A Huats Club project exploring light and reflections, bringing the life of AI-animated characters into the physical realm.
About the Project
Inspiration behind STEAMSpirits!
Physics, often perceived as challenging, holds the key to understanding the natural world, yet many students struggle with its abstract concepts. Inspired by the need to transform this educational challenge into an engaging experience, Project Lux-Gram – STEAMSpirits was conceived. This project bridges the gap between scientific theories and student engagement by using a fusion of art and technologies.
Concept Overview
At the heart of our exhibit is Snell’s Law – a fundamental principle that describes how light bends/refracts, as it passes through different medium (e.g. air or solids). This principle is crucial for understanding phenomena like rainbows and optical fibers. Our exhibit demystifies these concepts through a captivating display that makes use of the Pepper’s Ghost effect, creating stunning visual illusions that bring the science of light to life.
STEAMspirits is more than just an educational exhibit, it is a doorway to deeper understanding and appreciation of physics. Integrating Singapore’s secondary school syllabus into a visually immersive art installation makes learning intuitive and memorable. Students see firsthand the impact of light manipulation, fostering a transformative learning experience. This approach enhances educational outcomes and stimulates curiosity and imagination, essential drivers for cultivating lifelong learning.
Community and Cultural Integration
Central to the exhibit is a narrative that celebrates the rich tapestry of Singapore’s cultural icons – the Mascots of Singapore (Singa, Sharity, Captain Green, Water Wally and Water Sally). Each mascot’s story is woven into the exhibit, underscoring themes of culture, kindness and environmental awareness.
Innovative Technologies at Play – The Exhibit
At the core of Project Lux-Gram is a sophisticated array of technologies that bring our educational goals to life:
- Raspberry Pi and Python – At the core of our exhibit’s technologies are the applications of Raspberry Pi and Python, which synchronized audiovisual elements and create mesmerizing Pepper’s Ghost mirages. These tools are pivotal for their accessibility and educational value. The Raspberry Pi, a compact and affordable computer, along with the user-friendly Python programming language, makes technology approachable for students.
- Computer Vision, AI and Animation – Utilizing Meta’s AnimatedDrawings tool, we derived the pose estimation of the hand-drawn mascots by our members, segmented the characters and transformed these static images into virtual elements within our exhibit. These technologies allow us to preserve each drawing’s original charm and details while incorporating them meaningfully, synergizing into a immersive and interactive experience for our audience.
Pose Estimation of Water Wally
Motion Analysis through Rokoko
Huats Club Project Lux-Gram - CV/Rokoko/AI Animation Demonstration
Huats Club STEAMSpirits! Exhibition Demonstration
About the Group
Human Upgrading around Technical Skills (Huats) Club
We are the Huats Club, a passionate STEAM interest group dedicated to revitalizing STEAM education through project-based learning. Our members are active tech practitioners from diverse backgrounds, united by our commitment to creating interactive, immersive and artistic mediums. By blending technology and creativity, we aim to make learning engaging, accessible, and inspiring for all.
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Special Thanks to our Wonderful Huats Club Members for making Project-Lux-Gram a success!
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- Eileen Lim
- Tricia Leow
- Hannah Lee
- Lim Hui Min
- Chua Dingjuan
- Sow Chorng Huar
- Fu Yongwei