If you have any interest In Art, Technology, and Philosophy...
I'm going to present on what I thought were the highlights of the event, for a more in-depth summary of every speech check out these two blog entries (by someone affiliated with the organizing initiative):
Part one and Part two
Hubert Dreyfus --
Introductory lecture on philosophy, phenomenology, and virtual space (Focus - Second Life).
Philosophy: Who is relevant and what would they say about Second Life?
Pascal -- Obsessed with the "wretchedness of the real world." Second life, and virtual space, would be seen as diversion: Clean, controlled, without the teeth of life or frailty of the body.
Nietzsche -- Would point to the masquerade: assume new sexes, jobs, roles, persona, etc. However, there can be no 'bold experimentation' in virtual space, where as of yet Risk does not translate from the real.
Heidegger -- Second Life as a community of communities, preserving the focal occasion (Paper Here).
Borgmann -- In dialogue with Heidegger: See Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life: A Philosophical Inquiry (1984)
There was a focus on interpersonal/emotional communication (What can Second Life bring to focal practices such as memorial events - How can one transmit grief?)
Do Proxemic (interpersonal space) relationships translate to Second Life interaction? Yes : Embodiment/avatar identification leads to perpetuation of interpersonal distance trends in online space.
Does mood transmit into second life?
While the founder of Linden brought up a good point regarding avatar gaze following clicking behavior, the precision and nuance of gaze is not transmitted. The current mode of emotion is to command an avatar to signal a private mood with a public gesture. So what is nuanced and subconscious in life becomes grotesque and exaggerated. However, Linden is now working on webcam software to transmit facial data to avatars.
In essence: taking the avatar from muppet to mirror (a more subconscious indicator).
Yehuda Kalay -- "Remembering 7th Street"
Recreating an account based version of 1950s Oakland, with a focus on the culture that flourished there.
This is a robust space that goes beyond architecture - complete with npc interaction,virtual actors, and relevant music/radio.
A quest dialogue and completion system, arguably similar to World of Warcraft, is in the works to motivate exploration.
Note: One immediate frustration i had with the project was with a technological reality that will strangle it:
Due to the ambition of the project, a specialized engine was used. This constricts modification to the term of the development cycle - the public at large hasn't the patience to steward each and every proprietary or obscure virtual environment. I fear that this Oakland, whose ambition is perpetuity, will face a new breed of disrepair. Were it to be incorporated into an existing, nurtured space with a pulse of user activity (like Second-Life) it would have a better shot at persistence.
Panel Discussion: Arts' effect on science
(nod to the distinguished Mr. Perry Hoberman) See Leonardo: Journal of Arts/Science/Tech
Panel Info:
"Osmosis": What Can the Arts Do for the Sciences?
Art-Science interaction is a two way process. The impact of science and technology on the arts is much discussed and well documented. This panel seeks to examine the influence of the arts on the sciences, and the benefits that science can derive from the arts.
* Bronac Ferran, Writer, Researcher, Instructor at Royal College of Art in London, Past director of the Interdisciplinary Arts at Arts Council England
* Melinda Rackham, Executive Director of the Australian Network for Art and Technology
* Jim Crutchfield, Complexity and Chaos Researcher, Professor of Physics at UC Davis, Co-founder and Scientific Director Art and Science laboratory
* Chris Chafe, Composer, Duca Family Professor at Stanford University, Director Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics
One recurring question: How does the dream get you there (to a significant discovery or advancement) before the rational process?
The recurring theme seemed to be Art/Tech residencies for artists (offered by both Ferran and Rackham)
Jim Crutchfield, a physicist (and awesome guy), offered this insight into working with his artist partner: "Having to explain yourself" means taking nothing for granted; a secret benefit of collaboration.
Many of the companies/research sites involved in the residency programs use the artists to supply possibilities and implications for their work - sometimes resulting in objects/performances that project a tangible public image for the work.
All in all a great time - if you want to stay on top of events like this, you should hit up DMAX