Mavis Brace

wandermachine

The wandermachine is a system designed to collect, interpret and understand the places we inhabit. This project explores the concept of ‘place' - a complex, human idea - through interpretations provided by an algorithmic system.
Alongside a variety of other technologies, a focus is put on machine learning to examine the abstract concepts of space and place. Machine learning, a relatively new branch of artificial intelligence, is based off of our basic neural processes, and the idea that by processing large amounts of data, systems can learn, find patterns, and make decisions by themselves. To use this method to provide an representation of such an abstract idea as ‘place’ opens up discussion as to what may be missing from a computer’s understanding, as well as how we interact with and view computers.

The intention of wandermachine to increase the viewer’s awareness of place, what role technology plays both in these places, and in representing them, and to promote an atmosphere of exploration and thought.