The World’s First Interstellar Interactive Art Installation!
For over 75 years astronomers have been sending messages via radio transmissions into space in an attempt to contact advanced alien civilizations, but so far no reply.
Many messages have been sent, from series of prime numbers to Beatles songs, but maybe not the most important message – love.
Artist/inventor, Stefan Verstappen has designed a public art installation that will literally beam love into space.
Greetings From PLANET EARTH is an interactive light, sound and mind installation to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Voyager Spacecraft with a spectacular twist, your brain interacts with the installation and the universe!
Housed inside a geodesic dome are 8 ‘Mind Pods’ arranged in a circle around a central processing hub. Each pod is equipped with a neurofeedback headset that will record each person’s unique brainwave pattern and, using a computer graphics interface, project those patterns onto the inside of the dome in a 3D immersive experience.
Each person is encouraged to remember someone they love, like a spouse, family member, friend, or pet. Imagine 8 people from different walks of life, whose brains are all linked together through a central computer, sharing thoughts of love, and having those thoughts projected onto the interior of the dome.
A digital recording of the brainwave frequencies is then up-loaded to a 500 watt 60 foot dish transmitter and beamed directly into the center of our milky way galaxy!
But There’s More…
What if you could send your personal message into space, and include a return address?
Before leaving the exhibit, each attendee can record a 30 second audio message to include in the transmission with their personal brain scan. There are dozens of scientific studies that prove that electro magnetic waves can directly influence and communicate with our brains.
It is theoretically possible, if you sent a message into space paired with your unique brain frequency, advanced civilizations receiving your message could reply by transmitting a signal tuned to your specific frequency. Aliens could, theoretically, talk directly to your consciousness.
Greetings From Planet Earth will tour art festivals and fairs across the US in the summer of 2018.
Every living being is an engine geared to the wheelwork of the universe. Though seemingly affected only by its immediate surrounding, the sphere of external influence extends to infinite distance.
Nikola Tesla
What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that measures brain waves to produce a signal that can be used as feedback to teach self-regulation of brain function. Neurofeedback is commonly provided using video or sound, with positive feedback for desired brain activity and negative feedback for brain activity that is undesirable.
For this installation we will use a neurofeedback headset that will record each person’s EEG and send that signal through a computer graphics program that will transform the signal into a changing color graphic that is projected using 3D projection technology, onto the inside of the dome. Each person will see their own real-time brain activity in 3D on the screen in front of them.
About 3D Dome Projection
The term “fulldome” is used to describe immersive dome-based video projection environments that create 360 degree and virtual reality experiences. Pre-rendered digital video and animation, real-time, interactive and live captured images can be displayed on the inside of a domed projection surface to create an immersive viewing experience
Although the current technology emerged in the early-to-mid 1990s, fulldome environments have evolved from numerous influences, including immersive art and storytelling, with technological roots in domed architecture, planetariums, multi-projector film environments, flight simulation, and virtual reality.
Contemporary configurations employ raster video projectors, either singly or grouped together to cover the dome surface with full-color images and animations.
How Do We Plan to Send Radio Signals into Space?
We will rent broadcasting time on the Jamesburg Earth Station, in central California, a 500 watt 60ft radio dish built in 1968.
It has been suggested that the frequency range known as the “water hole” (between 1.42 and 1.66 GHz, the hydrogen (H) and hydroxyl (OH) frequencies), which is a particularly quiet band of frequencies, would be the best place to attempt interstellar communications, and so has been a popular range for listening in SETI experiments.
This is the frequency at which hydrogen vibrates. Not every society is going to have a base ten number system. Not every civilization is going to use certain frequencies for cell phones, and not every song will sound the same through a different atmosphere. But it’s unlikely that whatever corner of the universe the signal ends up in will have a more basic atom than hydrogen. This is the way to get a civilization to notice you.
Why Am I Doing This?
I began experimenting with biofeedback and brainwave entrainment more than 40 years ago. I bought my first EEG machine when I was 19 and while monitoring my brain waves I subjected myself to binaural beats I created on a synthesizer and split the channels to stereo headphones, strobe lights tuned to various frequencies, and innumerable recordings of sacred music, chants and tones to see for myself the effects these would have on my consciousness.
