(Video) Robotic Installation Generates Phrases With Physical Type

The Four Letter Words installation by interactive artist Rob Seward is a collection of robotics that can form any set of four-letter words using fluorescent lights. The device displays algorithmically generated phrases from a linguistic database developed at the University of South Florida.

Seward explains below:

The algorithms take into account word meaning, rhyme, letter sequencing, and association. The algorithm’s tendency towards scatological or “dark” subject matter is influenced by a variety of language and perception studies, especially Elliot McGinnies’ 1949 study “Emotionality and Perceptual Defense.

While the piece was conceived with idea of displaying algorithmically generated lists, it was designed with flexibility and expandability in mind. The individual units can be connected ad-infinitum, and are theoretically capable of displaying any length of text. While Four Letter Words deals with a specific range of content, the technology can be easily expanded for future textual experiments.

Watch a video of the installation below:

Four Letter Words from Rob Seward on Vimeo.

[via Rhizome]