Multimedia Blogs

Is There Love in the Telemantic Embrace Summary

2005-12-14T13:51:00.000-08:00

In this essay Roy Ascott questions whether there is real human emotion expressed though telecommunination technologies. Does this form of technology engage the intellect, emotions and sensibility of the observer? He asserts that these new technologies are influencing society, this creating a "telemantic culture". This new type of culture comprise a set of "behaviors ideas, media, values, and objectives" that are contrasting to those of time past. The term telematics involves interaction between humans and artificial systems of intelligence, which many experience in our daily lives. The content of this telemantic art is created rather than received by the observer, as in a stand still form of art. The various media that incorporates this form of technology is always changing. The result of this interaction is the meaning of the telematic art that is embodied in the data. Ascott parallels the context of telmatic systems to the scientific analogy that was given by John Wheeler. In these systems the oberver gets more involved and now becomes the participator. In addition to John Weeler's analogy, the author refernces the telemantic experience to a work called The Large Glass, wehre love is expericed. Because of these types of works, Ascott suggests a "redescription of human consciousness"-since the experiece with the technology gives a sense of a real human embrace.

Ascott goes on to say that the telelmatic network funels a new way of perceiving the human race, as it changes through this technology. He calls this new order of perceptionglobal vision. We as humans are now majorly dependant on the computer, and our cognitive processes are not completed without the computer technology. We are living in a dynamic telematic culture, which allows us to think and act more creatively, with a passionate experience with the participation and interaction with other minds globally. Ascott futhers his discussion by transforming the meaning of the computer as a solid object to that of that of something that actually has intrinsic attributes-he understands the computer system to be a "pure system, a universal transformative matrix". This is how the use of the computer is incorporated in the telematic culture.

In conclusion, this essay enlightened the reader with the meaning of being in a telematic culture and how the computer now relates to the human not as mere object only, but as one that supports a new way of imaginative expression. In this embrace there is a new level of consciousness and creativity.

Final Project- Remix

2005-12-06T23:30:00.000-08:00

Please click here for my remix of the Lake Bryan Situational Tour.

MORI Summary

2005-12-04T21:15:00.000-08:00

MORI, is an installation that was partially created by our instructor, Randall Packer, which utilizes the movements of the earth to develop a powerful telemantic experience with the observer. Prior to the class entering the installation, we were enlightened with the technical aspect of the project through observation of the program on which it operates. MORI receives information of the earth's movements via the Internet, which collects the movements of the Hayward Fault in California that are detected by a seismograph. After receiving the background information, we proceeded into the "dark room". My initial reaction was one of slight fear and anxiety in hearing the loud sounds, feeling the vibration, and seeing NOTHING! However, my eyes eventually adjusted, and could maneuver throughout the room, along with the help of the fiber-optic cable that lined the interior. While we walked to the center of the room, the environment of the outside world was gradually fading, as we were being immersed into what felt like another dimension of the earth. The variety of sounds and the vibrations that were felt from the bottom of our bodies and up to our heads, all interacted to created a connection between us and the earth.

In the center of the installation, there was a portal that displayed the seismic data stream. On that particular day the stream was very active because of an earthquake that had recently taking place. After observing the very sharp and vigorous movements of the stream, we were told to lie on the ground in order to fully be immersed into that environment, and so said so done. Immediately, it felt as though the sound effects and vibrations maximize and I was elevated to the highest plane of the earth. It felt as if the entire earth was beneath my body, and not my body within the earth. I felt a real connection with the earth that I don't feel on a daily basis. After a few minutes of laying there I began to drift in to "dreamland"; the experience had transitioned from once of fear to one of relaxation.

The overall exposure to this "earthwork" allowed the user to telematically experience the movements of the earth. One could encounter the effects of an earthquake that took place in another continent, just by being in the room. At that point, one is submerged into that space by means of the seismic data that is received via the internet. The ambiance of MORI truly reflected the notion of telepresence, which is a term coined by Scott Fisher to describe the process of "extending out physical and mental being into a remote space by means of telecommunication technologies". This project differs from the ones which were discussed in class that incorporated telepresence, in that there was no direct form of interactivity with the user in order for it to be a completed work. However, in order for it to carry out its intended functions, there must be some form of interaction with the user.

