Permanent Exhibit at the Clore Garden of Science
Weizmann Institute, Israel
2024
Role: Lead developer and designer
ALL IS CODE is an interactive, physical programming environment that reimagines the act of coding as a creative, collaborative, and tactile experience. Conceptualized, designed, and led by me, this permanent exhibit bridges technology, education, and play to make fundamental concepts of computer programming and signal processing accessible to diverse audiences, with a particular focus on younger visitors.
Housed within a custom-designed pavilion, the exhibit features three control consoles, each connected to an output device that expresses code through a distinct medium: sound, video, and motion. Surrounding each console is a set of modular, connectable boxes that act as logical building blocks. These modules can be physically linked in various configurations to form algorithms, enabling visitors to program intricate patterns that drive the behavior of the output devices.
As the project leader, I worked closely with hardware designers, architects, and hardware programmers to bring this vision to life. My role encompassed creating the overarching concept, designing the user experience, and programming the software, while also coordinating across disciplines to ensure the seamless integration of hardware and design elements.
The exhibit is based on a programming paradigm known as Data Flow Programming, where algorithms are represented as a tree graph of logical modules. Data flows continuously through these modules, which process the input and pass it forward, culminating in real-time feedback at the console. This paradigm eliminates the need for textual code, instead allowing visitors to construct algorithms through hands-on interaction with physical elements.
ALL IS CODE caters to a wide range of visitors:
Young and inexperienced users: An introductory, playful experience that introduces core ideas from digital media, allowing direct control of output devices.
Intermediate users: A platform to explore simple logical structures and foundational computing concepts, encouraging experimentation and creativity.
Advanced users: Opportunities to design complex algorithms and solve challenging logical puzzles, allowing deep engagement and problem-solving skills.
By transforming programming into a tangible, physical experience, ALL IS CODE promotes new ways of learning, gamification, improvisation, and collaboration. The carefully designed modules minimize error potential, allowing intuitive exploration and an aesthetic, hands-on approach to coding.
Production: Fast Music Interactive
Curator: Amir Schor
Architect: Elad Cohen
Hardware Integration & Video Programming: Itay Gal
Production & Sound Design: Yoav Rosental