Thanks for the introduction Sarah. I'd like to request an open space to discuss and show some of the technology mentioned in the following (not accepted) tutorial proposal. Anytime on 5/16 or 5/17 would work for me, or we can discuss other days. Let me know if you have any questions, or how I can move forward. Best, Michael = = = = = Proposal title: Colors and Chords: Immersive Environments with Python Description: Participants will take part in a variety of fun activities involving light and sound, while learning about a Python platform that controls multiple lighting effects and creates immersive environments. Participants will be able to interact with full RGB stage lights, a six feet tall RGB LED tetrahedron, and an LED assisted bass guitar. Participants will be able to create light shows for (fair use or freely available) songs of their choice, either in a group or in multiple groups, depending on attendance. All music theory needed will be explained. It should be basic and accessible to those with computer science and / or STEM backgrounds. Participants will receive copies of all platform source code and sample files. After the workshop, they are encouraged to duplicate the projects they saw, change the platform, add more hardware support to the platform, or write something entirely new. All code is open source and non-commercial. All hardware discussed is standards based and easily available for purchase by those who want to create their own multimedia projects after the workshop. Notes: Some pictures of the technology are available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LJ71LVe4_5xj11S4FC0viU3X9uM5CONK https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZOBFd05DbQmLl2MU1dRwrDWyYX7OVo1u https://drive.google.com/file/d/1erax3jlLYmcUeZPcljHpLI37cWbuiS1t https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GBNvKyF15OR4n_hDAuiLhPw-99uhIs5B https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h8ACJL3TAheZgyAtKUuqgu-pglKcWgkb https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fDWAgrGIm9NKlSywHcXApbnTykJ1eViQ Time is built into the schedule for participants to ask questions, help each other, and take breaks. Some knowledge of music theory would be helpful but is not required. The theory explained will be light and should be accessible to those with computer science and / or STEM backgrounds. Advanced preparation and software installation will not be required, but since the activities will interface with lighting hardware, participants who want to use their laptops at the workshop should have Python, curses, and SoX / play (Sound eXchange) installed and briefly tested. SoX is known to run on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Cygwin is recommended for Windows operation but is not required. An open USB 3.0 port is recommended. If allowed, some optional test programs will be sent to participants before PyCon. Setup help will also be offered at the event. No large downloads will be needed at the event. One or more laptops will be made available for activities involving the larger hardware and for those without compatible laptops. The technology has been demonstrated at art shows and night markets as entertainment. It has been shown at the Pittsburgh Maker Faire, the Stark County (OH) Maker Faire, the Rooms to Let art event (Cleveland, OH), the FireFish festival (Cleveland, OH), and night events in Pennsylvania and Ohio. If there is interest, I would also be happy to set up an interactive installation to be used by all PyCon attendees. Language: en Format: The tutorial should be about one third lecture and interactive discussion, and two thirds participant activity and collaboration. Outline: I. (10 minutes) Setup help. Participants who wish to use their personal laptops can request help. The Python platform and sample files will be made available by URL and on a virus scanned USB key. II. (30 minutes) An overview of the DMX lighting standard. We will briefly discuss its data channels and supported values. We will discuss chaining RGB stage lights together to create large immersive environments. Participants will run sample programs on the demonstration laptop to create color themes. Those with capable laptops can connect to the demonstration hardware via USB. Edited code can also be emailed to the demonstration system. III. (30 minutes) Discussion of a Python to Arduino LED strip system. Brief discussion of a binary standard that can send messages from a central Python controller to several Arduino driven LED strips that can be used to build shapes and sculptures. Participants will run sample programs on the demonstration laptop to create color themes and animations. Those with capable laptops can connect to the demonstration hardware via USB. Edited code can also be emailed to the demonstration system. IV. (30 minutes) An overview of the twelve tone Western music system and its frequencies. Participants will learn something about notes, octaves, scales / keys, and some chords. Participants will be able to reproduce these sounds on their laptops by using and editing sample programs. The information will not be overwhelming, and the sample programs should allow for quick learning of the material. IV. (30 minutes) A brief discussion about harmonic structures (chord progressions). We will discuss the popular I-V-vi-IV chord progression. We will look at some of the code that accepts computer keyboard input and generates light and music using the hardware. Participants will be able to play along to songs on the demonstration hardware. The songs will be fair use clips or freely available and royalty free music. A bass guitar will be available for those who want to try playing the chord progressions on an analog instrument. V. (30 minutes) Creating custom light shows, Part I. Participants will choose a song and use a Python script to mark chord changes as the song plays. They will then edit the resulting data file and fill in the proper chords. Songs can be chosen from a sample library, or participants can select songs they like. The songs will be fair use clips or freely available and royalty free music. Collaboration