Way back then I already had the idea to create a machine that resembled the device called “Cerebro” as seen in the recent X-Men movies, but 40 years ago the technology didn’t exist to do what I wanted to do.
With a lifelong passion for science and technology, I have kept abreast of the tech needed to finally create the ultimate interactive mind experience.
About 15 years ago the technology was finally able to do what I needed, but now the problem was funding. All that tech and equipment is expensive and where could I go to get funding to build for such a project?
But along with advancement in technology there came an advancement in financing – crowdfunding. Kickstarter is the greatest opportunity to fund such a weird, but wonderful idea. The kickstarter community is probably the only community of people in the world that would ‘get’ what I’m trying to do because, well, you’re all probably as ‘non-ordinary’ as me.
Am I Capable of Completing This Project?
For my installation Tubular Zen, which used harmonic sounds and light frequencies to induce meditative states among those that interacted with it, I not only built and installed the actual structure, I also personally soldered together 15 circuit boards and wired the whole, thing myself.
For my installation, Tri-Monic, which combined a half dozen instruments all programmed to play in harmony no matter who played them, I rented $300,000. worth of computers, mixers, auto tuners and harmonizers and wired the whole thing up myself.
Greetings From Planet Earth will be a lot easier to build than my previous projects since all the components are self contained and need only be put together in this unique configuration and I won’t have to solder or wire anything.
In addition, I will hire the services of my partners Pacific Domes, Obscura Digital, and InteraXon to calibrate the projectors, and integrate the computers and software since not even I can do everything.
Partners
The Dome
For this installation we will be working with multi-award winning Pacific Domes, the original manufacturer of geodesic domes worldwide. Expanding on the both the architectural and philosophical concepts of the legendary engineer and futurist R. Buckminster Fuller, Pacific Domes has helped pave the way for the global eco-living revolution while shaping the event dome industry for over 35 years.
The Pacific Domes Projection Dome is a 360° fully immersive viewing environment. Their patented negative air pressure projection system is the perfect platform for state of the art 360° surround projection. Their partner companies, Obscura Digital, Vortex Immersion and Immersive Experiential are experts in creating multimedia surround projection technology. Together, they create multi-sensory, interactive learning and entertainment experiences for large scale group immersive environments.
Brain Sensing Technology
For this installation we plan to use headsets produced by InteraXon a Toronto-based innovator in the field of brain-sensing technology, with a history of designing memorable experiences from a levitating chair to a brain powered beer tap. Over 50,000 people have experienced InteraXon’s brain-sensing technology, and this continues to grow.
InteraXon has worked with top-tier goods, transportation and tech companies to create brain-sensing customer programs and promotions. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, InteraXon connected Canadians across the country by enabling visitors to control the lights on Niagara Falls, the CN Tower and Canada’s Parliament buildings – all with the power of their minds from 2,000 miles away.
In 2014, InteraXon launched their first product, Muse: the brain sensing headband. Muse is a brain fitness tool that senses your brain like a heart monitor reads your heart rate.
Challenges
Greetings From Planet Earthis a composite of existing technologies that will be recombined into fulfilling a unique new function. All the component technologies, the dome, the projection system, the brain sensing headsets, and the computer interface software have already been in use for many years.
The biggest challenge is to raise the funds to purchase all the component parts. Once all the equipment has been purchased, they will be assembled at our studio with the help of a team of engineers provided by the project partners.
About Us
Stefan H. Verstappen, born 1957, Toronto, Canada, is a classical Renaissance man and autodidact.
As a writer he has written dozens of articles for prominent magazines and has published 8 non-fiction books on subjects ranging from Chinese military history, to Zen for the blind.
As a musician he can play three instruments and has performed in school orchestras, blue grass trios, and rock bands across North America and even Taiwan.
Stefan has traveled the world, climbed mountains, rode elephants, and danced under the moonlight with Shamans in the jungles of Laos. A Wu Li Master, he studied martial arts in China for four years and has taught for 35 years.
