December 2, 2005

Promoting Dance Through Hybrid Digital-Real World Technologies

Last week I spent a lot of time reading the stories on The Pondering Primate blog. The author, who goes by the name Vangorilla, covers mobile technologies and the emergence of new applications that integrate the online and physical worlds.

Two of the technologies covered recently in The Pondering Primate struck me as potentially interesting for dance and the arts world in general.

The first technology is Kooltag developed by Tagit. (You can read The Pondering Primate story, "Tagit Offers Physical World Connection").

Here's how Kooltag works: A person has a cell phone with a built-in camera. He comes across a brochure, ad, flyer or any other physical material that includes a two-diminsional bar code (a 2D barcode is similar to the barcode used to scan groceries at supermarkets except it stores more data). He uses his camera phone to take a picture of the 2D barcode and the software on the cell phone than grabs the associated media such as webpages, video, audio or blogs.

For example, let's say that you mail a postcard for an upcoming dance performance. On this postcard, you could include a 2D barcode. Then recipients could use their phones to take a snapshot of it. Once they take the picture of your barcode, the user will be automatically presented with videos, images and web pages that provide more details about your upcoming performance. This type of technology could also be used for mobile ticketing solutions as well.

The second technology is Hypertag. (You can read the story in The Pondering Primate "Aura's Hypertags Loved by Consumers").

Here's how Hypertag works: You start with a phone or other handheld device that supports infra-red or Bluetooth data transmissions (both infra-red and Bluetooth are popular ways of wirelessly sending digital data short distances - one or both of these technologies is built into most mobile devices). You come across an advertising billboard, poster or sign that features an embedded Hypertag. You point your mobile device at the tag and then you instantly receive content in the form of ring tones, games or other data that the advertiser wishes to have delivered to your device.

Visit this page on the Hypertag website to learn how this technology could be used as part of a museum tour. A user could point a mobile device at a tag next to a painting and then would receive images, audio, video or additional information about the picture.

One possible application of Hypertags for a dance performance could be the following: A person at a performance venue could point their mobile device at a billboard outside the theater. Instantly a detailed program guide is downloaded to the handheld device that includes a video introduction to the performance along with text, pictures and links. The downloaded package could even include a complete annotated audio guide to the performance that users listened to as the performance takes place.

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November 4, 2005

MoMA on iTunes

In my post yesterday about podcasting in the arts world, I left out the Museum of Modern Art.

I just realized that MoMA features a large number of audio tours on iTunes. Here's a screen shot. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Also, you can visit the audio page on the MoMA website to learn more about their podcasts, and to watch audio tours in conjunction with Flash animations that provide a visual component to these programs.

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November 3, 2005

Where Are the Dance Podcasts?

It's good to see that in the visual and performing arts world audio podcasts are beginning to catch on.

Andrew Taylor has a post about some of these new podcasts:

- The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has launched an E-Label version of its classics on iTunes. From the press release you can link to MSO's music on ITunes.

- The Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville, Tennessee has a number of recent podcasts of exhibits at the Frist. I'm listening right now to one done by Exhibits Curator Mark Scala who is explaining a few works from the Hudson River School. He's giving a live tour and asking the audience questions as he discusses the paintings. Sounds interesting but I think I have to be looking at the paintings to benefit from this audio tour.

- GalleryCasts seems to be a new directory of art-related podcasts - there are currently four podcasts available.

- Stanford University has created Standford on iTunes, which includes a good number of audio files from lectures, music, and books and authors on its special section on iTunes - very impressive and very free.

So the question I have is when will the dance world join the podcasting fun? I think that video podcasts in particular would be a great way to promote upcoming dance performances.

Posted by Doug Fox at 4:47 PM - Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

October 19, 2005

Interactive Performances With Wireless Input

I've always been intrigued by how audiences might contribute to or participate in dance performances by using different types of wireless communication devices.

There was a performance last year called Texterritory v.2.3 in England that enabled audience members to use a wireless device in order to direct and inspire the dance performance. In a nutshell, the audience used mobile phones to vote on which outfit the dancer, Grace, should wear for a blind date. Plus, audience members sent short text messages, which were projected on a screen and inspired an improvisational dance piece. On the Texterritory site, you'll find a video clip highlight of the performance.

This is the only dance performance I've come across that leverages wireless devices to encourage real-time participation.

But I did come across today, on the network_performance site, a multimedia public performance program called SimpleTEXT that outputs sounds and images based upon real-time feedback from audience members using cell phones and handheld devices.

Here's how the creators of SimpleTEXT describe their mission:

SimpleTEXT focuses on mobile devices and the web as a bridge between networked interfaces and public space. As mobile devices become more prolific, they also become separated by increased emphasis on individual use. The SimpleTEXT project looks beyond the screen and isolated usage of mobile devices to encourage collaborative use of input devices to both drive the visuals and audio output, inform each participant of each other's interaction, and allows people to actively participate in the performance while it happens. Our purpose with the performance is to create the possibility of large-scale interaction through anonymous collaboration, with immediate audio and visual feedback. SimpleTEXT encourages users to respond to one another's ideas and build upon the unexpected chains of ideas that may develop from their input.

It would be interesting to see how this type of collaborative participation application could be used by dance companies to create audience-directed performances.

