Canadian Film Centre showcases next wave of interactive media

Canada's first post-graduate program for new media training and production revealed the fruits of its labour on Saturday, demonstrating that interactive media isn't only about art for art's sake - it can also have mass market appeal with bottom line results.Graduates of the Telus Interactive Art and Entertainment Program at the Canadian Film Centre unveiled the next generation of interactive art and entertainment concepts during the all night Nuit Blanche in Toronto. Titled, "and then s/he turned to me and said...", the event featured five new interactive entertainment projects for the Canadian and international marketplace. Some projects combined social interaction and new spins on digital media, while others, such as My Time, Gaku and Shh Ahh Ohh, highlighted the potential for both artistic pause and profits.My Time - a series of designer toys that communicate with computers - exhibits many of the features of mass-produced, commercial toys: a variety to collect, each with specific functions and personalities, and some with obvious appeal to young males and females. But the creators, a group called GUSTA, aren't Ty Inc., and the objects aren't Beanie Babies.Each object connects to a computer via USB to express time in various fashions. The Matrix - appearing as a log - displays reminders in scrolling text, Phono and Record - in blob forms - enable users to record and hear messages at specific times, A small plastic ball called Glow will radiate and fade colours, while a skull-like Hub enables users to combine all the objects to create a multi-sensory experience.The objects are currently programmed using Arduino open-source software, which co-creator Andrew Mallis says would change once picked up commercially. "We've been somewhat limited in what we can do right now, in the prototype stage, but once we're developing a larger run, we'll be upgrading the software and hardware."The quirky objects with personality seem poised for a strong commercial run, even in the face of obvious competition from BlackBerry alarms and calendar software. "You get to the point where you start to ignore all the pop up reminders and calendar alarms. We wanted to create something that would add personality and fun to alarms. In one sense they're desktop widgets, but they're also beautiful objects that you can place on your desk to express yourself," says Mallis.Gaku provides a new way for people to connect with distant loved ones. Designed with the assistance of Suissa Computers, Gaku is an interactive communication tool in the form of a digital photo/video frame. Users can send video, photo and audio messages between different Gakus, via WiFi or Ethernet."We wanted to create a tool that would help bridge some of the distance between grandparents and grandchildren," explains Jefferson Wright, part of the team behind the installation. "We faced a challenge in terms of creating a medium that would appeal to both the most technically advanced generation ... and those who haven't been exposed to a lot of digital technology." Gaku erases some of the technical challenges older generations may encounter with email and facebook by making media sharing intuitive.The devices, which Wright believes will eventually be sold in pairs, do away with mouses and keyboards. Users plug their camera into the Gaku and scroll through the photos using a knob - reminiscent of the icon balls of yesteryear. Once they find the desired photo they can record a message into the embedded microphone, scroll through the recipients and send it along. The recipient receives the media message, which can then be displayed in their frame.Toronto nightclub to showcase Shh Ahh OhhShh Ahh Ohh, created by Rea McNamara and Nicholas Longstaff, is a shadow installation that refuses to be constrained by frames. At the media lab exhibit, the display encompassed an entire room, filling two large walls. Arguably one of the most popular exhibits, the interactive installation encourages participants to set into the crossroads of light and shadow.Participants' movements are mirrored and digitally projected as shadows on a large screen. Different movements trigger different colours, shapes and noises, including the seemingly random appearance of an animated crow.Armed with only a budget of approximately $700, a $20 web cam, projector, screens and vvvv software - open source software developed for real time video synthesis - the interactive exhibit is already enjoying some success. Next month Shh Ahh Ohh will be installed in Circa Nightclub, a 53,000 square foot, four-storey mega club, located in the heart of downtown Toronto's nightclub district."We're still working on the design specifics for the showing," explains Longstaff, "but I'm excited about the possibilities, and to see how dancers interact with the screen, their shadows, the colours. I'd love to see floor-to-ceiling screens, where dancers from different floors could be projected and interact with the shadows from dancers in different areas of the club."Longstaff, like other graduates of the program, are hoping to bring investors on board. "I think this project can go beyond entertainment venues and has real potential as a learning tool."Drawing from his experiences as an educator, he cites colour theory and dance as potential educational venues for the project. "There really is quite a bit of possibilities," he says, echoing the hopes of his fellow graduates.

Canadian Film Centre showcases next wave of interactive media

News | 10/08/2008 3:26 pm EDT

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