Telematic

Chatterbox

Chatterbox is in a way linked to Telepresence, as we (human being) need a presence, pr feel that someone is there and listening, and that computer program does stimulate, or at least try to stimulate human as a listener.

This is a type of conversational agent, a computer program designed to reproduce an intelligent conversation with one or more human users via aural or written methods. In other words, a chatterbox is a computer program with artificial. Now most them simply scan for keywords within the input and pull a reply with the most matching keywords or the most similar wording pattern from database. Chatterbots may also be referred to as talk bots, chat bots, or chatterboxes.

I really do like the idea of stimulate human presence in one way or another.

The first one I believe was ELIZA, I had a play with it, which I think is quite hilarious, but not working that well. She is programmed to behave as a Rogerian psychotherapist, and is an interesting example of the limitations of early artificial intelligence programs, very early indeed.

http://www-ai.ijs.si/eliza-cgi-bin/eliza_script

Telematic – Telepresence

Telematic Art is an eloquent descriptive of art projects using computer telecommunications networks as their medium. Roy Ascott (a British artist and scientist, who works with cybernetics and telematics) sees the telematic art form as the conversion of the viewer into an active participator, whom take a very active part on the process of creating the artwork. Ascott has been a very active advocate of the theory and practice of telematic art since 1978.

http://research.hss.uts.edu.au/telematic_art/menu.html

Telepresence (from the Greek tele, meaning “distant”), this describes the ability to be present in a far-off location.

This 2 elements locations and presence are something appealing, very interesting to look at. Not just about the technicality, but the meaning, the Why, the psychology. Why to we like or even need to feel the loved ones near us even if they are miles away, how could we simulate this presence, which senses will achieve the best response??? All those questions are `I believe worth the attention.

Refresh

By Diller & Scofidio

In October 1, 1998, artists Diller and Scofidio launched a project for the World Wide Web, named Refresh.

These two artists wanted to explore the phenomenon of the office cam, which were feeding live images to a webpage at set intervals, usually every 30 or 60 seconds. The artists have chosen a dozen existing office camera from around the world and, for each site, they created a fictional exploration of the scene using textual elements and some made-up images. Visitors were discovering this information as they were exploring the screen, constructing banal but unusual stories, which reflect on the effects of live video on everyday life or commonly called CCTV. This was One of the first telepresence project for the web.

The address for the project will be:
http://www.diacenter.org/dillerscofidio/

This project seemed to be mainly based o the CCTV, big brother and all the involvement and privacy issue. I think the subject is a very attractive, especially nowadays, However, I do not want to enter and break any privacy or intimacy, my goal is to recreate a presence with the help of a network.

The Ornitorrinco Project

By Eduardo Kac and Ed Bennett

Ornitorrinco was inviting viewers to abandon the human scale temporarily and to look at a new world from a different perspective. Ornitorrinco in Eden, realized in 1994 was a project based on the coexistence of a virtual and a real spaces, all actions were synchronized, in real-time remotely, through a networks.

In this telepresence installation, the little mobile and wireless telerobot Ornitorrinco, placed in Chicago was controlled in real time by participants set in Lexington and Seattle. The remote participants shared the body of Ornitorrinco simultaneously. Via the Internet, they saw the remote installation through Ornitorrinco’s eye.

The participants controlled the little robot at the same time via a regular telephone line (three-way conference call) in real-time. . Remote participants pressed keys on the telephone to move the robot’s body in space.

http://www.ekac.org/ornitorrincoM.html
This was an early version of what is possible through a network, through different technology. I am not planning to recreate a little robot, which could be remotely controlled through the Internet. This type of telepresence has something real attached to it, you can see, you can hear it, and eve more you can touch it.