Posted by Doug Fox at 5:37 PM - Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

October 13, 2005

Brain Wave Projections of Dance Performers

At the September Ingenuity Festival or Art and Technology in Cleveland, Ohio, MorrisonDance performed a work, "Inside," that integrated projections of real-time EEG (electroencephalograph) brainwave readings of the dancers and a pre-recorded video of Sarah Morrison's arthroscopic elbow surgery.

For the brain reading component of the performance, Morrison wore a brainwave-reading FlexCap developed by BrainMaster Technologies.

Images of brainwave scans of dancer projected onto screens in real-time during performance.

Dancer wearing FlexCap.

Detail view of FlexCap.

Posted by Doug Fox at 8:31 AM - Permalink | Comments (0)

October 12, 2005

Guerilla Ballet Performances

Tomorrow (October 13th) at 9 PM GMT+1 in an undisclosed location in Belgrade, Serbia, Ballettikka Internettikka (Internet Ballet) will be broadcasting live over the Internet its latest guerrilla dance performance, "BEO Guerrillikka".

Tomorrow's performance by Igor Stromajer and Brane Zorman follows in the footsteps of pervious "invasions" of prestigious performance venues such as the Bolshoi Theater and La Scala. In a nutshell, Ballettikka Internettikka enters a venue uninvited and using portable wireless technologies broadcasts a live guerilla dance performances over the Internet of about 10 to 20 minutes in duration.

wireless mobile remote-controlled surveillance system used for Ballettikka Internettikka's La Scala performance

Here's how tomorrow's performance will use technology:

Artists will use low-tech mobile and wireless equipment for the invasion and live broadcasting (portable computers, mini digital camera, MP3 audio systems, mobile GPRS telephones etc). A laptop and MiniDV cam, together with Webcam32 (version 6.0) software will be used for broadcasting the video signal (running over Intima Virtual Base FTP server). Another laptop and MP3 player with online interface SHOUTcast (version 1.8.3/win32), will be used for live sound broadcasting (running over Beitthron FTP server). A local GSM mobile phone operator will be used for GPRS mobile internet connection.

On the BEO Guerrillikka performance page, you can watch the performance live and also read a run-down of the timeline of the logistical steps that will be followed to implement the "invasion."

To learn more about how this performance will work, you can visit pages for past performances such as "Illegallikka Robottikka," which was performed last year at La Scala. You'll find pictures, a technology overview and a video, although I can't figure out what the video is all about.

You can also read an article, "Claiming the Stage: Ballettikka Internettikka pt 2," that provides backgrounds about the artists and describes their performance at the Bolshoi Theater in 2002.

Posted by Doug Fox at 2:20 PM - Permalink | Comments (0)

October 11, 2005

Photo Blogging with Kristin Sloan of NYC Ballet

Kristin Sloan, a member of the New York City Ballet, maintains a picture blog of her dancing and travels. Using her Sony Ericsson S710a, Kristen takes shots of dancers, rehearsals, venues and more.

Kristin's caption for above picture - June 20, 2005: "The fairies in "A Midsummer Nights Dream" all wear super-long fake braids that get attached to our normal hair-do's. The ends then get safety-pinned to our costumes, so the heavy whip-like things don't take us out when we do a big jump or turn. It must have been pretty painful before that cool little trick was implemented."

Posted by Doug Fox at 6:25 AM - Permalink | Comments (0)

Dancing on Mobile Phones

Artificial Life, a developer of mobile and Internet applications, is rolling-out the V-disco software for mobile phones in Hong Kong later this year. 3G mobile phone users will be able to stream selected songs from SONY MBG music library while watching dance avatars move to the beat in a mini 3D browser.

Posted by Doug Fox at 6:15 AM - Permalink | Comments (0)

October 10, 2005

The iPod Nano and Dance Mobs

Stefan Engeseth has a solution to help Apple overcome the negative publicity generated by battery problems with the new iPod Nano.

In a October 6, 2005 post, "'iPod Dance' - A nonstop music solution with a perpetual batterty," Stefan describes how human movement, in the form of dancing, can be harnessed to power the iPod Nanos.

He recommends that Apple kick-off a marketing campaign via flash dances that feature Madonna dancing in the streets of New York. Read Stefan's post and comments to get a better idea of his recommendation.

I've always been intrigued by the idea of flash dancers - also called mobile clubbing or smart mobs. The idea is straightforward: A group of people communicate via email, instant messaging or text messaging and agree to meet at a designated public space at a specific date and time. When they arrive, somebody plays music via a portable music player, everybody dances for, say, 15 minutes and everybody leaves. That's it.

But in its own way, it's a pretty revolutionary idea. This type of event could not take place before ubiquitous communication tools existed that enabled groups of people to instantaneously communicate and determine on their own when and where they would gather to dance. No need for a venue, no need for expensive marketing programs, no DJ to decide what music to play and, overall, no pre-planning of any type.

There have been a number of examples of smart dance mobs over the past 2-3 years. Here are some articles and examples:

- Mobile Clubbing at Liverpool Street Station

- Flash Dance promotion during South by Southwest Festival earlier this year in Austin, Texas

- "From Flash-Mob To Mo-Club" November 2004 post to Robin Good's blog

- Pictures from Argentine Tango Flash Mob in June 2004

Posted by Doug Fox at 8:20 AM - Permalink | Comments (1)