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The ideas explored in Machine: Affecting Effect are the possibilities for interactivity between humans and electro-mechanical objects and how to engage people in play through kinetic sculpture. A magnetically-responsive material called ferrofluid is also explored in this piece. The ferrofluid lies in a reservoir at the base of a three-foot diameter stainless steel sphere mounted on a pedestal. When the viewer approaches the sculpture, it responds by swiveling the fluid toward the viewer, displaying liquid metal-like geometric patterns according to the magnetic field. Affecting Effect was designed to surprise viewers with the object following them, make the viewer wonder how a fluid levitates around a sphere, and awe the viewer with the obscure properties of the ferrofluid.