The first Ornitorrinco telepresence event took place in 1990, between Rio de Janeiro and Chicago. It was called “Ornitorrinco: experience 1″
It seems that the telerobot Ornitorrinco enjoyed teleporting itself, using improved technology and had the real pleasure of appearing in the legendary beach of Copacabana, the inaccessible terrestrial Moon, the mythic Garden of Eden, and the inhospitable Sahara

http://www.ekac.org/sahara2.html

Network Art-Web Art

When I use to see the words network art, I had tendency of putting in the same bag than Web Art, which obviously is quite wrong. Especially In the 80’s when what we called Net Art was using the web as a medium, especially using hypertext. Now we talk about hypertext, narrative I do have to mention;

The Grammatron

by Mark America

This was one of the first novel-length hypertext works of fiction to be published on the World Wide Web. Rather than a series of pages stacked together between the covers and sold through bookstores, Grammatron is an involved matrix of 1,000 screens of text that have been woven together with 1,700 links. This work has been made freely accessible on the Web, where animated graphics or an original soundtrack sometimes accompanies words.

http://www.grammatron.com/bandwidth.html

With net art the viewer have direct relationship, they can log when they want…which make the experience extremely and automatically interactive.

RSS Feed

I have to say this is a tool I never been attracted too. However this has been few times mentioned during the lesson, so I decided to look at it.

What is it?

RSS (Rich Site Summary) is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. Many news-related sites, weblogs and other online publishers collecting their content as an RSS Feed to whoever wants it.

Why?

Personally, so far I do not see the need, except of course for news….of any kind, but now I like the idea of creating my own little widget implementing an RSS, of what I regularly check.

RSS was implemented to help people who regularly use the web. It allows you to easily stay informed by retrieving the latest content from the sites you are interested in. Supposing to help you saving time by not needing to visit each site individually. You ensure your privacy, by not needing to join each site’s email newsletter. The number of sites offering RSS feeds is growing rapidly.

Tools to look at:

Dapper is a very handy tool to create your own RSS on your website or even create widgets, Facebook applications, using I believe API..

http://www.dapper.net/

Mash UP

Automatically after RSS feed, I am looking at Mashup. In a way very similar concept, collecting data through the Internet. This consist of a web application that combines data from more than one source into a single integrated tool; an example is the use of picture collected from Flicker’s creating a new and distinct web service that was not originally provided by either source.

I came across something I really liked made of flicker’s pictures.

The Tag Galaxy

Tag Galaxy is a very nice and smooth application that uses Papervision3D to explore Flickr’s photos, using virtual planetary systems. The concept is not impressive, however the visual is splendid.
Created by Steven Wood as a diploma thesis project

http://www.taggalaxy.de/

Some interesting and very creative Mashup work can be found on this website

http://mashupawards.com/tag-galaxy/

Human Browser

By Christophe Bruno

The person shown is not what we could call coucou, but he is an actor playing the first human browser. This piece is a Google hack; the creator Christophe Bruno, is searching Google from his laptop and sends a text-to-speech audio of the result to an actor, who then repeats what he’s getting via the headphones. The actor is standing in the middle of the street in front of an amazed crowd. This performance is great, full of humour and makes a very unusual mashup.

http://www.iterature.com/human-browser/en/

RFID

RFID tags, the next-generation bar codes, This Electronic tagging technologies are increasingly influencing society. Standing for Radio Frequency Identification, RFID tags use radio waves and can function without our knowledge, with widespread implementation across many commercial and public industries.

It is said, that nowadays this is one a the favourite digital artist tool….except I am having difficulties to find interesting pieces. Which in a way make it even more interesting to work with.
I do not feel that this technology has been exploited fully by artist, however I found this website which cover some interesting point.

http://www.asomatic.net/2008/03/new-brave-world-workshop-at-imal-rfid-and-art/

Now RIFD, can be I believe very controversial and could be seen and to its own right as a tools against our privacy. There is a lot of public aversion to RFID because of it

Little tool to download to be able to read RFID tag with your mobile

http://reader.kaywa.com/getit/

Network Performance

This website show a lot of different kind of networked art. I have to say when I think network, I think WWW which is Obviously wrong and this website does show there are a lot of different kind of network Art.

http://transition.turbulence.org/blog/

Bio Mapping

By Christian Node

When we talk about Art using GPS data collection, location and map art, we have to mention this person.

