Authors:

 Livingstone, Dan.

Title:

 Towards the empathy manifold

Keywords:

 augmented reality, shared spaces, collaboration, artificial intelligence
click here to download the full paper

Abstract:

 As more collaborative structures using VRML and other online 3D visualisation and simulation tools are developed, we become further removed from the emotionally immersive qualities of non technologically mediated collaborative situations. This paper explores the phenomenological aspects of perception, in the context of improvisation within virtual spaces. Within many of these spaces the emphasis is on the virtual body, the vessel, the Avatar; as these representations become more sophisticated, incorporating simulated facial expressions and gesture, our points of reference become anchored in a highly limited representational context. As more conceptually based collaborative virtual environments are implemented, new communication modes will need to be developed that allow collaborators to intuitively interact and respond to given situations on a critical conceptual level, current manifestations of online collaborative spaces tend to depend on puppet like control of avatars and text based communication. The abstraction of graphical references for spatial structures is well established...

"A point in space seems perfectly objective. But how are we to define the points of our everyday world? Points can be taken either as primitive elements, as intersecting lines, as certain triples of intersecting planes, or as certain classes of nesting volumes. These definitions are equally adequate, and yet they are incompatible: what a point is will vary with each form of description"

Varela et al p232 The Embodied Mind

As online environments become more visually sophisticated it is essential that new strategys for harnessing perception and integrating peripheral cognitive processes are explored.

'Towards the empathy manifold' discusses the convergence of communication and improvisation systems that facilitate empathy within distributed collaborative spaces to initiate new forms of improvisation, collaboration & creativity. This in turn stimulates the development of virtual and augmented realities that challenge the way we perceive and interact with one another through technologically mediated environments.

Forms of contribution:
(In addition to submitting this paper I would be very interested in setting up demonstrations of existing collaboration systems and running an interdisciplinary workshop or 'break out' group to investigate the role of technology mediated environments for enabling new forms of improvisation, collaboration & creativity.)
Livingstone, Dan. danl@hebe.soc.plym.ac.uk STAR University of Plymouth, UK Dan Livingstone is a Senior Lecturer in Interactive Media with the School of Computing at the University of Plymouth. His current role within the School is that of programme manager for the BSc(Hons) MediaLab Arts course. He is a member of STAR, (Centre for Science Technology and Arts Research) His current research activity deals with the design of interactive environments and augmented realities that investigate new forms of perception and consciousness. In August 1998 he led the 'dreams' element of an interdisciplinary research workshop entitled 'Interstices- the architecture of consciousness'. An international research event hosted by the STAR group at Port Elliot, St Germans, Cornwall. He was also presented a paper entitled 'The Space Between the Assumed Real and the Digital Virtual' at 'Consciousness Reframed II' hosted by CAiiA (Centre for Advanced inquiry into interactive Arts) at University College Wales, Newport, Gwent. His proposal for an augmented collaboration environment integrating interaction with an intelligent 'Sorcerers Apprentice' was documented in the Mediaspace section of the Journal Digital Creativity in 1997. During 1996 he was an active contributor to the 'Mediaspace' satellite broadcasts, a series of interactive programmes subscribed to by a number of European Universities. Other collaborative research activity includes a project with Contemporary Artist John Skinner and Professional Musician and composer Chas Dickie (of 'Startled Insects' fame). In 1995 a series of collaborative experiments were held at the Abbotsbury Studio in West Dorset, investigating the critical aspects of interactive performance and composition. He moved to Plymouth in 1994 after completing a Masters Degree in Sequential Design, specialising in Interactive Media, at the University of Brighton. During his MA studies he won the Rediffusion Award for Multimedia and was sponsored by the Rediffusion Simulation Research Centre, to continue his research into human facial expression, 'Darwins Expressions' was exhibited in September 1993.