CRA’s “Vertical selfie plotter” will be featured at the Vodafone stand at this year’s IFA Consumer Electronics show, taking place in Berlin September 5-10. This dynamic, participatory installation will receive data from visitors at IFA and illustrate an evolving group portrait in real time. Visitors will be able to contribute to this mosaic of faces by sending their “selfies” to the plotter via email. Initially envisioned as a means of writing, erasing and constantly rewriting, the vertical plotter is able to cover large surfaces using a minimal amount of components to present a variety of different graphical outputs that can be generated in real time.
Carlo Ratti Associati has reflected on their experience with previous models in order to create the simplest device in the latest iteration of the vertical plotter: OpenWall. Based on a laser cut chassis made from MDF or plexiglass, the design of the OpenWall aims at minimizing the number of components needed, simplifying its assembly and use. The two on-board motors stabilize the plotter.
It also makes reproduction of the device an easier task. OpenWall uses the Processing / Arduino platform, making it easy to reprogram, and works with a variety of applications.