ACTICHOKE, interactive projector | iO srl by Gianpietro Gai at Coroflot.com

ACTICHOKE, interactive projector | iO srl

ACTICHOKE, interactive projector | iO srl from Gianpietro Gai

ACTICHOKE, interactive projector | iO srl

In 2007, 3M and iO presented "iOO", an interactive installation where volumes where redisegned by light. "iOO" or "Actichoke" - because of its "leafs" recalling an artichoke - was the first product of the iOO design line; a limited edition object transforming any surface (walls, tables, floors) to a dynamic human-interaction screen.
The company request to my studio was a hanging object containing a PC, a projector, a webcam and two infrared spotlights, together with other hardware. It was also necessary to: grant an high air flow for cooling the system; an easy fine positioning system for installing the machine; easy servicing of parts and a strongly styled aspect.

Everything was developed by my studio: from initial concept to final functional prototypes making, passing through internal structure engineering, and technical drawings. The prototype was built by myself in two versions: the first in varnished alluminium, and the second in in-mould-varnished fiberglass.

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ACTICHOKE, first prototype (varnished alluminium shields) hanging from Milan zona Tortona's showroom ceiling. First image.

ACTICHOKE, first prototype (varnished alluminium shields) hanging from Milan zona Tortona's showroom ceiling. Bottom view in full light: note the "iOO" logo.

ACTICHOKE, first prototype (varnished alluminium shields) hanging from Milan zona Tortona's showroom ceiling. Bottom view from another angle: to note that the particular "reverse" simmetry of the two sides, and their peculiar design, made possible to view a totally different object, depending on the angle one was looking at it.

ACTICHOKE, first prototype (varnished alluminium shields) hanging from Milan zona Tortona's showroom ceiling. Bottom view: the projector is visible.

ACTICHOKE, first prototype (varnished alluminium shields) hanging from Milan zona Tortona's showroom ceiling. General view: above the Actichoke the projection table is visible.

ACTICHOKE, first prototype (varnished alluminium shields) hanging from Milan zona Tortona's showroom ceiling. The Actichoke in action.

ACTICHOKE, first prototype (varnished alluminium shields) hanging from Milan zona Tortona's showroom ceiling. The installation venue with floor, table and wall projections.

ACTICHOKE, first prototype (varnished alluminium shields) hanging from Milan zona Tortona's showroom ceiling. A moment of the show with people visiting and trying the interactive installations

ACTICHOKE, first prototype (varnished alluminium shields) hanging from Milan zona Tortona's showroom ceiling. The table with interactive projection.

ACTICHOKE, first prototype. The table with interactive projection, detail.

ACTICHOKE, limited edition final version. The web page where the product was commercialized.

ACTICHOKE, limited edition final version. Lateral view. On this last version the assembly system was optimized by reducing the number of different "petals" to only two ones: a couple repeated twice on both sides. This was made trying to keep the form the more similiar to first one as possible.

ACTICHOKE, limited edition final version. Top view photorealistic render. The product was furtherly developed by defining a lot more details like electric and electronics connectors on the upper side, a new multihole alluminium shield on top and a clean stainless steel cables and tensors for the positioning system.