Bio Mapping is a research project, which explores new ways to use information’s, that has been gather by our own bodies. The Bio Mapping tool allows the carrier to record their stress or arousal in different locations. By sharing this data we can construct maps that visualise where we as a community feel stressed and excited.
How will our perceptions of our community and environment change when we become aware of our own and each other’s intimate body states?

http://www.biomapping.net/

Geocaching – The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site

Another good example of game created with GPS: treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called “geocaches” or “caches”) anywhere in the world. Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica.

http://www.geocaching.com/

Geo Game

I am seriously thinking of creating a GPS based interactive game, but before starting the hard work, I started to look around and found this application by HP.

The MScape

With this little software, I could think of creating a little game such as Mobzombies, or even something completely different such as a Narrative game.

http://www.mscapers.com/

http://www.pcplus.co.uk/news/home_news/create_your_own_interactive_games_with_hp

Uncle Roy

By Blast Theory

One of the most hi-tech game of hide and seek you ever did see at that t time. Name code:
Uncle Roy All Around You
A team of artists named The Blast Theory has created this game. This application explores the interactivity and relationships between cyberspace and city space, the virtual and the actual. The first Uncle Roy games were staged in 2003, but it is back this year and is currently being played in Manchester.

I do not know about you but this is the kind of game, I will easily sign up for. I am very much attracted by the physical involvement, it is a game with a flavour of online play, but instead of being in your little room in front of your screen, you are living the action in the street.

http://www.blasttheory.co.uk/bt/work_uncleroy.html

GPS and Art

GPS

Using Gps tracking system to create a piece is part of one of my ideas. I do like the concept of hacking a Gps module (mobile phone or else) and create something visual. Of course the first thought it is about drawing something. Obviously I am not the first one and this Swedish did something in a way very simple but I think very cool. Of course that is a concept and the artist could not do it, however, in small scale this is easily achievable.
Heum………that’s sounds a pretty good project idea..

A shame the artist promote DHL!!!!a big BOOOOOOO

Biggest drawing in the world -Self-Portrait

By Erik Nordenankar

http://biggestdrawingintheworld.com/drawing.aspx

Small case project

http://www.gpsdrawing.com/workshops.htm

Geo GAME

Sharkrunners

My first idea was to create a game based on Gps data, searching on the web and came across this Game. I do not found the game itself very appealing, however the technology used and the idea of knowing where are the sharks, real wild creature increased my interest.

Sharkrunners is a game of oceanic exploration and high stakes shark research. Players take on the role of sharkrunners: daring and adventurous marine biologists who seek to learn as much as possible about sharks through advanced observation techniques.

Real-world tdata provides the position and movement of actual Tiger and Grey Reef sharks in Sharkrunners, so that every shark players encounter corresponds to a real shark out in the actual ocean.

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/sharkweek/shark-runners/shark-runners.html

Mobzombies

This game explores a new dimension of handheld gaming by adding motion awareness to classic arcade style gameplay. Using a handheld device, and a custom motion sensor, players enter a virtual world infested with pixel-art The goal of the game is to stay alive.
Sony has now GPS device built in, so this kind of interactive game would be I believe possible using GPS and WI-FI instead of sensors. Imagine this game real-time in a Big scale city such as new York, Of course It is not new…

Pac-Man has been done….but I think that would be amazing…..and great fun in the PSP community.

http://mobzombies.com/

Is Sony is really planning to release some GPS game on PSP…. That would be fantastic….

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/21/sony-seeking-gps-games/

PACMANMANHATTAN

We all have played Pac-man with our first computer, Atari or even in a game arcade. But this version was a large scale one in central Manhattan. Players were equipped with Mobile phone including Wi-Fi Internet connections, and software designed by the Pac-Manhattan team. All the players, Pac-man and the ghosts were tracked from a central location (server) and the real-time game was broadcast over the Internet, for viewers from around the world.
I think this kind of large-scale arcade game is absolutely fantastic, especially for my generation. We are in!

http://pacmanhattan.com/about.php

Pac-man comes to life virtually

Imagine Pac=man in the street. The next generation game mixing virtual and reality. This project has been researched and developed in Singapore. I mean, how amazing is this, you are in the street with some special goggles, which allow you to see all the little cookies to eat and ghost to avoid in 3d.This would be the ideal project, unfortunately this kind of assignment would require to much time and knowledge that I have not…yet acquire.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4607449.stm

I am pretty sure that AR technology will revolutionize the gaming experience. People won’t stay staked to their chair in front of a screen, they more likely going to be out playing and interacting with each other instead and enjoying a live gaming experience.

