Khim and Pik: Mapping Human Movement Device "The Mannequin"

"The Mannequin"

Khim Pisessith

Prapasri Khunakridatikarn

Mapping Human Movement: Device

The device consists of 3 main parts: the screen, the mannequin, and the shadow the mannequin produces. The mannequin will be placed between a white fabric screen and a spotlight.

The light from the spotlight will be projected from its behind to cast a shadow upon the fabric screen. The mannequin will be connected to the human body via 8 strings: four for the arms and four for the legs, one for swinging forward and another for swinging backwards for each pair. When the human body moves, the strings will be straightened, and thus creating the same movement for the mannequin. Two paintbrushes are attached to the mannequin with the use of two different colors; one at its hand (pink) and another at its foot (blue). Placing the mannequin 90 degrees sideways in front of the human model body, the person doing the movement of ‘throwing’ and ‘kicking’ will be able to see how his or her body moves from the shadow casted upon the fabric. The marks (curve lines) of two colors will then be seen on the white fabric after the movement is done.

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Developing Ideas

We started off by some rough sketching of how our device will look like. The ones with potential are kept while the others are eliminated, changed, or developed into further ideas.

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Prototype

After discussing possible outcomes and desired functions, we decided to develop a prototype to see how the strings can be attached to certain parts of the mannequin.

After we are sure of its function and how the strings are connected,

we then proceed on to the next step: making the real device.

The real product: mannequin

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Try Outs

This is an example of how the device works.

[Adjustable footwear — connected to the mannequin via nylon threads.]

A spotlight is placed at the back of the mannequin so that the mannequin’s shadow can be casted upon the fabric screen.

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The Ideal Device & Mannequin

If we have more time on this project, we’ll try to get the joints to work by connecting more strings to the mannequin (2 additional strings per each part), passing them through the pulley, and then to the human body. A lighter-weight wood will be used for the mannequin (so that the strings can be pulled up easier and the device can perform more efficiently) and a heavier one will be used for the frame (so that the frame won’t fall back while the device is being performed). Adjustable spotlight will also be used so that it can stand by itself without the help of a human being.

The Ideal Device

The Ideal Device (with the mannequin's shadow)

The Ideal Mannequin