will be encouraged. A bass guitar will be available for those who want to try playing the chord progressions on an analog instrument. VI. (30 minutes) Creating custom light shows, Part II. Participants will connect to the hardware via USB or copy their projects to a virus scanned USB drive. The musical light shows will be played on the demonstration hardware. This should be a fun and entertaining multimedia event. A bass guitar will be available for those who want to try playing the chord progressions on an analog instrument. VII. (20 minutes) Reflection and discussion. We will discuss what could be added to the system, and other activities and games that can be created. We will briefly discuss adding 2D LED matrices, 3D LED cubes, projected media, and AR / VR / XR. Assistance from the workshop leader will be given throughout all activities. Breaks will be taken after each activity and can be adapted to the audience and activity progression. Category: Applications of Python Audience: Some experience Past Speaking/Teaching Experience: Michael is a senior software engineer and technology instructor. He has taught Python to over three hundred students, in environments including the City College of New York. He has been an organizer for PyOhio, the Heartifacts developer wellness conference, and the Demosplash and @party computer art festivals. He is the Pittsburgh local lead for the NASA Space Apps Challenge. He has served on the PyCon US program committee. He has spoken at PyOhio, and was a participant in the 2021 PyCon US poster session. He is also the creator of WinterHack, a winter art and technology event. Have you previously given this presentation?: No If yes, where have you presented it?: This exact presentation has not been given previously, but the technology has been demonstrated at art shows and night markets as entertainment. The technology has been shown at the Pittsburgh Maker Faire, the Stark County (OH) Maker Faire, the Rooms to Let art event (Cleveland, OH), the FireFish festival (Cleveland, OH), and night events in Pennsylvania and Ohio. On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 12:53 AM Sarah Kuchinsky <sarah.kuchinsky@pyfound.org> wrote:
Hi Open Spaces team,
Michael would like to reserve an open space for Python related art (Python and Immersive Environments).
Michael-
Can you give the Open Spaces team a description and preferred date/time as per the following instructions?
https://us.pycon.org/2025/events/open-spaces/
Cheers, Sarah
Hi Michael, This sounds great! If you would like to have your planned open space added to the website, you can submit a title, proposed date and time and brief description and I'll get it added here: https://us.pycon.org/2025/events/open-spaces/ However, you will still need to reserve the date, time and room for your open space via the open spaces boards on site to secure a space/room. Let me know if you have any questions! Best, Olivia Sauls Program Director Python Software Foundation olivia@python.org On Wed, Apr 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM Michael N via Pycon-openspaces < pycon-openspaces@python.org> wrote:
Thanks for the introduction Sarah. I'd like to request an open space to discuss and show some of the technology mentioned in the following (not accepted) tutorial proposal. Anytime on 5/16 or 5/17 would work for me, or we can discuss other days. Let me know if you have any questions, or how I can move forward.
Best, Michael
= = = = =
Proposal title: Colors and Chords: Immersive Environments with Python
Description: Participants will take part in a variety of fun activities involving light and sound, while learning about a Python platform that controls multiple lighting effects and creates immersive environments. Participants will be able to interact with full RGB stage lights, a six feet tall RGB LED tetrahedron, and an LED assisted bass guitar. Participants will be able to create light shows for (fair use or freely available) songs of their choice, either in a group or in multiple groups, depending on attendance.
All music theory needed will be explained. It should be basic and accessible to those with computer science and / or STEM backgrounds.
Participants will receive copies of all platform source code and sample files. After the workshop, they are encouraged to duplicate the projects they saw, change the platform, add more hardware support to the platform, or write something entirely new.
All code is open source and non-commercial. All hardware discussed is standards based and easily available for purchase by those who want to create their own multimedia projects after the workshop.
Notes: Some pictures of the technology are available here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LJ71LVe4_5xj11S4FC0viU3X9uM5CONK https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZOBFd05DbQmLl2MU1dRwrDWyYX7OVo1u https://drive.google.com/file/d/1erax3jlLYmcUeZPcljHpLI37cWbuiS1t https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GBNvKyF15OR4n_hDAuiLhPw-99uhIs5B https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h8ACJL3TAheZgyAtKUuqgu-pglKcWgkb https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fDWAgrGIm9NKlSywHcXApbnTykJ1eViQ
Time is built into the schedule for participants to ask questions, help each other, and take breaks.
Some knowledge of music theory would be helpful but is not required. The theory explained will be light and should be accessible to those with computer science and / or STEM backgrounds.
Advanced preparation and software installation will not be required, but since the activities will interface with lighting hardware, participants who want to use their laptops at the workshop should have Python, curses, and SoX / play (Sound eXchange) installed and briefly tested.
SoX is known to run on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Cygwin is recommended for Windows operation but is not required. An open USB 3.0 port is recommended.
If allowed, some optional test programs will be sent to participants before PyCon. Setup help will also be offered at the event. No large downloads will be needed at the event.
