Where does the project come from?
Data Cocktail evolved from Soif de Parti, a project resulting from a workshop organized in February 2014 at the Laboratoire Arts et Technologie of the Stereolux. The theme was then around the tangible representation of data through other senses than sight. France was, at that time, in a period of elections and Soif de Parti aimed at translating through taste the political color of the ongoing Twitter.
A first demo of Soif de Parti happened during the Web2day in June 2014.
Team for the workshop: Bertille Masse, Manon Le Moal-Joubel, Sébastien Maury, Clément Gault & Thibaut Métivier.
Team for the Web2day event: Bertille Masse, Manon Le Moal-Joubel, Sébastien Maury & Clément Gault.
In September 2014, Clément Gault revived the project and made it evolve to become Data Cocktail. Demos were proposed for the first time at the Web2day in June 2015 and then at the Festival D in September the same year.
Which cocktail ingredients can be used?
Basically any. Only dense or viscous ones should be avoided.
What kind of Twitter requests can be used?
The system will accept either words (e.g. chocolate or rabbit), hashtags (e.g. #COP21 or #res2016) or also mentions (e.g. @fhollande or @Cointreau). Curiously, only the word ‘twitter’ cannot be picked.
Is it possible to use a twitter account other than @datacocktail to make the machine work?
Naturally. For a special event, we may either use your personal account, the one of your company or the one created for the event.
How long does it take to prepare the cocktail?
Depending on the device configuration, the preparation of the cocktail can take up to a minute. Also, when many visitors are expected, the ingredients containers might require a refill.
How about system tuning or possible variations in configuration?
In its current configuration, Data Cocktail may provide up to 6 different ingredients, corresponding to 6 different twitter requests. However, the device could potentially propose more. Moreover, cocktails usually contain 5 doses, a number that can be modified on demand.
The video describing Data Cocktail shows the base of the display on the left side. It can however be located either on the other side or in the middle, allowing comparison of two groups of requests.
The device currently produces cocktails based on tweets, however, other projects are in preparation.
Technically speaking, how does it work?
Data Cocktail uses Processing and Arduino programming languages. A first application, developed in Processing, pilots the device. The requests are performed using the Twitter4J library, then the application processes the data and controls the device, i.e. the robot, the solenoid valves and the light. The robot itself is based on a modified Zumo chassis, an Arduino Pro, a Motor Shield and a Bluetooth module. The solenoid valves and the LEDs are controlled by an Arduino Due connected via USB. The printing is realized by Automator.
A part of the source code will be soon available here.
Remerciements :
Bertille Masse, Manon Le Moal-Joubel, Sébastien Maury and Thibaut Métivier.
Lucile Colombain and Xavier Seignard for the organization of the kickoff workshop.
The Stereolux, and in particular Martin Lambert and Boris Letessier for the follow-up and the reception during the residence.
The FabMake, and in particular its manager Olivier Daïrien.
Maël Pinard for the idea of the robot.
Our thanks also go to Ping and to the Web2day which gave us an opportunity to present Data Cocktail through its development.
Eventually, a great thank you to Franck Lefèvre for his priceless support.
