

Human beings have been developing machines for thousands of years. But what drives us on to do so? Is it the urge to understand and recreate nature and its processes? Is it perhaps our audacious pretensions to be capable of improving on the world as it is? Or are we just curious?

The Ars Electronica Futurelab and Honda R&D worked together to research the next generation of the relationship between humans and robots – with the humanoid robot Honda ASIMO at the center.

In cooperation with the University of Linzโs Institute of Polymer Product Engineering, the Australian origami- and media artist Matthew Gardiner cultivated interactive flowerbeds. During the 2010 Ars Electronica Festival they brought the industrial architecture of the former tobacco processing plant into full bloom.

The heart piece of the first main exhibition โNew Views of Humankindโ in 2009 was constituted by four public accessible labs.

The heart piece of the first main exhibition โNew Views of Humankindโ in 2009 was constituted by four public accessible labs.

The heart piece of the first main exhibition โNew Views of Humankindโ in 2009 was constituted by four public accessible labs.

The heart piece of the first main exhibition โNew Views of Humankindโ in 2009 was constituted by four public accessible labs.

How can a personโs unique personality and essential character traits be captured, simulated and imparted to a robot?

โIl mondo della luna โ The World in the moonโ by Joseph Haydn at the 2009 international Bruckner Festival โIl mondo della lunaโ has been performed in the Brucknerhaus by the Bruckner Orchestra Linz under conductor Martin Sieghart.

Since January 2009, the Ars Electronica Center has been shining night after night. 38,500 LEDs are built into the Ars Electronica Centerโs 5,100-m2 glass shell. Every one of the faรงadeโs 1,100 glass panels thus becomes what amounts to a pixel that can be individually controlled.

In 2009, the inspiring possibilities of the CAVE technology were the starting point for a new, visionary concept to expand and optimize VR technology for a broad public in the Ars Electronica Center and its constantly growing number of visitors.