Transferscope — Synthesized Reality
What if you used your surroundings as a prompt? No more guessing for a good prompt. No Keyboard required. Just point and shoot.
During my residency (Feb-June 2023) at the AI+D Lab at the HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd, I started working on various prototypes exploring generative image synthesis with Stable Diffusion.
I wanted to know what it would feel like to use a physical tool to instruct AI - using your surroundings instead of typing prompts.
The result is Transferscope. Internal: pipette
Transferscope is an AI enabled device, build with open hardware that you could make yourself to explore generative image synthesis.
The device is equipped with a camera and a small display. It captures the scene in front of it and sends it to a generative AI model. The model then synthesizes a new image based on the scene and displays it on the screen. The device is designed to be portable and easy to use, allowing users to capture and blend scenes seamlessly.
The project is still in its early stages, but I am excited to see how it will evolve in the future. I believe that Transferscope has the potential to transform the way we interact with AI and the physical world, opening up new possibilities for creativity and exploration.
My vision for Transferscope is to capture the essence of today’s generative image AI, utilizing open-source tools and models, marking the current state of the technology. It showcases the shift from genuine photography to synthetic image creation. Situating the project at the boundary between reality and AI generated content that is infiltrating our daily lives.
While the tech behind the device is complex, the user experience is simple and intuitive. This balance between advanced technology and user-friendly design is what makes it fun and engaging to use. It’s not just technology deciding the result: the user’s guidance directs the transformation. This is a example of a collaboration between human and machine that opens up new possibilities for creativity and exploration.
Creating transferscope was a iterative process, exploring the technology and form of the device. Multiple prototypes were 3D printed, tested and refined. The project is related to the unStable Mirror, a previous project that explored similar themes. It evolved from two devices to one, simplifying the user experience and enhancing the tool’s character. While working on Transferscope new advancements in AI and image synthesis were made, making it a living project that evolves with the technology.
Transferscope is an outcome of my AI+D Lab residency and my current employment as a creative technologist at the HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd
I would like to thank the AI+D Lab team for their help, feedback and perseverance through my sometimes erratic process: Benedikt Groß, Aeneas Stankowski, Rahel Flechtner, Felix Sewing, Stamatia Galanis
