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EMLI (a plant detector) is used to explore the physical phenomenon of organic semiconductors. Apparently, each individual cell in a plant is electrically polarized and acts as a tiny, variable battery. The electrical potentials occuring in tissues are summation effects of the potentials of individual cells which may act either in series or in parallel (Rosen, 1935). The focus of this project is to build a functional and presentable version of EMLI and a simple interface for people and plant-friends to interact. This interface is modelled after an abacus where each bead represents a quantity of information in a qualitative and tangible way. The abacus user interface promotes a touch-kinesthetic relationship with the plants (via EMLI) and affords the user a greater capacity to interact qualitatively. In this way, Abacus (code name ABCS) has great potential to be more than a curious interface. How EMLI works: EMLI is a circuit that connects to plants via active electrodes which deliver a small current into the leaves. This stimulates the plant. The variable resistance from the plant is converted/amplified into a micro-voltage that can be read into an A/D interface (Arduino), or Abacus (analog) for processing. How Abacus works: Individual beads of the abacus are given a value based on the variable resistance voltage from EMLI. The abacus can then be played with, like a toy, to make sounds or control a more complex interface. The sounds are generated from Max/msp software. EMLI is able to connect with the computer through the Arduino and Abacus. STORY: http://www.vslvx.org/EMLI/emily.html
Similar projects Michael Theroux The intention of the work by Michael Theroux, when he was the director of Borderlands Research, was to recreate and further the work of Lucas George Lawrence. He wrote a few articles including "Detecting Biodynamic Signals" with inconclusive results... Therouxs efforts focused mainly on interstellar communication using organic semiconductors such as plants, and organic baths. The impetus which directed these experiments toward those of Lawrence was the fact that he was able to obtain directional and "wireless" biodynamic signals over great distances.The schematic for the plant response detector we constructed for the first project contained errors, admitted by Theroux himself after some investigation.
Cleve Backster Famous for hooking up plants to polygraph units and discovering the phenomena named after hium, Clevel backster is a researched in biocommunication and 'primary perception'. "Biocommunication is the general field of study of communication between different biological life forms, mostly in nature, sometimes in the laboratory. It involves the use of instrumentation to observe reactive events occurring in all kinds of life–animal, plant, cellular, microscopic, and so on — and includes observational biology, high quality observational studies. Also included is the study of the effect of human thought and intention on life forms in the environment. Primary Perception is the vehicle of communication, the invisible, unrecognized field that interconnects all species and life forms, whereby biocommunication can occur. Coined by Cleve Backster, primary perception is distinct from extra sensory perception (ESP) in that it occurs before the human specialized senses of taste, touch, hearing, sight and smell. It is likely going on all the time. (Needless to say the Quantum Physicists are thrilled with his research.)"
George L. Lawrence Lawrence published a schematic in a June 1971 issue of Popular Electronics. This article is now the primary source of information in building a plant response detector. The information we have retrieved on L. George Lawrence’s achievements is scant at best. Much of it comes from the few articles he wrote, and the brief generalizations from the writers of more popularized books. The whereabouts of his equipment and/or notebooks is not known at this time.
Satoshi Kuribayashi
Results!
First results. Plateaus represent plant response. See video. Hear this(.aif 1.5mb)
Video - click here please
Photo Gallery
Code
Max/MSP interface including
Why is this project more original/meaningful/exciting?
The meaning of this project EMLI is primarily a curious and creative exploration. Play is important in itself for learning and inspiration. EMLI is a way for people (the authors) to understand what types of responses plants are capable of, and Abacus is a way to stimulate further interaction. In it's basic function EMLI and Abacus connect plants and humans in a qualitative way. Our project is different from the above projects in the sense that we intend to interact with plants with a custom interface. So far, from what we see, little initiative has been taken to cooperate with our plant-friends. The available research in biological communication generally remains under the guises of scientific investigation. It is our intent to make EMLI and Abacus a real object capable of a real conversation between people and plants.
Technical Implementation/Fabrication
In terms of fabrication, our experience and understanding, especially of the op-amp, which we gained in our last project have been invaluable. The several small but important changes in our new circuit apparently correct some major mistakes that were present in our last ones, namely with the bi-polarized power supply, which was not grounded properly in our previous circuit. The plant differential is measure by the circuit, but receiving the input, and sending it through an op-amp positive feedback loop which effectively amplifies very very small differential potentials by a magnitude of several hundred. The switching mechanisms allow for calibration of the circuit before the inputs are opened and the plant's potential is read.
In creating the Abacus, we are attempting to create a method of human interaction with the plant, namely by adding or taking away circular disks, in the form of a single abacus row. Each of the abacus disks would have natural resistance to it, so that the more disks added to the stack, the higher the resistance of the stack would be, which, in essence, would allow the stack to act like a variable resistance sensor. In order to do this, we decided to embed in each wooden disk two conductive areas, one positive, one negative, which would be shielded from each other by the wooden disk. The top abacus disk will have a connection between the positive and negative areas. To use the disks, you align them so that all the positives and negatives line up, and then place the special top disk on the top of the pile. This forces the current to go all the way up through the stack and then all the way back down into the rest of the circuit.
References |
EMLI > 
Abacus > 
User (boy/girl/other)
Acupuncture needles as electrodes in the stem of a philodendron (Phil).
Ilona, the greenhouse supervisor, being friendly with Phil.
