Robert Hodgin
Bio
Robert Hodgin is the Interactive Director and Co-Founder of the Design + Technology studio Rare Volume.
He graduated in 1998 with a degree in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Robert was also a founding partner of the Barbarian Group and worked with them until late 2009. He also helped to establish the west coast office and was head of the labs division. Robert also worked with Bloom Studio in early 2011 and worked on the Planetary iPad app which was the first code acquisition by the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
Robert is a co-creator of the Cinder C++ framework along with Andrew Bell, Hai Nguyen, and dozens of developers around the world.
His work ranges from simple 2D data visualizations to immersive 3D terrain simulations. Roberts primary interests include theoretical physics, astronomy, particle engines, and audio visualizations. I work in Cinder, OpenGL, and GLSL.
Session
Practice makes perfect, so what are you practicing?
Six years ago, I created my first programmed magnetic repulsion effect. In the years that followed, I continued to fine tune and explore the phenomenon of electrostatic fields and gravitational forces.
I used the necessary equations for these invisible forces to create audio visualizations, natural simulations, and artistic interpretations.
Everything fell into place as things tend to do when you are dealing with specific formula in controlled situations.
Recently, however, my fascination with these invisible forces has started to work its way into my day to day.
I can't close my eyes to sleep without seeing charged particles spreading out in the blackness.
I can't walk down a crowded sidewalk without thinking about how repulsive forces lead to collision avoidance.
I can't look at flowering tree without considering the complex mathematics and infinite iterations it would take to create such intense beauty and variety.
Im my presentation, I will discuss these forces at greater length and show some implementations and unexpected uses.