Thank you for checking out our #Scanners kickstarter page! The kickstarter challenge is that we have 30 days to raise our target of £3500. If we don't reach our target in that time then we don't see a penny of the money we have raised, exciting eh?! 

Can you help us? Are you interested in new ways of storytelling? Are you interested in new technology in the arts? Are you an artist yourself and would be interested in collaborating with us on a project like this? Please give us what you can you beautiful bunch!

With gratitude

Richard Ramchurn, Jonathan McGrath and the AlbinoMosquito team.

WHAT IS #SCANNERS?

#Scanners is a new interactive visual arts installation that bridges the gap between digital arts and neuroscience. We have created an experience that uses wireless brain scanners that allows the user to manipulate a digital art installation. Narratives and layers can be built that are all governed by the users concentration and meditation levels. Edit points can be created by monitoring the users blinking. 

The audience can project their feelings onto the film that they are seeing, the film they watch will have a series of overlapping structures that they can interact with and/or disregard.

The spectator is no longer passive and must enter into a dialogue with the artwork.

WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM?

The idea for this project comes from the book IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE by Walter Murch, in his book Murch states:

“If it is true that our rates and rhythms of blinking refer directly to the rhythm and sequence of our inner emotions and thoughts, then those rates and rhythms are insights to our inner selves and therefore as characteristic of each of us as our signatures.” 

WHAT STAGE IS THE PROJECT AT SO FAR?

We have tested the prototype for #Scanners at the WOOT festival in Copenhagen and also at the University of Manchester. We have worked with a coder to create the software needed to manipulate the readings that the brain scanner gives us. We have also created a new Ipad app that we can use to monitor the scanners readings and to control the film experience so that the audience member can have the experience tailored to suit them.

We also have a small cinema fit for one and all of the technical kit required to facilitate the piece.

WHAT DO WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH?

The mechanics of the project work but we now need the financial help to create the last piece of the puzzle. We now need to make a film that can provide the creative content to the piece, we now know the parameters of the technology after thoroughly testing it.

The headset we are using is the MindWave Mobile by NeuroSky (http://www.neurosky.com)

We are applying for funding from the Arts Council England and this valuable Kickstarter help will give us the support that we need to qualify for further funding to complete the project.

The film is being made in collaboration with filmmaker Mat Jon's and the AlbinoMosquito team who have collectively been making successful arts projects like this since 2002.

Since 2002 AlbinoMosquito has been making amazing arts projects for a whole host of gorgeous clients like; Contact theatre Manchester, The Royal Exchange, The Grand Theatre Groningen, CBBC and Tate Modern. Have a look at our showreel here: 

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This project means the world to us and we dearly hope that you can help us achieve this target. 

If you can't help us by donating then you can help by sharing, tweeting and spreading the word across this lovely round world!