If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is the equivalent value of a mosaic composed of several thousand individual images?

I love playing around with modern AI-based image generators like Stable Diffusion, Midjourney and DALL-E running a local version of the former on my server.

But for some data (like family photos) and some purposes (like a birthday present for a loved one) I prefer creating from scratch and by hand. In this case of course, "by hand" means writing code to make a program do something that would otherwise take me weeks or months to accomplish, if at all.

MosaicMaker is an example of that. It generates a big picture consisting of thousands of tiles that are single pictures themselves. These are automatically distributed, fitted and color-adjusted to generate an outcome that is still true to the original "big pic" from distance but detailed enough to identify the tiny images when close-by.

The size and detail is only limited by the computer's memory but commonly around 5,000 tiles (with duplicates to compensate for lack of input). MosaicMaker composes a single grand mosaic that you can watch and zoom-in on your screen or print out as a poster or similar, which makes it a perfect present.

#images #2D #mosaic #presents #digital #Python

Clara Lemos is a natural scientist working in the health industry with her second life devoted to the arts. In that regard, she is not unlike myself, though probably more successful in both areas ;-)

ChatGPT would describe her art style as "minimalistic, with a focus on clean lines and geometric shapes. The color palette is often monochromatic, with a limited range of shades used to create a sense of simplicity and calm. The compositions are carefully balanced, with a strong emphasis on negative space and the use of symmetry. Overall, the art style is characterized by its clear and precise visual language, which conveys a sense of order and restraint."

Her exhibition is featured in my gallery which you can visit here. Stroll around and admire her art on canvas using touch controls on mobile or WASD/arrow keys in your favorite browser.

#art #interactive #3D #Browser #WebApp #WebGL #Unity #Csharp

The solar system, in which we reside, is a magnificent embodiment of the laws of nature and a testament to the intricacies of the universe. It is a beautiful example of how the seemingly insignificant actions of simple physical principles can lead to the creation of something so grand and diverse.

The solar system is a complex system that operates through the interactions of celestial bodies, each subject to the laws of gravity and motion. The delicate balance between these forces is what keeps the planets in their orbits and enables life to thrive on Earth. This balance highlights the interconnectedness of all things in the universe and the idea that everything is part of a larger whole.

SystemaSolaris let's you travel the stage that is our solar system and provides information on its actors from a more philosophical perspective than your average astronomy book. 

#art #interactive #3D #mobile #Unity #Csharp

Colors represent the diversity and richness of our world. They are a manifestation of the different hues and shades that make up our reality, and they serve as a reminder of the beauty and complexity of existence.

The idea for this little game emerged when my 2-year-old started differentiating and naming colors while my 5-year-old started learning how to read and write. The concept is simple: From a bunch of monsters, hit (i.e. click) the one of the color written. The three age levels are:

Toddlers practice associating colors:

"BLUE" -> Find and strike the blue monster

Kids practice reading:

"BLUE" -> Find and strike the blue monster

Adults battle with conflicting stimuli (-> Stroop effect):

"blue" -> Find and strike the blue monster

Get rid of all monsters to advance levels, lose life when striking a monster of the wrong color.

#gaming #edutainment #mobile #stroopeffect #2D #Unity #Csharp

Gaming is one of my many passions and this mobile game, Agents of DCeption, was my first attempt at a bigger hobby project in that area. It combines many aspects that I love: strategy games, travelling the world, deduction methods to reveal hidden identities, multiplayer, pixel art, and more.

It is a turn-based strategy mobile game with rounds for up to 10 players. You can also play against the AI or a mix of AI and real players. The goal is to gather enough intel on the enemy players in order to uniquely identify and eliminate them from the game. You accomplish this by recruiting and training agents, doing missions, investing in assets, travelling from city to city and engaging enemy agents.

Plus: You can earn cute pixel-art pets as rewards that boost some of your agents' stats!

#gaming #multiplayer #strategy #turnbased #SRPG #mobile #2D #Unity #Csharp

Which animal is more closely related to the snow leopard, is it the leopard or the tiger? Is French or Italian more similar to the Corsican language? The obvious answer is not always the correct one (the latter answers are correct btw).

During my studies and my master's thesis I got absorbed with evolutionary relationships, phylogenetic trees and genetic similarites. This little quiz game serves as an educational extension to that passion.

Given a triplet of species or languages, decide which tree best reflects the evolutionary relationship between the three. Or, in an alternative game mode, what is the correct name of the depicted plant species given a choice between 4 closely related species?

#gaming #quiz #phylogeny #mobile #2D #Unity #Csharp

Embark on a journey where fate and chance converge in a dynamic ballet of existence. Automated Battle Royale is not just a digital pastime; it's a philosophical exploration of life's unpredictability and the interplay of destiny and choice. Each participant, symbolized by a distinct sprite, meanders through a shared arena—much like individuals traversing the tapestry of life. As they cross paths, the roll of a die determines their continuance or cessation, mirroring the serendipitous encounters and unforeseen turns that shape our own narratives.

By allowing you to upload a personalized list of names or utilize a default ensemble for swift demonstrations, the game becomes a reflection of our interconnectedness and the randomness that influences our paths. Its professional design and refined aesthetics make it a suitable addition to any environment, be it a corporate setting or a contemplative space. Give it go to witness the delicate balance between randomness and determinism, and to ponder the profound question: how much of our journey is guided by chance, and how much by choice?

#helper #tool #lottery #BattleRoyale #browser #2D #HTML #css #JavaScript

If you have kids, you probably remember the times when you and your partner were constantly discussing what name to give to your offspring.

DCision is a naming app that is based on crowd voting. You can have your partner, family or friends participate and support you in your decision-making by assigning different weights to their votes. Currently, more than 5,000 names from all over the world are featured.

Cross-talk with other apps: Civilians in my mobile game "Agents of DCeption" are named according to the globally top ranked baby names in DCision.

#family #babynames #crowdvoting #mobile #2D #Unity #Csharp

This little family project originates in the early Covid-19 lockdown times when people had to stay at home more often. When offices, kindergartens, etc. closed down, public life came to a halt but some of the most pressing challenges of our time did not.

We started setting up little scenes with LEGO bricks and minifigures holding original (and copied) posters going on a climate strike. Other protests, for example, against social injustice and warmongering followed (-> check out my Instagram for some more).

In relation to that, we had the pleasure of contributing to activities like "One Day in 2050", a collaborative platform on narratives of climate change.

#protest #climatechange #demo4democracy #makelovenotwar #familytime #lego #afol #analog #gimp #onedayin2050