Physicality, tactility, intimacy: interaction between humans and robots. Until recently robotics has been regarded as a strictly technological discipline. This research brings a fresh perspective to interactive robotics by investigating new ways that humans and robots can interact physically in socially empowered environments. The knowledge created in the project will advance both interactive media arts and robotics science. The theoretical outcomes of this research will open up an entirely new ....Physicality, tactility, intimacy: interaction between humans and robots. Until recently robotics has been regarded as a strictly technological discipline. This research brings a fresh perspective to interactive robotics by investigating new ways that humans and robots can interact physically in socially empowered environments. The knowledge created in the project will advance both interactive media arts and robotics science. The theoretical outcomes of this research will open up an entirely new cross-disciplinary approach to engagement between humans and machines, promoting Australia's growing reputation for innovation and creativity. The practical demonstration of this approach will lead to a new level of advanced robotics capability in applications such as health- and aged-care.Read moreRead less
Fish-Bird: Autonomous Interactions in a Contemporary Arts Setting. This research aims to investigate and expand the dialogical possibilities that exist between multiple autokinetic objects within a new media arts environment. Communication between the objects, and with their audience, will be explored through the modalities of gesture, motion and written text. A new aesthetic framework for interactive artwork will be created through research into autokinesis and the behavioural patterns that evo ....Fish-Bird: Autonomous Interactions in a Contemporary Arts Setting. This research aims to investigate and expand the dialogical possibilities that exist between multiple autokinetic objects within a new media arts environment. Communication between the objects, and with their audience, will be explored through the modalities of gesture, motion and written text. A new aesthetic framework for interactive artwork will be created through research into autokinesis and the behavioural patterns that evolve between people and autokinetic machines. Outcomes will include a major artwork in three stages, underpinned by a robotics software tool set that facilitates composition and experimentation with autokinetic artwork.Read moreRead less
Audio Nomad - A Location-based Handheld Audio Device for Sound-Art Applications. Audio Nomad is a cross-disciplinary project exploring location-aware, mobile audio devices for augmented audio reality systems. A unique and exciting combination of people and research in mobile devices, user interface design, spatial audio and streaming, spatial information systems, and positioning systems with new media arts and sound-art will create a handheld platform and design tools for use in culturally-signi ....Audio Nomad - A Location-based Handheld Audio Device for Sound-Art Applications. Audio Nomad is a cross-disciplinary project exploring location-aware, mobile audio devices for augmented audio reality systems. A unique and exciting combination of people and research in mobile devices, user interface design, spatial audio and streaming, spatial information systems, and positioning systems with new media arts and sound-art will create a handheld platform and design tools for use in culturally-significant applications. User-centred design embracing audio artists and content developers will create design tools for the emerging industry of virtual audio environments. Artists will be energised with new tools to create enriched and unique mobile audio user experiences for entertainment or productivity.Read moreRead less
The Spatial Impact of Digital Technology on Contemporary Art and New Art Institutions. Our aim is to explore the impact of digital technology on the production and display of contemporary art. Our focus is the spatial formation of the art institution at a time of historic transition, as object based collections are joined by new forms of technological imagery. We propose a distinct interdisciplinary methodology using spatial analysis derived from theories of contemporary art, new media theory an ....The Spatial Impact of Digital Technology on Contemporary Art and New Art Institutions. Our aim is to explore the impact of digital technology on the production and display of contemporary art. Our focus is the spatial formation of the art institution at a time of historic transition, as object based collections are joined by new forms of technological imagery. We propose a distinct interdisciplinary methodology using spatial analysis derived from theories of contemporary art, new media theory and critical social theory. The project's significance lies in developing insights into the new parameters of cultural production and cultural exchange. This will have strategic relevance for analysing the cultural impact of the emergent information society.Read moreRead less
Public screens and their transformation of social interactions in public spaces. This project will provide the first Australian analysis of public interaction with large electronic screens. The installation of large screens in public spaces is rapidly expanding in cities around the world. Our project will explore the potential for these screens to support new cultural practices and generate new social interactions. The research involves a cross-cultural comparison of screens in Europe, Asia ....Public screens and their transformation of social interactions in public spaces. This project will provide the first Australian analysis of public interaction with large electronic screens. The installation of large screens in public spaces is rapidly expanding in cities around the world. Our project will explore the potential for these screens to support new cultural practices and generate new social interactions. The research involves a cross-cultural comparison of screens in Europe, Asia and North America, along with the 'Big Screen' in Federation Square, Melbourne. The strategic value of the project is its capacity to inform public policy, and to improve understanding of the dynamics of public culture in mediated societies.Read moreRead less
