In search of turning points and milestones in its 25-year history, the Ars Electronica Futurelab is embarking this year on an exciting biographical journey with a visionary retrospective. Throughout this anniversary year, members of the Lab as well as partners and others who have shared our journey will be brought onto the virtual stage of Ars Electronica Home Delivery to reflect on the past – and navigate the Lab into its future – together.
The Ars Electronica Futurelab will present its visionary storyline in a series of seven episodes. Month by month during its 25th anniversary year, the Lab will focus on another innovative chapter from its history – always straddling the line between art, technology and society.
Following Inside Futurelab: 25th Anniversary Series – Episode Zero, the introductory Deep Talk with Horst Hörtner, Andreas J. Hirsch and Susanne Kiesenhofer broadcast on March 9 via Ars Electronica Home Delivery from Deep Space 8K, the Ars Electronica Futurelab is now taking a look at the topic of Virtual Worlds in “Inside Futurelab: 25th Anniversary Series – Episode 1,“ backed up by a specially designed application for Deep Space 8K. “Deep Virtual” is a concept for a Deep Space format to be developed step by step over the course of the next seven episodes, placing the protagonists in Deep Space 8K in an immersive setting that is appropriate for the presentation, talks and discussions. Deep Virtual is conceived as an immersive, hybrid media format that will allow viewers to dive into virtual worlds together and see what the future has in store for Deep Space 8K.
The hybrid event is accessible to visitors both online and onsite. It discusses the production of the Deep Virtual application and the significance of Deep Space 8K as an immersive research and media space. It also reflects on pioneering projects such as Cave, Humphrey, Gulliver’s World, Papyrates Island and the Deep Space 8K from a present-day perspective with a historical outline.
In Inside Futurelab: 25th Anniversary Series – Episode 1 – Virtual Worlds Roland Haring, Director at the Ars Electronica Futurelab and Johannes Lugstein, Lead Developer at the Ars Electronica Futurelab present a new perspective on virtual environments and insights into the Lab’s DNA.