This project allowed us to experience the earth in a way that we have never really encountered. The experience was fascinating, enlightening and intellectual; made me appreciate the earth even more!

Final Situal Tour-Washington Monument

2005-11-28T21:10:00.000-08:00

This project encompasses the final situal tour for the semester and was done once again by myself and Brad Feldman. The Washington Monument was chosen as the location for this tour. You can view the completion of this assignment by clicking here.

Summary of MOTION Art Exhibition

2005-11-16T10:42:00.000-08:00

Motion is a media exhibition that was presented by the Gallery at Flashpoint in Washington, DC. Our class was asked to visit the exhibition and critique the works that were presented. The exhibition highlighted different screen-based works, interface installations, and collaborative network projects of various artists from Maryland, Florida, Seoul, and Korea.

My first reaction to the exhibition was a disappointing one, not for the various works that were presented, but more so for the setup and organization of these works within the gallery. I expected to see a top-of-the-line exhibition based on its description and advertisements. Nonetheless, the works and installations that were displayed were very interesting and forwarding thinking in their construction. All of them required the participation of the user in order to gain the full effect of the piece. One of the first pieces that I explored was one created by Samuel Ortiz called Environment, which is a sound installation that incorporates the use of a chair and headphones. As the user interacts with the chair, by either rocking or swinging side to side, the surrounding sound is amplified and made aware to the user through the use of the headphones. This work reminded me of the Janette Cardiff Tour that was presented by the Hirsh Horn Museum, where the everyday sounds were amplified on the recording and made aware to the user as he took the tour. Another piece that interested me was Bathroom Beats created by Pamela Council, which is also a sound installation that used the space of a bathroom for making music. I had fun with this piece, as I created my own set of beats by using two metal sticks that triggered recorded bathroom sounds as they touched other metal sections. The authority was transferred to the user to make a creative work out of this project. One last work of art that caught my attention was an interactive installation called Fields, which contains earth magnets that aid in the creation of abstract reformations of the user’s presence. The movements were projected on a screen located on the side of the plexiglass structure that contained the essential objects.

The majority of these pieces would not be complete if there wasn't any interaction with the user or its environment. In most art exhibitions the user mainly observes the piece from a distance, but this exhibition went a step further in involving the participation of the audience to create a different atmosphere for art exhibits.

On-Line Narrativity II

2005-11-09T09:17:00.000-08:00

This is an in-class assignment that gave us an opportunity to practice the formulation of Situation Tours. The class was asked to conduct this assignment in the American Uiversity environment. The location that our group chose was the Mary Graydon Center on the main campus. The photographs and captions below summarizes my experience of the Mary Graydon environment and the persons with whom we conversed.

Frontview of the Mary Graydon Center

Unusual Halloween-Looking Decorations on hand rail

An establishing shot of the 1st floor lounge- some students chilling or being very studious.

Undergrad student getting a quick read in the lounge before hitting the gym. Said that he usually reads in the Mary Graydon center as oppose to the library. [RITUAL]

Students all equipped with laptops working on a group project.

First year student getting a quick bite to eat while checking email. Uusally does not stay long at this location, but is usually in a hurry. Agrees with the decision made with Ladner. [ideology]

Food stalls that provide a variety of food.

The Information Desk- the workers job usually includes answering questions from new students and other visitors who are unfamiliar with the campus.

Students at the 'Mary Graydon Tables' promoting different oranizations, this one being Heifer International.

Pic of the sign to Conference Room 1, which is OFF LIMITS to students. [AUTHORITY]

Cyber Cafe located on the 2nd Floor of the MG Center.

First-year graduate student located in the Cyber Cafe. Doesn't live on campus and only comes for classes. She likes AU mostly for the friendly professors. [IDEOLOGY]

Members of the Eagle News staff. Office located on the 2nd floor.Restricted acess, mostly editors are allowed with an AU ID that is activated by Public Safety. [SECURITY]

Sign of the ATV and WVAU Suite on the 2nd floor, which also has restricted access . Workers enter with an issued ID.