Investigation into digital games and Australian female digital game culture. The project investigates new paradigms for digital games specifically oriented to young female users, aged from 16 to 25 years. This study explores female digital game culture, particularly in Australia, to create solutions that support gender equity, and will involve research into innovative design of multi-user online games. It aims to produce, test and refine online prototypes involving different gameplay scenarios, ....Investigation into digital games and Australian female digital game culture. The project investigates new paradigms for digital games specifically oriented to young female users, aged from 16 to 25 years. This study explores female digital game culture, particularly in Australia, to create solutions that support gender equity, and will involve research into innovative design of multi-user online games. It aims to produce, test and refine online prototypes involving different gameplay scenarios, as well as produce theoretical reports to be published in journals, mailing lists and conference proceedings.Read moreRead less
Destination: developing hologram recording and replay technologies to enable the world's largest mass audience viewing of deep volume water images. The exhibition of 'Destination', the world's largest hologram installation at Federation Square in Melbourne, will impact both local and international audiences through engagement with the globally important subject - WATER. Wide public access to the new perceptions of water available though the holograms will be accessible in progress via web interf ....Destination: developing hologram recording and replay technologies to enable the world's largest mass audience viewing of deep volume water images. The exhibition of 'Destination', the world's largest hologram installation at Federation Square in Melbourne, will impact both local and international audiences through engagement with the globally important subject - WATER. Wide public access to the new perceptions of water available though the holograms will be accessible in progress via web interface, broadcast live video and an international conference hosted at Federation Square. The technological advances forged by the international and national multi-disciplinary expert team (media art, urban design, holography and laser technology) will establish a strong knowledge base and expertise in Australia thus providing opportunities for PhD students.Read moreRead less
Narrative reformulation of museological data: the coherent representation of information by users in interactive systems. The proposed research seeks to provide Australia with a long-term opportunity to enhance its involvement in the billion-dollar creative economy by building the world’s first immersive 360-degree interactive data browser. Research into such systems benefits society by providing a cutting-edge development in digital technology and information access that enables a creative inno ....Narrative reformulation of museological data: the coherent representation of information by users in interactive systems. The proposed research seeks to provide Australia with a long-term opportunity to enhance its involvement in the billion-dollar creative economy by building the world’s first immersive 360-degree interactive data browser. Research into such systems benefits society by providing a cutting-edge development in digital technology and information access that enables a creative innovation culture. Through applied research into the narrative forms that underpin museological archives, this study will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of the growing world-wide research into interactive technology thereby assisting the global digital media industry to tackle emergent challenges. Read moreRead less
Video Art Online: from UBU Films to the Present. There is little Australian video art systematically presented online, nor is there a broad set of reference materials on this important area of artistic practice in Australia. This project will create an innovative way to store, catalogue, interpret and archive video art works using open source software that will be freely available to others to use and develop. This project presents significant for Australia by:(i) extending the reach and profile ....Video Art Online: from UBU Films to the Present. There is little Australian video art systematically presented online, nor is there a broad set of reference materials on this important area of artistic practice in Australia. This project will create an innovative way to store, catalogue, interpret and archive video art works using open source software that will be freely available to others to use and develop. This project presents significant for Australia by:(i) extending the reach and profile of two of Australia's most important new media and contemporary art institutions, (ii) making available open source solutions for online video archives to the cultural sector (iii) providing the broader Australian community access to video art works in a scholarly, easy-to-use repository.Read moreRead less
The BYSTANDER FIELD: immersive 'feedback' environments for exhibiting and dramatically interacting with semiotic, aesthetic and emotional patterns in archived imagery. The BYSTANDER FIELD investigates dramatic new ways to exhibit, interrogate and interpret archived imagery. Immersing visitors bodily in a 'turbulent' environment of user-activated images, sounds and texts, all cross-referenced and inter-dependent, the project encourages interactive comprehension of cultural collections and the so ....The BYSTANDER FIELD: immersive 'feedback' environments for exhibiting and dramatically interacting with semiotic, aesthetic and emotional patterns in archived imagery. The BYSTANDER FIELD investigates dramatic new ways to exhibit, interrogate and interpret archived imagery. Immersing visitors bodily in a 'turbulent' environment of user-activated images, sounds and texts, all cross-referenced and inter-dependent, the project encourages interactive comprehension of cultural collections and the societies that spawned them.
The research method is iterative and evolutionary: critique of existing literature, designs and technologies; repeated, rapid prototyping leading to test-exhibit; final critique of user-experience; report on knowledge generated.
Outcomes are theoretical and practical: reports delivering new knowledge; audience-tested systems of display and interpretation which are scaleable to several museological and architectural scenarios.Read moreRead less