The CellularRecombomat: a cellular automata video synth that plays itself

When von Neumann created the first system of cellular automata in the '40s it was purportedly to study self-replicating robots. It's taken this long for someone to finally figure out his true intentions: powering trippy video synthesizers. Enter the CellularRecombomat, a masterful example of circuit bending featuring a VTECH Lesson One, a Zenith portable DVD player, and cellular automata circuit board from synth extraordinaire Critter and Guitari. The genetic parameters (algorithm, width across the grid, and generation lifespan) are adjusted by three antenna-mounted optical sensors based on what's happening on the screen, meaning this thing effectively plays itself. But, for a little hands-on manipulation, the silver spheres on either side can be touched and caressed to "freak out the video sync and audio in wondrous ways." Check out a video of those wondrous ways on display after the break.

[Via MAKE]

[steve ballmer @ Jun 9th 2008 8:33PM]

I don't understand.... what does this have to do with the iPhone?

[fred @ Jun 9th 2008 8:39PM]

I'm sick of these non-iPhone stories clogging up the front page.

[iEye @ Jun 9th 2008 8:39PM]

They both look like shite!

[finnith @ Jun 9th 2008 10:15PM]

I'm getting sick of these sarcastic comments., ugh.

Seriously though Engadget, has the rest of the gadget world really stopped?

And why is iEye not banned yet?

[OneLove @ Jun 9th 2008 11:50PM]

english pwease! CellularRecombobastic? what?

[retro77 @ Jun 9th 2008 8:34PM]

Woah, trippy. Sounds like an Atari that dropped too much acid.

[Chris Macdonald @ Jun 9th 2008 8:40PM]

NO ONE CARES I WANT MORE IPHONE POSTS

[iEye @ Jun 9th 2008 8:45PM]

Why don't you take you sleeping bag, your macbook air, iPod and camp outside the Apple store so that you can make sure that you are the first person that gets bent over and wallet-raped with a 2-year contract for an ugly as sin phone...

Nothing more about the iPhone

-ugly
-crap GPS
-no Stereo BT
-you have to sign a contract...

done, now go away you horrid man...

[Chris Macdonald @ Jun 9th 2008 8:50PM]

I actually don't own anything by apple

and i like to make jokes too

[Ellianth @ Jun 9th 2008 8:44PM]

It plays with itself? hahaha

[Minilap @ Jun 9th 2008 8:51PM]

it plays random notes, not a big deal imo.

[Ryan Beesley @ Jun 9th 2008 9:04PM]

@Minilap: obviously you don't understand if you believe it is playing random notes. It is playing notes based on the rules defined by the cellular automata. It uses the "antenna" as feedback, and therefore it is probably not humanly possible to repeat the same performance, but it is by no means random. It's not all that different from an idea I had kicking around, but this certainly goes a step or two beyond what I had imagined putting together.

[marty.com.au @ Jun 9th 2008 9:20PM]

There is a really good movie on this sort of stuff called "8-bit"
you should try and look out for it.

:o)

[erica @ Jun 9th 2008 11:21PM]

Has engadget already covered this? http://www.glitchds.com/ Because this would fit nicely with the cellular automata tag as well. It's a free download for nintendo DS. It's amazingly fun (my friend made it.)

[Skorpius @ Jun 10th 2008 1:35AM]

Reminds me of when the Atari 2600 would freeze up if you jiggled the selector switch.

[A.C.E.R. @ Jun 10th 2008 2:25AM]

In all the time he spent making that thing he could've made something cool.