The Slow Motion Display was developed as a fundamental research experimental design in the course of my master's thesis. The analog display addresses the question of how a screen representation can be slowed down with the means of design in such a way that it remains perceptible as moving images, and also works with and breaks the prevalent screen aesthetics through the choice of materials.

The result of the experiments is a textile display in which a conductive, thermochromic yarn is embroidered into an unprimed canvas in the form of a 16x16 pixel matrix. This yarn can change color from black to white or vice versa by applying a low 5V voltage. Depending on technical factors such as the length and diameter of the conductor, the mixture of the thermochromic color, the size of the pixels, etc., this display works relatively slowly. A state change of the individual picture elements takes about 20 seconds.

The form language of the individual square pixel is taken up by the cube in its shape. Thus, the apparently two-dimensional pixel becomes a three-dimensional pixel, a voxel. One becomes aware of the underlying technology with more than 750 cables. The extension of the yarn in the cables behind the canvas corresponds to this.

In this context, the representation of the display medium takes place in a newly created medium, that of the thread matrix. Thus, significant, pronounced properties of a display such as evenly arranged pixels or the ability to display moving images are translated into the context of a screen-remote medium, the textile yarn. The unusually slow movement of content on the Slow-Motion Display prompts the viewer to look at the display for a longer time, to pause, and to be patient. And while one gives the display time to develop, one becomes aware of the material, the cube, and the exposed technology.

Thus, for the moment of viewing the content, the medium on which the content is displayed disappears, until finally, the awakened curiosity shifts the viewing level to the entire object, and the interplay of the media forms a unity (hypermediacy).

Regarding the content

What can be seen is a cellular automaton (CA) that simulates the basic logic of "Langton's ant". This is based on a simple deterministic rule set:

  1. Turn left 90 degrees on a white square; turn right 90 degrees on a black square - LR

  2. Change the color of the square - (white to black or black to white).

  3. Move to the next square in the current direction of view.

Thus, the basic logic of Langton's ant simulates the biological organization of life based on a single ant from a mathematical perspective. The SlowMotion Display aestheticizes this logic in an object.

Therefore, the display functions less as a classic "display" medium on which videos, movies, etc. are displayed/played back. Rather, it has its own life/its own timeline because the algorithm will continue to run indefinitely.