Video Feedback Lab simulates the mesmerizing patterns created by pointing a video camera at its own monitor — a recursive feedback loop where the output becomes the input on the next frame. This technique, pioneered by video artists in the 1960s-70s, produces spontaneous fractal-like patterns, tunneling spirals, and psychedelic color evolution from simple geometric transformations applied each iteration.
The shader implements framebuffer feedback where each frame is read back, transformed (scaled, rotated, translated, color-shifted), and composited with a seed input to produce the next frame. Small parameter changes cascade through the recursive loop, creating dramatically different emergent patterns — from concentric tunnel zooms to spiraling fractal borders to kaleidoscopic color cycling.
Interactive controls adjust zoom factor, rotation angle, translation offset, color shift per iteration, decay rate, and seed input shape. The system is highly sensitive to parameter changes, rewarding exploration with unexpected visual discoveries.