Link to Situational Tour Blog

2005-11-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

Click on link below to be directed to my blog on the Situational Tour Project.

http://embassysituationaltour.blogspot.com/

"Welcome to 'Electronic Cafe International' "

2005-11-02T08:48:00.000-08:00

The article explores the ideas of Kit Galloway and Sherri Rabinowitz in creating a virtual space that would integrate distance, language, values, and culture of various people across the nation. This was a place which had no geographical boundaries and one in which different artists can work together in an international multimedia environment. These ideas were based on the work of Ernie Kovacs and Steve Allen who created a kind of composite image space with the use of superimposed live video images. The virtual space invented by Galloway and Rabinowitz allowed its inhabitants to relate to each other untraditionally, and took away the feeling of being physically harmed during the interaction. This virtual space is also similar to one of the works discussed in class, Hole in the Space, which also allowed interaction between persons of different locations.

Galloway and Rabinowitz used these ideas and formulated the Electronic Café. This café is based in California and is networked to other a number of different states and countries. The purpose of this café was to create a sense of community across the globe and to allow an exchange of various forms of art. This concept was first tested at the L.A Museum of Contemporary Art, where five different LA communities were linked through a telecom system, computer database, and a dial-up image bank. This project was so powerful that it even dissolved tensions between different communities.

As a result of these cafés, there were many situations solved and they even stimulated other artistic coalitions, one being the MIDI Dancer. This was a program created on a Macintosh that recorded the motion of a dancer, which controlled the music, lighting, microphone levels. The information was transmitted to another location. This speaks of the integration that the Electronic Café possesses; an integration of technology, cultures, communities, the arts, and different art forms. According to the authors, “it encourages cross-cultural collaborations, problem-solving, and decision making. The goal of this café is to essentially promote new kinds of artistic collaboration that will support the “tele-species”.

Midterm Project- Mirror Space

2005-10-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

Virtual reflection creates the implosion of the human self.

In my observation and research of the different art works and new media posted on the Rhizome website, I discovered an innovative project called Mirror Space. This project was pioneered by Brigitta Zics, and is a virtual mirror where one’s image can be manipulated to create an extraordinary representation based on the physical laws. The virtual image produced is comprised of an association of reflections, which craft complex three-dimensional images. The cell-shaped reflection is based on the individual's current mood, as well as outer connections that are supplied through various internet sources. Each individual structure has a unique color scheme, which is representative of the person's character.

This "dynamic data" is retrieved through a real-time scanning process that takes about ten seconds. During this process, an infra-red camera analyses the face and extract mood values, while gathering data supplied by the world through internet streams. The collection of this data controls the configuration of the virtual image with the use of the computer. After the individual has been scanned and the scanning beam has disappeared, the generated object is seen in direct alignment with the visitor.

During my research of Mirror Space, it became apparent that it is an excellent multimedia composition. In the “Overture” of Multimedia, From Wagner to Virtual Reality, the authors discuss five characteristics of new media. This project exemplifies four of the five in its execution. Firstly, the project utilizes different forms of technology which are merged to produce a phenomenal representation of the user. Each system is responsible for a feature of the virtual image and is networked to produce distinct representations of each individual. Mirror Space uses a "real-time apparatus" that consists three main sections, which supply valid data that is inputted into a computer for the analysis and execution of the image. The three systems include an infrared analysis, which evaluates the user's mood; a tracking system that scans the user's position through the use of position trackers and data gloves; and a system that analyses the speech recognition of the user.

Secondly, the project also incorporates interactivity within the space. This is referred to as “the ability of the viewer to manipulate experience”. In this space the users can view the creation of the image right before their eyes, and can control the movement of the mirror bodies by the movement of their hands or by the sound of their voices. The mirror bodies not only interact with its source (the user), but also with other virtual creatures in the room.

