scanlime: hacking hardware and software for art and human connections

April 14, 2016 12:20 PM

Micah Elizabeth Scott, or scanlime, is an artist and engineer who focuses on "the boundaries between technology, society, and creative expression". Recently, she has taken from writing cool software like Zen Photon (previously) and constructing open source hardware to creating videos documenting some of her work. These videos offer insight not only into the "what'" and "how" of some of her projects, but also her thought process and dead ends, as well as guest appearances by her lovely cat. For example: coastermelt part 1 and part 2. Additionally, you can check out her art or read her technical blog.

More links:

• An interview. Another.
• A VMWare easter egg
• Building a Super Nintendo out of a wireless keyboard

posted by yeahwhatever (7 comments total)

I know scanlime through another friend, and I am convinced that she thinks I'm the weirdest person alive. Whenever I see her around, I get all stuttery and awkward and basically just want to beg her to TEACH ME WHAT YOU KNOW YOU ARE SO AWESOME. Instead I just come off like a dork even though I am usually a pretty collected person. And this post, man. This is why.

Oh well.

She's great.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 12:54 PM on April 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

Fadecandy is sooo awesome. Just amazing.
posted by poe at 1:19 PM on April 14, 2016

Watching her dig into bluray burner hardware in those Coastermelt videos was like reading about bunnie Huang track down the source of errors he found in microSD FLASH cards.

I understand just a fraction of what they're doing, but they do it so well, I keep watching and reading. Thanks for sharing this!
posted by filthy light thief at 2:16 PM on April 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

Here is something fascinating from her.
posted by Oyéah at 2:56 PM on April 14, 2016

Her art is incredible, her craft is amazing and the Fadecandy is a go to for so many projects.
posted by ryoshu at 3:56 PM on April 14, 2016

Fadecandy is awesome! I'm using it to program some RGB LEDs to simulate a sunrise, and hoping to use it as an wakeup light alarm clock. Fadecandy made it very slick. Thanks Micah!
posted by beepbeepboopboop at 4:54 PM on April 14, 2016

Give this person a MacArthur grant, stat!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 5:52 PM on April 14, 2016