A note from the Project Director
A year ago, along with the explosion of interest in
virtual reality in the public imagination, we
began discussions of its cultural implications. These
discussions, led by Geoffrey Batchen,
prompted a desire to work tangibly with this
nascent medium. Although the history of artists
working with technology is checkered, as artists we
are drawn to new methods of representation
and to the conceptual and technical challenges that
these pose.
Our task early on was to devise a process where
artists could have a great deal of control over
specifying the form of the computer environment
without undue involvement in the complexity of
computer programming. This led to the
development of our own virtual reality scripting
software.
The software went through several phases before it
arrived at its current state, which uses a
graphical scripting front end for virtual
environment authoring. This allows for virtual
environments to be scripted with little
programming intervention.
Apparitions became possible as I discussed the idea
of a VR installation with Gerry McAllister
during the early part of the year. Gerry's
enthusiasm, belief and interest in the project
provided
the impetus for building the network of support
that is necessary for an endeavor of this scope.
Without the support of Silicon Graphics Inc., UCSD
Academic Computing Services, the San
Diego Supercomputer Center, and Sony Corp., as
well as the private benefactors, this project
would have not been possible.
As artists, it is both exhilarating and frustrating to
work with emerging technology. It has
necessitated a strategy that drew upon and
developed a wide range of skills in the group
members
including computer programming, video, audio,
photography, installation, 3-D computer
modeling, and digital imaging. The integration of
interactive video and virtual reality simulation
is an area with little art world precedence. The
challenge for all involved has been to address our
conceptual concerns within a medium that is highly
constrained by complex technologies.
Sheldon Brown
Vital Signs Project Director
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