Words are not static. They don’t have fixed meanings. Language is constantly evolving and will continue to.

The famous German Dictionary (1838–1854/1961) by the Brothers Grimm attempts to create a “natural history of words” by focussing on associations and connections between the words rather than their abstract definitions.

Located in the newly opened Grimmwelt Kassel, Germany, “Wortarbeit” attempts to capture the visitors’ associations with words, in reference to the work of the Brothers Grimm. Within a predefined set of formulas (word connections), one word has to be explained by another word entered by the visitor. The results is a chain that grows endlessly word by word.

While one touchscreen is waiting for input, the visitors can explore the existing chain of words in various views on the other screens: chronologically, alphabetically, by popularity and through the semantic net, which reveals the complexity of the definitions entered by the visitors.

Visitors can also extend an independent chain of words in english.

The installation was designed and developed in collaboration with TheGreenEyl, Berlin, media planning by Stefan Helling.

Work
Screen Design, Java/OpenGL/Shader programming, multi-screen synchronisation

Photos
Markus Lerner

Typographical WebGL performance tests in THREE.js

Single geometry test

PointCloud test

An interactive installation was developed for the ZEISS Museum of Optics in Oberkochen. It allows visitors to explore the known orders of magnitude in an interactive way.
A continuous zoom leads from the Planck length (1,616199 × 10−35 m) via atoms, microorganisms, everyday objects, countries, planets galaxies up to the size of the currently observable universe (2,80 × 1026 m).

The user controls the zoom via the distance from the projection surface: zoom-in by getting closer, zoom-out by stepping back. The speed of the zoom can be accelerated or reduced by using the hands additionally.

The project was realized in collaboration with TheGreenEyl (Concept, Art Direction, Production).

Work
Screen Design, Java/OpenGL/Shader programming, Kinect tracking

The Mendelssohn-Effektorium is a virtual orchestra at the Mendelssohn-Haus in Leipzig. It was developed and produced by WHITEvoid. Markus Lerner was commissioned for the Screen Design and OpenGL software development.

13 speakers with vertical displays are arranged behind a conductor’s stand, each one representing a different group of instruments or choir voices. Visitors can select one of the works of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy at the stand and conduct the virtual orchestra or choir by moving the coductor’s baton. The speed of the recordings is then adjusted in real-time. Voice groups can be controlled individually and different room situations can be set. The installation also allows one to compare modern and historical instruments.

The vertical screens can display the names of the voices, the sound level or an artistic interpretation of the voice groups influenced by the volume and character of each instrument/voice.

The idea for the Effektorium originated in the cooperation between Studio Bertron Schwarz Frey and WHITEvoid. Sound production and programming by Aconica.

Work
Screen Design, Java/OpenGL/Shader programming, Leap Motion tracking and OSC network control

A part of the new exhbition »The harbour – a key stimulus«, the interactive table leads through 1300 years of Hamburg history. The square table with 3.5 sqm surface area enables visitors to explore the development of the city from the Middle Ages until today.

A mechanical time wheel is used to navigate through the 11 periods. In each era, the most important changes in urban development as well as significant historical events are geographically displayed on the map, for example the North Sea flood of 1962 or the construction of the Speicherstadt. The bilingual content windows appear on different sides of the table, which enables several visitors to explore information independently. The programming was done on behalf of ART+COM (Concept, design and production).

Interactive table at »Taktgeber Hafen«
Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte
Holstenwall 24
20355 Hamburg

Work
Java, OpenGL/OpenAL, GLSL shader programming, software edge blending

Technology

• Graphics PC for the real-time display
• 2 WUXGA (1920×1200 px) projectors
• Touch sensitive table surface (ART+COM)
• Acoustic shakers

Photos: Eva Offenberg, Markus Lerner

The Solar Module Designer is as an interactive application, which allows one to design and configure the most diverse forms of solar modules with ease. This tool was available as an online application, a touch screen installation for trade shows and an iPad App.

It was developed in collaboration with Plural Kilian Krug.

Due to the need for a tool that helps architects visualise the various configurations that Odersun offers, we developed this communication tool that also helps the architects integrate unusual module shapes into their design/production drafts.

The custom designed solar modules can be exported as PDF/CAD-files, which can be directly integrated in construction plans or used as a reference in module manufacturing.

Awards

The Solar Module Designer was awarded the IF Communication Design Award, the Red Dot Award and the European Design Award Bronze.

