).
• Sputum.

Process :

1 – Spitting extensively in champagne glass, without expelling phlegm. Sputum cells naturally contain the’epithelium buccal (the tissue covering the cavity of the mouth), which we will extract DNA.

2 – Add a drop or two of dishwashing liquid. This will cause the bright or destruction of cell membranes of epithelium, for releasing the cellular contents in the solution, DNA including the. Cell membranes consist of lipids (fat), and for this reason a soap used to wash the dishes can also destroy cell membranes.

3 – Add the liquid lens. It contains peptidases, proteins that are capable of other proteins fragment. Its usefulness in our reaction will be to reduce the amount of protein which will precipitate with the DNA.

4 – Add a small amount of salt (about 2 g). Its function is to stabilize the electrical charges of the solution to protect the DNA molecules.

5 – Mix the solution for one minute, shaking the glass with a rotational movement.

6 – Add the rubbing alcohol very slowly, so as to form a layer on the solution without they too do not mix. The DNA is not very soluble in alcohol, and for this reason it will precipitate a point higher than the rest of the components of the reaction. Few minutes to reach the DNA proves.

These white filaments floating in the glass fibers are condensed DNA.

Conclusion

Through this experience, it is easy to precipitate cellular DNA fibers, where the genetic information of living beings is codified. It could even be retrieved and used for another experiment, purifying them first.

The photographs belong to a practical workshop conducted by Loïc Lauréote to Gaïté Lyric, whom I thank. And information on the extraction method were extracted mainly from the experience Instructables.

In this experiment, products are used to find easy and harmless to discover their acidic or basic character. In fact, what extent is the chemical activity (pH) hydrogen ions that are dissolved in water, particularly in acidic solutions. And to do, we will use an indicator, in this case, an extract of red cabbage.

Materials Needed :

• 1 red cabbage
• 1 knife
• Enough to boil water (casserole, water, heat source)
• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• 1 transparent glass

Process

Cut pieces of cabbage.

Boil Water. Cook the pieces of cabbage hanging 10 minutes (water will turn blue).

Remove and retain water on the glass. Eat the cabbage if you like them.

The blue-violet water indicates that the pH is neutral (its value is around 7).

If we add baking soda, water will turn blue-green (pH > 7).

If we add a few drops of vinegar on glass, water turn red (acid, pH < 7).

Conclusion

With this method, you can use red cabbage extract as a natural indicator of very basic pH, to test if the environment are acid, relatively basic or neutral.

In this experiment, products are used to find easy and harmless to discover their acidic or basic character. In fact, what extent is the chemical activity (pH) hydrogen ions that are dissolved in water, particularly in acidic solutions. And to do, we will use an indicator, in this case, an extract of red cabbage.

Materials Needed :

• 1 red cabbage
• 1 knife
• Enough to boil water (casserole, water, heat source)
• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• 1 transparent glass

Process

Cut pieces of cabbage.

Boil Water. Cook the pieces of cabbage hanging 10 minutes (water will turn blue).

Remove and retain water on the glass. Eat the cabbage if you like them.

The blue-violet water indicates that the pH is neutral (its value is around 7).

If we add baking soda, water will turn blue-green (pH > 7).

If we add a few drops of vinegar on glass, water turn red (acid, pH < 7).

Conclusion

With this method, you can use red cabbage extract as a natural indicator of very basic pH, to test if the environment are acid, relatively basic or neutral.

Growing vegetable seeds or dry cereals improves their nutritional values, including their scope of protein, they produce to allow growth. Together, they become more digestive, that can be eaten raw in salads or incorporated into meals. A convenient and inexpensive way to discover the germination and eat better.

Materials Needed :

• 1 tray or deep dish.
• 1 bocal and distant.
• 1 square mesh of about 15 cm square.
• 1 elastic.
• 1 sieve.
• 1 tablespoon of green soybeans, lentils, etc. (they increase in size considerably when they are hydrated). It's best to use whole seeds certified “Organic Agriculture”. GMOs and imported cereals are much less likely to germinate, but sometimes it also works with seeds “no bio”.

Place the seeds in the tray and add water to cover the seed lightly. In laboratoire, immersing the seeds in warm water (neither cold nor hot) to stimulate their “revival”. Leave in water about 12 hours (for example, overnight). In the morning, certify that the seeds began to germinate (we see the tips of the shoots) and rinse thoroughly in colander before transferring them into the jar (without water).

Once the seeds in the jar, cover his mouth with the mesh and secure with rubber band. Add cold water through the mesh and to drain well (by turning the jar) to avoid the appearance of bacteria and fungi (seeds must be kept moist but not covered with water). Place the jar upside down (with the mesh down) and tilted 45 ° in a place protected from direct sunlight and drafts (for example, on a shelf).

The cover of my jar has a mesh incorporated, but you can create your own with a rubber band and a band of tissue.

Repeat the rinsing operation at least twice a day (for example, upon waking and before going to bed) shoots to maintain permanently wet. Attention : when the shoots begin to grow mushrooms (shaped white son) or feel bad, must be discarded without hesitation. Good maintenance (remember the shoot for days) should avoid these problems.

Sunflower sprouts.

When the shoots are about a centimeter long (which can take several days), open the jar, Rinse sprouts well in colander and eaten raw in salads, or add to various dishes (they keep a few days in the fridge). Wash out the jar and the mesh with water and detergent before growing other grains.

Bon appetit !

Salad with sunflower sprouts peeled.

Seeds that I grew successfully :

• Lentils : spicy taste, ideal for beginner. Consume when shoots are an inch in length.
• Sunflower : delicious taste, However, its seeds are slow to grow and may need to be shelled by hand (some people let them grow up they lose their hull on a solid medium).
• Quinoa : the fastest, shoots half a centimeter from a few hours of immersion (!). This high protein cereal from the Andes can be found in some supermarkets.
• Brown rice : shoots were too harsh when I wanted to eat them; So I brought them back to the pan before eating (image).