The inaugural Art+Technology Lab Conversation considers the potential of virtual environments and realities within the tradition of landscape, performance and the poetics of place. Over the past year, the technologies to create virtual reality environments underwent an abrupt transition from hardware and software restricted to large labs accessible to research and industry, to small, inexpensive development kits making VR and immersive technologies accessible to individuals. Beyond the immediate entertainment applications associated with these new devices, what are the challenges and promise of these technologies for artists?
Rebecca Allen is a media artist and researcher whose work spans 3D virtual environments, artificial life, augmented reality, mobile applications and unique multimodal interfaces. She is Professor and founding Chair of the UCLA Department of Design Media Arts.
Scott Fisher’s work and research focus is on immersive environments and technologies of presence. As Director of NASA Ames VIEW project he pioneered the development of key VR technologies integrating head-coupled displays, datagloves and 3D audio into immersive first person experiences. He is Professor and founding Chair of the Interactive Media Division and Associate Dean of Research at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
