In its sixth year, TIFF’s Digiplayspace returns to bring entertaining and educational installations that mix art and technology.
Aimed at kids from 3 to 13, it opens up this weekend — just in time for Family Day and March Break — and the exhibit features some World and Canadian premieres, but really is much more about providing a hands-on environment for kids to play and interact with.
There is the Appcade, an area with iPad and apps for people to try as well as video games. Virtual reality is represented by seats with Google Cardboard headsets and programming. There is light focus on ways to learn how to code in the Makers’ Space apps and activities. Kids can try to create a circuit breaker that runs through Plasticine or attempt to deploy a catapult. There’s also a Minecraft-inspired programming game.
Here are five of the big exhibits worth trying out:
Mimic
In the works for three years, this installation was commissioned by TIFF. It features an industrial arm that reacts and interacts with people as they walk by a modified Kinect sensor. People can walk in front of it trying to the robotic arm’s attention. It’s meant to respond a bit like an animal, although depending on what a user does in front of it, it may also earn its name.
Canada on (Green) Screen & Animation Space Station.
Some of the beloved elements of previous years are the green screen and stop motion installations. Canada on (Green) Screen uses footage from Parks Canada and lets people insert themselves beside polar bears and other animals. Animation Space Station is a stop-motion exhibit featuring science fiction themed art from local children’s illustrator John Martz, with spots for people to pose in. The images are captured and then looped to create an amusing animation.
Virtual Growth
A North American premiere from Dutch artist Lieven van Velthoven, this exhibit features programmed light projections onto an area made up of large blocks or wood. People can move around the objects and see how the light changes. The artist describes it as “living light”, and it can interact with people in the space.
M/O
It looks like a bit like a satellite, with a scaffolding frame holding 28 iPad minis in a circle, each screen depicting a portion of the galaxy, with rocket ships, asteroids and more. People can interact with the screens, walking around the piece trying to get the entire picture.
Last One Standing
Initially created as part of TOjam, the annual local competition to create a game in 48 hours, this intriguing video game is a really fun and amusing take on multiplayer domino toppling. Up to four players can play and each get assigned a colour. As they move around the board, a chain of dominoes is created behind your lead one. The goal is to start the chain reaction of toppling your opponents and be the last one remaining. Matches are quick, fast and fun.
Digiplayspace runs from February 18 to April 23 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Entry on weekdays is $11 and $13 on weekends.
Digiplayspace runs from February 18 to April 23 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Entry on weekdays is $11 and $13 on weekends.
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