An avid outdoors-man and graduate from a 3 year Outward Bound program, he worked as a wilderness survival instructor in Algonquin Park.
Stefan has produced hundreds of artworks in over 8 mediums ranging from pen& ink illustration, stained glass, watercolors, acrylic on canvas, foam and Papier Mache sculpture to public art murals and interactive installations.
Stefan believes that art is not just something one does, but a way of life, and that one’s life should be seen as a work of art.
Intrigued by the sense of synesthesia, Stefan has been creating public art installations that combine multiple mediums of sound, light, and frequency.
Past Experiments in Art, Sound, Lights and Frequencies
Artwalk, Ventura, California, 2008
Tubular Zen is a multi-media, multi-sensory interactive installation artwork that combines the concepts of Zen and Synesthesia.
The five pillars represent, and play, the five notes of the Pentatonic scale. A pentatonic scale is an ancient musical structure found all over the world that consists of five tones or notes.
As you enter the circle of pillars you notice that each one has a lighted button on its side.Touching the button will cause the pillar to come to life. First you will hear a single lonely musical note from a Shakuhatchi flute playing one of the five notes of the pentatonic scale.
Then the pillar will light up with light flickering in the same frequency as the musical note.
A few seconds later and the pillar returns to its former repose.
By walking around the circle of pillars and pressing the buttons you will discover that each pillar has a different sound, color, and vibration. Activate the pillars in any random order will produce 16 different harmonious sounds.
When all pillars are activated you will hear the eerie but soothing ‘C’ diminished 7th cord.
Nuit Blanche, Toronto, 2015
Tri-Monic is a multi-sensory interactive installation that requires viewers to interact musically with the installation.
Three 12 foot tall triangular shaped pieces create a classical equilateral triangle both vertically and horizontally.
All the microphones and instruments were run through a series of harmonizers and auto tuners so that even if one couldn’t sing on key or play an instrument, not matter what you did the sound would always come out in harmony.
This is installation brought strangers together to create music and harmony, and a spiritual experience.
Cyberpunk, Strobe Light Wearable Art, Dragons’ Den, Toronto, 2014
Handmade brass pendants with internal hand soldered circuit board with battery, 555 microchip, and LED lights. Lights pulsate with the Schumann frequency creating a meditative state in anyone looking at the pendant.
Toro Mâché. Strobe Light Sculpture, 2016
Inspired by traditional Japanese lanterns (Toro – light basket, light tower) made of stone, wood, or metal. Toro Mâché combines traditional design with modern ascetics. Since they are made from paper, instead of a candle flame, these pieces are illuminated from within with LED lights that pulsate with the Schumann frequency creating a meditative state in anyone looking at the sculpture.
Budget
$35,000?! What’s all that for?
This may sound like a lot of money (because it is), but after Kickstarter fees and reward fulfillment, this will leave the minimum required to cover the cost of bringing Greetings From Planet Earth to life.
Here’s a breakdown of where the costs go:
Fees and reward fulfillment: $10,500
Kickstarter + credit card fees: $3,000
Reward shipping cost (estimated): $3,000
Reward materials cost (estimated): $4,500
Greetings From Planet Earth project costs: $24,500:
And you get it right away even if we don’t meet our funding goal!
We appreciate the effort to read about this project and go to your account and donate a dollar and we want to thank you for the effort.
$5.- Instant Gratification 2.0!
A free download of any TWO of Stefan’s books!
And you get it right away even if we don’t meet our funding goal!
We appreciate the effort to read about this project and go to your account and donate 5 bucks and we want to thank you for the effort.
$10.- We’ll send you an Autographed Postcard!
These postcards were designed by S.H. Verstappen and he will personally autograph and mail you this keepsake and memento of your participation in this project to put in your family scrapbook.
Ocean Postcard
$15.- 2 Free Books and a Postcard
Get the books right away and when we meet our funding goal we’ll send you the postcard.
Space Postcard
$25.- Signed Print – Pen & Ink Collection
Choose from 16 Pen & Ink illustrations that I drew and were printed in my first book, The Thirty Six Strategies.
I will autograph each print and mail out flat suitable for framing.
