WATANAVE, Hidenori
Graduate School of System Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University
hwtnv_at_sd.tmu.ac.jp
Abstract
“ARS Electronica archive in Second Life” is an internet archive of Japanese winner's past data in Prix ARS Electronica by using virtual world service “Second Life”. In addition, It has the synchronization function with twitter and web cameras for projection users’ face in the virtual world. This was exhibited in “the 13th Japan Media Arts Festival” (THE NATIONAL ART CENTER, TOKYO) and “Technoclasm Cyber Arts Japan - Ars Electronica 30 years for Art and Media Technology” exhibition (Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo).
I. INTRODUCTION
“ARS Electronica archive in Second Life” is an internet archive of Japanese winner's past data in Prix ARS Electronica by using virtual world service “Second Life”. This project is a sequel of “SIGGRAPH Archive[1]” and “Laval VRchive[2]”. After 1987, about 200 Japanese have won Prix. We collected the data of winners from the Arts Electronica official website, and restructured as a three-dimensional digital archive in virtual world. Everyone is freely accessible via the Internet to this archive. In addition, It has the synchronization function with twitter and web cameras for projection users’ face in the virtual world. Users in another hall and the Internet can communicate with Live camera, the chat, and twitter. This archive was exhibited in “the 13th Japan Media Arts Festival” (@THE NATIONAL ART CENTER, TOKYO) and “Technoclasm Cyber Arts Japan - Ars Electronica 30 years for Art and Media Technology” exhibition (@ Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo) in 2010, Plenty of users experienced it. “ARS Electronica Archive” can be accessed freely with using Second Life. Its Slurl is below: http://slurl.com/secondlife/tmu/193/174/29
II. INTERFACE
A. Index of catalog covers
In Initial state, catalog covers of Prix ARS Electronica since 1987 are floating in the air. When the user clicks one-catalog cover, prize winner(s) of Japanese artist(s) of the age is (are) displayed (Figure 1).
Figure 1 : Index of catalog covers
Catalog covers other ages are tuned down at the same time. Moreover, when the logo mark of ARS Electronica that is floating at the center is clicked, all of catalog covers are sorted along the time axis (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Sorted along the time axis
Prize winners’ works are getting texture mapping done by translucent plates ? Plates of works. The purpose of half transparent the plate is to improve the visibility. The winning rank (For example: Golden Nica, Distinction, and Honorary Mention) and the work name and names of artists are displayed in each plate as a billboard. The particle line is drawn between catalog covers and plates (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Plates of works
C. The Internet browser cube
The Internet browser cube to display more detailed information of works and artists is floating in the air. This instantaneously moves to the plate position when the user clicks one work plate. After it moves, information in the ARS Electronica official website corresponding to the clicked plate is displayed in inside of the cube (Figure 4). The cube returns to the position of default after the fixed time passes.
Figure 4: The Internet browser cube
D. Synchronization function with Twitter
When the user clicks “twitter logo” floats in the air, the twitter real-time search results (For example: ARS ELECTRONICA) are displayed in the Internet browser cube (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Synchronization function with Twitter
When the user does the chat input in this state, the text is written on twitter (This function is being mounted now).
E. Synchronization function with web cameras
Real-time mages of web cameras connected with PCs on which Second Life are executed are projected in a virtual space. (Figure 6). Images are refreshed every five seconds. When users log-in from two or more exhibit spaces or the Internet at the same time, communications about works and artists that use the web camera image, twitter, and the chat with avatar become possible.
Figure 6: Synchronization function with web cameras
III. FUTURE OBSERVATION
In the newest version of Second Life, it became possible to reproduce rich media such as Flash. Moreover, degree of freedom of the platform has improved greatly as an outside texture can be freely read from in-world, too. We continue continuous archive work, and do the upgrade that uses these new features. In addition, the synchronization with digital globes (For example: Google Earth) and Augumented Reality technology (For example: Sekai Camera) is planned (Figure 7).
Figure 7: Synchronization with Google Earth
REFERENCES
[1] Hidenori Watanave, “SIGGRAPH Asia Archive in Second Life”, SIGGRAPH ASIA 2008 Art Gallery (curated works), Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore, 2008.
[2] Hidenori Watanave, “Laval VRchive”, 11th International Conference on Virtual Reality - Laval Virtual, Laval Virtual Revolution 2009, Theatre de Herce - Salle Polyvalente (Multifunction Hall), Laval, France, 2009.
CREDITS
Contents creation: Hidenori Watanave (Graduate School of System Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University)
Conception: Tomoe Moriyama (Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo)
Music: Kensuke Takada (Graduate School of System Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University)
Assistant: Ayaka Daimon, Kazuya Kitahara, Yuki Nakamaru, Yurina Takata and Yumi Akutsu (Faculty of System Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University)