Tools-Info’s

Now I felt seriously involve, a started to look around to see if I could find way to create something based on GPS tracking.

Tinkerblog is real good resources on a lot of diverse project, in this case:

Using twitter and twibble for mobile tracking

This little page give you all the sources needed to recreate this application o your mobile and even more….After that just let your imagination fly and se what you could do……..

http://tinkerlog.com/category/gps/

Other tracking info:

Geo Tracing is an Open Source platform that could be used for tracking
http://www.geotracing.com/

Google Maps With GPS Tracker 13
http://www.download.com/Google-Maps-With-GPS-Tracker/3000-12940_4-10494227.html

Google Hack

Google Art, or How to Hack Google

We all google, nearly everyday. I’ll be lost without it. However some artist has successfully hacked the search engine and created amazing networked art pieces. We can found a selection of projects in Google Art, and/or How to Hack Google in a special Rhizome exhibition. These projects highlight and criticize the influence of this online institution by using playful re-interpretations of search results and alterations of its geographical worldview.

http://rhizome.org/art/exhibition/googleshow/

Intro

Introduction to the module

What is out there? Inspiration

We do have a vast variety of briefs for our final project, and it is very hard to pick one, so I decided to look around to see what is out there on all the subject I am interested in…and hopefully get inspired.

Telepresence

My first favourite subject was mentioned during the class. Telepresence. But what is Telepresence ?

The word TELEPRESENCE was coined by Marvin Minsky to designate:

teleoperation systems used in remote object-manipulation applications (Goldberg, 2000: 27)
Telepresence refers to a set of technologies used to allow a person to feel such stimuli as to give the feeling of being in that other location as if they were present, and manage to give the impression that they were present, or at least to have that effect.

The Telegarden by Ken Godberg

When we say Telepresence or Google Telepresence art and robotic in Google, one of the first ling we get is the Telegarden. This project based on the creation of an active social online community. Members of that community were remotely interacting and taking care of a garden. Seeding, watering and monitoring the growth and evolution.
This project was one of the earliest telerobotics experience in 1996.
French writer Voltaire said, “we have to cultivate our Garden” and that was the exact goal of this piece, of course I a very meaningful way.

href=”http://www.ieor.berkeley.edu/~goldberg/garden/Ars/” target=”_blank”>http://www.ieor.berkeley.edu/~goldberg/garden/Ars/

Headroom by Paul Sermon

HEADROOM is a juxtaposition of experiences lived by the artist in Taipei, relating the way people dwell and their getaway. We could easily compile with the parallel of isolation in the bedroom space and the attractive telepresence aspirations of the Internet space. This installation is also referencing Roy Ascott’s essay, ‘Is There Love in the Telematic Embrace?’ (1990. But one big question is highlighted in this project. Does telematic art has the potential to embody love, it would not be paradoxical for art to be electronic and simultaneously serve humanist principles? I believe HEADROOM or even Nam June Paik’s early Buddha TV installations does simply answer that kind of thought.

http://www.internationalfellowships.org.uk/artistpage.php?artist_id=161

Technical description can be found on:
http://presence.stanford.edu:3455/Collaboratory/50

Telematic Dreaming by Paul Sermon

The basic principle used in all the Telematic installations made y PauI Sermon involves a form of video-conferencing telepresence. By using cameras, video mixers and projectors, two remote participations are combined and framed within the same screen/image. Generally using application being able to play with chroma-key effects in real-time. An application such as Eyesweb or even processing could easily archive this effect and mix two identical scenes from two different location.

http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/refmovie.php?mov=226&play=video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2HhY_8FO2c

The Telematic Séance by Paul Sermon

Another work by Paul Simon based on the same principal.

I think it would be very interesting to create an imaginary virtual world, such as a fantasy world and having the same to participant interacting We generally use the virtual world as an extension of our dreams, a real setting could be transformed as a dream…

http://www.hgb-leipzig.de/~sermon/seance/index.html