PC Apps

Once you have installed the RunSwimFly software you can run these applets by clicking on the image. It may take a little time to download necessary data the first time you run them.

Applets requiring webcams have been placed at the bottom of the list. Note that for correct operation you should go into your webcam controls and turn off any automatic adjustment of exposure, gain and white balance. Open up a webcam window and set these values manually. Also select the mirrored image option. Webcam apps work best where lighting of foreground objects (ie you) is strong and there is good colour contrast between moving foreground objects and the static background.

Keyboard commands common to all Apps are Escape to access the menu system, F12 to pause/unpause and F11 to toggle the frame counter. Specific commands for each App can can be found in their description or "read more" section.

mousegalaxy_loUse the left mouse button to increase the fall off of gravity with respect to distance and the right mouse button to decrease the fall off. Moving the mouse will destroy any pretence that this program makes at being a simulation but it can stretch the starfield into interesting swirly patterns. And nothing is better than that. Is it?

galaxy_loThe stars in this galactic simulation are attracted to each other and to motion detected by the webcam.

mousecolour_loMove the mouse to push the coloured fluid around and to paint on to the background canvas. The liquid will gradually evapourate. Pressing either mouse button will add more liquid. The liquid cycles through various colours. Move the mouse at the appropriate time to lay that colour down on the canvas.

galaxyrepel_loSimilar to the galaxy attract applet but in this one the stars are repelled by motion detected by the webcam.

invaders_loStop the invading creatures as close to the water hole as possible for maximum points. Use the mouse to aim and mouse button to fire. If you wait longer before firing you will get a larger more destructive projectile. If the creatures get too close you will be pushed backwards and it will take time for you to get back closer to the water hole where you can earn more points.

ngalaxyglow_loThis applet is similar to galaxy repel above but here the stars are repelled by foreground object outlines rather than by motion. It allows you to herd and concentrate stars in a way that you cannot with the motion detection method. However it is a little more sensitive to lighting and contrast in the webcam image. You can just play with the image or read more for advanced controls.

simuleditor_loDO NOT RUN THIS APP IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALL. (There is a bug which causes it to crash unless you have run a different app first.) This is a combination particle/object simulator/editor. You can use it to just have a play with existing data files or you can create your own 3D objects and then investigate the effects of impacts and heat. It also includes a terrain simulator/editor. Terrains created here can also be used with the Invaders game. See the "read more" link below for keyboard commands.

invaders_loInstructions are the same as invaders above. Hold a diffuse light source (such as a mobile phone screen displaying a bright white image) in front of the camera to grab the projectile. Push it towards the screen to shoot. The light source needs to be somewhat brighter than background light levels so darken the room. It takes some practice to operate. Here's a video of it being used.

colour_loA webcam version of the mouse driven Liquid Paint program. Fire it up and move about to push the coloured fluid this way and that. The fluid gradually evapourates but the more you move the more fluid is created.  See webcam usage notes above.

npedit_loThis applet allows you to mold a kind of digital clay.  Have a bit of a play or see read more for details of advanced interaction.

colour_loA faster running lower resolution version. Note that you can also control resolution and speed by using the camera resolution selector in menu options. However on most cameras this can change the screen area by as much as 4x. This applet provides a more subtle resolution drop and speed increase.

newclone_loThis app allows you to clone and interact with moving parts of the webcam image. See read more to understand the complexities of this difficult to use applet.

imp_loThis Applet takes webcam input and turns it into a moving "Impressionist" painting if I may (mis)appropriate the term for the result of an automated process. Press the number keys to select between various painting styles and press 'P' to define painting styles. See "read more".

locoldmodA little applet that I came up with while creating something else. Have a play or see read more for advanced controls.

blur_loDistort the webcam image by moving about, blinking, opening your mouth and doing all manner of odd things. Pressing either mouse button will cycle between "oil" and "water" fluid simulations.

hotbond_loAnother little applet that I came up with while creating something else. Have a play or see read more for advanced controls.

blur_loA faster running lower resolution version. Note that you can also control resolution and speed by using the camera resolution selector in menu options. However on most cameras this can change the screen area by as much as 4x. This applet provides a more subtle resolution drop and speed increase.