In addition to the integration and interactivity that this project exhibits, there is also immersive reality that is felt by the user. The process takes place in a large, dark room that is lit by a single beam of light. The users are equipped with the necessary equipment for input into the system. After going through the scanning process and other procedures, a 3D environment of the transformed image is formed. The users' encounter with this atmosphere allows them to be submerged into their own world.

The results of these processes all formulate a visual story of the viewer's life that has never been told, thus changing human self consciousness. It also causes one to become aware of the events that affect the world, based on the data that was supplied from the internet. The whole process and creation of this virtual mirror suggests a form of narrativity within the project.

In my opinion, the authors did a wonderful job in creating such a pioneering project. It makes immense use of integration, interactivity, immersion, and narrativity to create a powerful multimedia production. This project also suggests the futuristic movement of human analysis and its interaction with the world.

For more information about this project, click here.

Summary of "Virtual Interface Environments" by Scott Fisher

2005-10-05T22:35:00.000-07:00

In this article, Scott Fisher begins by giving the definition of two terms, virtual reality and virtual environment. He stated that virtual reality was the experience of one's sensoria being immersed in interfaces that would be closely matched to human sensory and cognitive capabilities. The ability to completely immerse a subject in a stimulated space with its attendant realities is called being in a virtual environment.

Some of the earlier works that were in research during the evolution of personal simulation and telepresence environments were the development of stereoscopic movies, Cimerama,and the Omnimax projection systems. All of these works were geared towards representing real experiences through the use of visual dsiplay technology. The "Tour of the Universe" in Toronto, and the "Star Tours" in Disneyland were enteratinment applications of simulation technology and virtual display environments. In addition to these two works, the "Senserama" was another example and was of the first examples of a multisensory simulation environment.

Technology advanced to where the viewers were now able to control there own viewpoint through a virtual environment. An example of this was the Aspen Movie Map, which we saw and discussed in class. As these research projects were being developed, ther ewre many description by science fiction writers. On of them describes it as being a telepresence, which is a technology that allows remotely situated operators to receive enough feedback that gives them the sense of being at a remote location while doing different tasks. The Philco Corporation was one of the first companies to develop a telepresences visual system thatmade use of a remote camera on a CRT and mounted on the head to control the camera's viewpoint.

The article continues with a detailed description of the Virtual Environment Workstatoin (VIEW) project, which was conducted at NASA Ames. This project was based on helmet-mounted display technology, and provided auditory, speech and gesture interaction within a virtual environment. One of the developments that were of interest to me within this project was the development of the dataglove. This was a lightweight, flexible glove that was created with flex-sensing devices to measure the amount of bend of each joint of the fingers and the amount of abduction. With the commerically avaiable dataglove, the amount of bend was measured by light attenuation within the fiber optic bundles covering the fingers. The position and orientation of the hand within the 3-D space was by magnetic tracking devices. This allowed the user to pick up virtual objects in the surrounding virtual enviroment.

In my opinion, this project was very interesting, high-tech and forward moving in its construction during that time. It was the begining of our virtual experiences today.

"Hlemmur in C"

2005-09-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

This project which was featured on the Rhizome website was very interesting as an art form and an example of multimedia. Hlemmur in C is a project that was done in conjunction with a conference held in Reykjavik, Iceland in March, 2004 called "Rethinking the Interface Between Human Creativity and Technology". The organizers of the conference had decided to host some art events that would focus on or the area around "Hlemmur", the main inner-city bus terminal in the Reykjavik area.

Hlemmur in C tracks the movements of two taxi cabs that have their "base" station at Hlemmur. The tracking was done with two GPS devices on the evening/night of Saturday, March 20th, 2004. In the visual portion, Hlemmur is represented in white, taxi1 in red and taxi2 in blue. In the audio portion, Hlemmur itself is represented as a constant middle C. While the taxis are at their base station, they are also represented by a middle C but as soon as they begin moving, their pitch is altered. The farther they travel away from Hlemmur, the higher or lower their pitch goes. This causes the tones to vibrate and the speed of the vibrations increases as the difference in pitch increases. So things begin to sound somewhat "unstable" when the taxis leave their post. However, if the two taxis happen to meet anywhere along the way, this will also reduce the speed of the vibrations. The tone is only completely stable when both taxis are at Hlemmur.