One or more laptops will be made available for activities involving the larger hardware and for those without compatible laptops.
The technology has been demonstrated at art shows and night markets as entertainment. It has been shown at the Pittsburgh Maker Faire, the Stark County (OH) Maker Faire, the Rooms to Let art event (Cleveland, OH), the FireFish festival (Cleveland, OH), and night events in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
If there is interest, I would also be happy to set up an interactive installation to be used by all PyCon attendees.
Language: en
Format: The tutorial should be about one third lecture and interactive discussion, and two thirds participant activity and collaboration.
Outline: I. (10 minutes) Setup help. Participants who wish to use their personal laptops can request help. The Python platform and sample files will be made available by URL and on a virus scanned USB key.
II. (30 minutes) An overview of the DMX lighting standard. We will briefly discuss its data channels and supported values. We will discuss chaining RGB stage lights together to create large immersive environments.
Participants will run sample programs on the demonstration laptop to create color themes. Those with capable laptops can connect to the demonstration hardware via USB. Edited code can also be emailed to the demonstration system.
III. (30 minutes) Discussion of a Python to Arduino LED strip system. Brief discussion of a binary standard that can send messages from a central Python controller to several Arduino driven LED strips that can be used to build shapes and sculptures.
Participants will run sample programs on the demonstration laptop to create color themes and animations. Those with capable laptops can connect to the demonstration hardware via USB. Edited code can also be emailed to the demonstration system.
IV. (30 minutes) An overview of the twelve tone Western music system and its frequencies. Participants will learn something about notes, octaves, scales / keys, and some chords. Participants will be able to reproduce these sounds on their laptops by using and editing sample programs.
The information will not be overwhelming, and the sample programs should allow for quick learning of the material.
IV. (30 minutes) A brief discussion about harmonic structures (chord progressions). We will discuss the popular I-V-vi-IV chord progression. We will look at some of the code that accepts computer keyboard input and generates light and music using the hardware.
Participants will be able to play along to songs on the demonstration hardware. The songs will be fair use clips or freely available and royalty free music. A bass guitar will be available for those who want to try playing the chord progressions on an analog instrument.
V. (30 minutes) Creating custom light shows, Part I. Participants will choose a song and use a Python script to mark chord changes as the song plays. They will then edit the resulting data file and fill in the proper chords.
Songs can be chosen from a sample library, or participants can select songs they like. The songs will be fair use clips or freely available and royalty free music.
Collaboration will be encouraged. A bass guitar will be available for those who want to try playing the chord progressions on an analog instrument.
VI. (30 minutes) Creating custom light shows, Part II. Participants will connect to the hardware via USB or copy their projects to a virus scanned USB drive. The musical light shows will be played on the demonstration hardware.
This should be a fun and entertaining multimedia event. A bass guitar will be available for those who want to try playing the chord progressions on an analog instrument.
VII. (20 minutes) Reflection and discussion. We will discuss what could be added to the system, and other activities and games that can be created. We will briefly discuss adding 2D LED matrices, 3D LED cubes, projected media, and AR / VR / XR.
Assistance from the workshop leader will be given throughout all activities. Breaks will be taken after each activity and can be adapted to the audience and activity progression.
Category: Applications of Python
Audience: Some experience
Past Speaking/Teaching Experience: Michael is a senior software engineer and technology instructor. He has taught Python to over three hundred students, in environments including the City College of New York. He has been an organizer for PyOhio, the Heartifacts developer wellness conference, and the Demosplash and @party computer art festivals. He is the Pittsburgh local lead for the NASA Space Apps Challenge. He has served on the PyCon US program committee. He has spoken at PyOhio, and was a participant in the 2021 PyCon US poster session. He is also the creator of WinterHack, a winter art and technology event.
Have you previously given this presentation?: No
If yes, where have you presented it?: This exact presentation has not been given previously, but the technology has been demonstrated at art shows and night markets as entertainment. The technology has been shown at the Pittsburgh Maker Faire, the Stark County (OH) Maker Faire, the Rooms to Let art event (Cleveland, OH), the FireFish festival (Cleveland, OH), and night events in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 12:53 AM Sarah Kuchinsky < sarah.kuchinsky@pyfound.org> wrote:
Hi Open Spaces team,
Michael would like to reserve an open space for Python related art (Python and Immersive Environments).
Michael-
Can you give the Open Spaces team a description and preferred date/time as per the following instructions?
https://us.pycon.org/2025/events/open-spaces/
Cheers, Sarah
_______________________________________________ Pycon-openspaces mailing list -- pycon-openspaces@python.org To unsubscribe send an email to pycon-openspaces-leave@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman3/lists/pycon-openspaces.python.org/ Member address: olivia.sauls@pyfound.org
participants (3)
-
Michael N -
Olivia Sauls -
Sarah Kuchinsky