Work
Interaction Design, Programming in Flash/ActionScript 3, Backend in PHP/MySQL

The interactive »Research Table« provides an intuitive access to large databases through its large-format multitouch-surface.

Time and location data of artists, commissioners and related institutions are shown in an easily comprehensible display. Works and paths of life are being put into relation and visualized in various ways.

The Research Table was initally developed for the research project »What was German Graphic Design?« at Berlin University of the Arts. (Supervision: Severin Wucher, Kilian Krug, Markus Lerner; contributors: Ferdinand Ulrich, Patrick Funk, Cathleen Gettkandt, Mara Hellmann, Wanda Proft, Manja Schiemann).

The exhibition »Erik Spiekermann – The Face of Type« at the Bauhaus Archive, Berlin (23 March – 6 June 2011) featured an extended version of the table which gave an insight into Erik Spiekermannʼs network of partners.

The table was developed in collaboration with Plural (Kilian Krug und Severin Wucher). Frontend/Backend Design: Kilian Krug, Markus Lerner; Programming: Markus Lerner; design-academic supervision: Severin Wucher.

The project has been continued as an extended platform for the presentation of archival data under the name The Visual Archive.

 Awards

The Research Table was awarded Gold at the IF Communication Design Award and the European Design Award.

Work
Frontend-/Backend-Design (with Plural), Java/OpenGL programming, Backend: PHP/MySQL/Ajax, Hardware installation

Technology

• Graphics PC for the real-time display
• 1 Full HD Projector for back projection
• Multitouch table surface (Rear DI using CCV)

visualarchive.de
was-war-deutsches-grafik-design.de
 

A part of the “Be Berlin” campaign, the interactive table in the shape of the city of Berlin, located in the foyer of the main municipal building (Rote Rathaus) Berlin, which is visited by a large number of tourists daily, shows bilingual descriptions of sights and stories from berliners on a satellite map.

The table allows visitors to get an insight into the many attractions berlin offers with historical pictures, descriptions in german/english and trivia. The multitouch surface enables several users to explore the content at the same time. This project was done in collaboration with Felix Hardmood Beck (exhibition design, draft, consulting) and Hermann Klöckner (consulting) of ART+COM.

One can view the Be Berlin Table at the Red Town hall during working hours Monday–Friday, unless there is a private gathering.

Interactive city map
Foyer in front of the coat of arms hall (Wappensaal)
inside the Berlin Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus)
Entrance Rathausstraße
10178 Berlin Mitte

Work
Concept & design in collaboration with ART+COM, Java, OpenGL and OpenAL programming, Projector timing control

Technology

• Graphics PC for the real-time display
• 2 SXGA+ (1400×1050) projectors
• Touch sensitive table surface (ART+COM)
• Speakers

The Polygon Playground is a large scale interactive lounge object developed and produced by WHITEvoid. Markus Lerner was commissioned for the Tracking/OpenGL software development.

The object offers room for up to 40 persons at a time to walk, sit and explore its multifaceted surfaces. Gradient ramps guide to the top plateau or offer space to sit and rest. The installation features a software aided 3D surface projection system to cover the object with a seamless 360 degree projection. An additional sensory system detects peoples positions and proximity.

The visual appearance of the Polygon Playground changes continuously with the presence, movement and physical touch of its visitors. The object detects the positions and directions of people and reacts with evolving visual moods and graphic styles.

The hardware and software system of the Polygon Playground can be applied to virtually any 3D body to turn it into an interactive object.

Commission, production and art direction by WHITEvoid.

Work
Design of the interactive modes in collaboration with Christopher Bauder/WHITEvoid, Tracking/OpenGL programming in Java

Exhibitions
– 2008 “SMUK” festival, Skanderborg, Denmark
– 2009 “STRP” festival, Eindhoven, Netherlands
– 2009 FREEZE! Art Show,
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
– 2011 “I/O/I. The senses of machines”,
Disseny Hub, Barcelona, Spain

Photos: Christopher Bauder, Markus Lerner

3D Photo View is an intuitive image brower for viewzi.com.

This online application is a whole new approach to image search, allowing you to place several searchfields in a 3D space. The image results get arranged around and between the searchfields. The engine also displays images related to several searchfields and related tags.

Commission, production and art direction by WHITEvoid.

Auszeichnungen

Outstanding Achievement, IMA Interactive Media Award

Work
Concept & design in collaboration with WHITEvoid, Flash ActionScript 3/Papervision programming.

3D Photo View