In observance of this project, I was reminded of some of the works that were seen at the Visual Media Exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum. After a fw minutes into the project, the tracking of the taxis actually makes a beautiful artwork. The colors and patterns that it creates is intriguing; an abstarct imagery. It was highly interestning to see how he used GPS data to articulate this project. Who would have thought of patterning the movements of 2 taxis, and integrating sound to make it more of an interesting work?

In light of the five characteristics of new media that we have discussed in class, I will say that this work probably contains more integration than the other four characteristics. It integrates sound technology, the GPS, and the patterns and colors that are creating by the moving cars to create a hybrid form of expression. Since is uses the Global Postioning System, I would want to think of it as also being a telemantic art, but there aren't really any interactions in this project.

Summary of Ted Nelson's Excerpt from Computer Lib/Dream Machines

2005-09-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

In this excerpt, Ted Nelson begins by giving his view of the truth, and how no one tells the complete truth, because there isn't something as the complete truth. He asserts that there are different views, assumptions, and supposed facts. In addition, there is more scientific knowledge being discovered, but it contains a system for seeking untruth and scientific knowledge and eradicating it. In his view, no issue is ever closed and no interconnection is impossible. Thoughts do not last, but what is written. Knowledge is a huge cross-tangle of ideas and evidential material, not a pyramid of truth. Consequently, this became a reason for hypertexts- to preserve this structure of knowledge. In this format, things could be saved digitally, instead of physically as in museums and libraries. Nelson then gives some advantages of digital storage, which includes automatic copying, available corrective measures, and the mutiple places of storage. He then lists different types of branching media- that of movies, texts, audio, and slide-shows. Nelson terms hypertext as non-sequential writing, and compares it to ordianry writing, which is sequential. However, hypertext has always existed, but we have never really realized it. Some of the types of hypertext that Nelson talks about in this excerpt are basic style, which offers choices either as a footnote or labels; collateral which is basically parallel text; stretchtext, which shows how continuous hypertext works; anthological, which contains materials brought together from different sources; and grand hypertext, which consists of the entire composition of a subject. Hypertext puts back together the great traditions of literature and scholarship. It was forseen by Vannevar Bush in 1945 in is "As We May Think" article. This article contains a clear description of various hypertext techniques. Douglas Englebert was more concerned with the expansion of one's mind. His visionis captured in the article, "The Augmentation of Intellect", which describes as making minds work better by giving them tools to work with. He also demonstrated this by an example of the consequences of making man's tools for working out his thoughts worse instead of better. This birthed the NLS, or"oN-Line System". In addition to this system, the mouse was created, and was faster and more accurate that the light pen. The NLS allowed users to create programs that responded in all sorts of ways, and the test systems were rigorously hierarchial. After this system, the "Carmody's System" was invented. This system imposed no structure on material and consists of text segments that are linked. It also included different features that allowed the user to return to the previous address. This was done by a technique called stacking. Other features were useful in light-pen text editing, and it also had good printout techniques.

Summary of “Art and the Age of the Digital”, by David Ross

2005-09-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

In this lecture, David Ross discussed the emergence of net.art, the curatorial challenges faced by SFMoMA, and his perceptions of appropriate theoretical frameworks for net.art’s appreciation.

The surfacing of net.art came about after Ross’ idea of starting a museum television channel faded, and he began to focus on what interested him on the new art forms that have came out of video as an art form. Ross was then fascinated with a Bulletin Board Service called, “Echo”, which was created by the internet. In his analysis of the development of Echo, he found it to be astounding for the idea of art taking place in the way it did. This method re-opened the potential that he thought had disappeared. He asserted that working on the net gives artists a chance to engage with a set of aesthetic practices that seemed to be designed to confront, contain, and transform the art’s world.

