IOGraphica
Generative art created from everyday computer activity.
IOGraphica is a process that turns mouse movement into visual artifacts. The idea is simple: run IOGraph in the background while you go about your daily work. Later, return to the program and export an image generated from your activity.
Background
Iographica began while I was working on a particularly dull project. I had to do the work anyway, but I wanted something interesting to happen in parallel — for the time spent on routine tasks to automatically produce something more engaging.
At first it was just a small script — very basic — but it already produced unexpectedly compelling graphics. I combined those images with screenshots of the software I was using at the time and shared them online together with the script. The post spread quickly.
With encouragement from my friend and colleague Andrey Shipilov, the experiment gradually evolved into IOGraphica.
Notes
An Unexpected Call
After I shared the early version online, it spread quickly. At the time, my mobile number was still publicly listed on my website, and most unfamiliar numbers meant spam. One evening I decided to answer one of them. It was an editor from The New York Times asking for an interview. You never know.
A False Positive
One day I received a notification from Dropbox informing me that my account had been suspended. The reason given was distribution of malicious software — the flagged files were IOGraph. It took some time to reach support and explain what the program actually did. Eventually, the account was restored.
A Medical Detour
Several people from medical circles approached me about using the application to explore early signs of Parkinson’s through motor patterns. During COVID, I helped a doctor in the United States build a simple remote spiral test as a temporary alternative to in-person visits.
The Software
IOGraph
IOGraph is the software behind IOGraphica. It records mouse movement and turns it into lines and points. It does not record clicks, typing, or any other content, for security reasons.
The program can run for hours, days, or longer. The longer it runs, the denser the image becomes. The source code is available on GitHub.
Featured
New York Times
A free downloadable application that turns mouse movement into a blur between art and information.
Gizmodo
An “awesome little program” you can download and experiment with yourself — “useless and fun.”
In use
One Year at Work
Every working day of 2012 was recorded and visualised with IOGraphica, then compiled into a video. By I Am Jonay.
Radiologist’s 8-hour Shift
Radiologists at University Hospital Basel used IOGraphica images in an article discussing the increasing volume and complexity of diagnostic imaging studies. Published in Radiology, Vol. 299.
Flashing
In his book Flashing, David Maurin reflects on the role of hand-drawn sketches in the digital age and references IOGraphica.
Rinne no Lagrange
The creators of the Japanese anime series used IOGraphica textures in the opening sequence.
IOGraph Icon — Rejected Version