I present to you the s_trope machine, an invention from the (paralel) past to enliven the future! This machine, a blend of analog and digital, is designed to play music and display images in an old-fashioned style. It serves as a device to view early 20th-century music videos, featuring popular hits of that era. The project was developed using krpano, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Howler.js, serving as both a fun diversion and a research project to explore the capabilities of krpano beyond 360-degree views. The CSS is traditionally programmed, employing both absolute and relative positioning with coordinates. The application is fully interactive and can be regarded as a game... What is it and how do you use this gadget? You'll find out when you get it right!
History
The project began from a desire to explore alternative functions of krpano, beyond its standard use in 360-degree views. It was initially envisioned as a small technical test lasting no more than an hour, aimed at reproducing a video from a few frames, without music. However, as often happens with geek minds, the project grew more complex and expansive. During the summer, with free time available, this small test evolved into a captivating project, akin to the hobby of building model trains. Two years after the initial prototype, the project was completed, following many nights and hours devoted to refining details and even enjoying music from the 1920s!
Spoiler on How It Works
To enjoy this invention, simply follow these steps:
- Choose a song
- Start the machine
- Adjust the shutter speed until a constant flickering is achieved
- Find the playback speed of the tape
- Adjust the volume to your liking
- When you have done everything correctly, you will know because everything will be working properly :-)
Enjoy the experience as your great-grandparents might have!
To operate the machine, screen flickering is required. I must note that I am not certain if this flickering could be harmful to individuals with sensitivities to such visual effects. What I have observed is that watching it for an extended period can be slightly dizzying. Therefore, I have included a legal disclaimer warning about this. This is a personal artistic project and has not been designed with the visual comfort of the user as the primary consideration.
