Fabric Museum: TextLoom

The project, TextLoom, is an interactive installation exhibited at the Fabric Museum, exploring the intersection of traditional weaving techniques and computer programming. Inspired by the Jacquard Loom, the installation enables users to generate text through weaving actions, integrating sound-reactive generative typography. This case study examines the technological, artistic, and conceptual aspects of TextLoom, emphasizing its role in bridging historical textile craftsmanship with contemporary digital media. At the core of TextLoom is a generative typography system developed using Processing. The system employs a sound-reactive typewriter and pattern-making tool that transforms letters based on diverse sound frequencies, ensuring that no two visual outputs are identical. To reinforce the connection to traditional weaving, a custom typeface was designed, mirroring the structured patterns found in textiles. The installation incorporates a tabletop tray designed to resemble a traditional weaving shuttle, an essential tool for carrying threads across a loom. The interaction mechanism, programmed using Arduino, requires users to simulate the movement of a shuttle to transmit messages, embodying the physical act of weaving as a mode of digital text generation.