Later on in his lecture, he attempted to define net.art by placing it in the digital era with video and cable television. He also shed light on the emergence of the internet and how it has quickly become an essential component of what artist can do within the social space constructed by the internet. Ross followed that by giving 21 distinctive qualities of net.art of which he coined. Some of these included the ability to move and assemble audiences; the authority shifts between reader and writer; the basis of an economy of abundance; it is purely ephemeral; shifting of identities; and the intimacy of the medium. Ross ended the lecture by giving insightful answers to some of the students’ questions about net.art.

Summary of Overture

2005-09-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

Overture, which was written by Randall Packer and Ken Jordan in their book, “Multimedia: From Wagner to Virtual Reality”, basically gives a brief history and an overview of the concept of integrated, and interactive media (multimedia). The authors concentrated heavily on the less-known work of the engineers and artists who create a medium that would “mimic and enhance the creative capacities of the mind”.

The birth of a new medium included works of people such as George Lucas, Vannevar Bush, Norbert Wiener, J.C.R Licklider, Douglas Englebert, and Alan Kay. The computer was the invention that multimedia started with. The ENIAC was the first fully electronic computer. From this stemmed the memex, cybernetcics, the oNLine system, the ARPANET, the Dynabook, and encouraged scientists into further research.

The proposal of the Dynabook gave root to the integration of the arts, which is seen in the work of Wagner. This integration of separate disciplines into single works was also crated by other artists, such as F.T. Marinetti, and John Cage. The work of John Cage inspired other artists, namely, Allan Kaprow, Dick Higgins, and Nam Paik, who led the emergence of works such the Happening, electronic theater, performance art, and interactive installations.

The history of immersive environments stem from the prehistoric cave paintings in such places as the Lascaux in France, which may have been the theaters for performance of rituals. Other examples include the Dyonisian rituals of Greek theater, and the great cathedrals of Europe. There were many other artists that were inspired by the concept of imeersive environments and created theaters and other works based on it. Richard Wagner, Morton Heilig, Ivan Sutherland, Myron Krueger, and Scott Fisher are some of the artists.

Later on, some of the great media artists, scientists and philosophers wanted to form an integrated datatwork. This birthed the Xanadu system, the concept of hyperlinks, Intermedia, the first commercial multimedia authoring system, and ultimately the creation of the World Wide Web, which was created by Tim Berners-Lee. In addition, there was the notion of artwork being viewed as a territory for interaction.

Overture ends by giving the meaning of multimedia, and essentially gives five characteristics that would make it distinct from all other mediums. These included integration, interactivity, hypermedia, immersion, and narrativity.

Summary of the Visual Media Exhibition

2005-09-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Visual Music Exhibition was held in the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Two of the multimedia classes of American University visited the exhibition, and to my opinion it was a fascinating learning experience. Throughout the exhibition, we learned about the history of many of the works shown, and how the various artists linked the phenomena of sight and sound to form visual music. One of the terms that were spoken of was synaesthesia, which primarily is a unity of the senses and, by extension a synthesis of the arts that can induce sensory experience of another. For example, an individual may see certain colors when hearing musical notes. As we observed many of the works, we noted how music can offer a model to which visual art might aspire.

Abstract painting was the first set of works to be observed. In these paintings we analyzed how the artists used different colors, positioned objects in the piece in different directions to suggest sound. Even though this is an example of a still piece, notions of harmony and dissonance, rhythm, and tone were heard. We then explored another form of art called color organs, which uses a combination of colored lenses, hand-painted disks, prisms, mirrors, filters, and projectors to project abstract composition of color and light. This phenomenon incorporated time as an important element for the new century. Color organs brought visual art closer to the nature of musical performance. Looking at it reminded me of an orchestral performance- beautiful and pleasant to the ear, but in this case, to the eye also. There was also experimental film and light shows at the exhibition. These shows set abstraction into motion; film freed painting from its static frame; and pushed the image into a new world of movement and spectacle. The last work of art that we viewed as a group was installation art. This was the most intriguing of the others, in my opinion. These were three-dimensional spaces that envelop with mulitsensory effects that use abstract visual vocabularies and probe concepts related to the synaesthetic theory. Its environment also used the participant’s physical presence and perceptual experience.

The overall exhibition was well put together and very informative to me being a multimedia student.