Open Futurelab

Once again this year, the Ars Electronica Futurelab and its partners show at the “Open Futurelab” which projects and initiatives have been created in the past months in collaboration between industries, education, art, and science.

The research and development force behind Ars Electronica sees itself as an atelier and a laboratory at the same time – what exactly this means can be seen at the exhibits, lectures and performances shown in this area.

Talk: Ars Electronica Australia

Presentations and Panel Discussion

In its 40 years of existence, Ars Electronica has built up a vast network of partners and friends all around the world. In this session, the focus will be on the Ars Electronica Australia Initiative; presenting partners & friends from this growing ecosystem. The session will offer insights, through artistic projects, research, programs and experiments, into the cultural landscape, and activities of this Australian network.

Alternative sports viewing: Cross-modal appreciation of sports events

Junji Watanabe, NTT Communication Science Laboratories (JP)

Haptic communication technology and human information science can update inclusive sports viewing. By adding a haptic sensation to the viewing experience or converting a sports video into a haptic sensation, we present a novel form of sports viewing in which the spectators whether disabled or not, can enjoy a sports event with the vicarious excitement. Junji Watanabe attempts to re-create a sports viewing experience, which does not depend on visual or auditory stimuli, as conventional sports viewing does, and in which spectators can generate alternative reality of the event. Projects of “alternative sports viewing” are presented, achieved by adding or subtracting various sensations.

FUNGUAGE – the FUN spirit in the future

Panel Discussion

What is the future of playfulness? How can we work on this future in the present, in the midst of our current societies? At the Panel Discussion FUNGUAGE – the FUN spirit in the future, these questions will be examined, using the example of a shared research project between BANDAI NAMCO Research Inc., Hakuhodo and the Ars Electronica Futurelab – FUNGUAGE. FUNGUAGE is a new form of language that enables humans and non-living material to communicate more effectively, creating a speculative scenario that uses FUN as a universal language, transcending cultural boundaries.

FUNGUAGE ROOM

Koichi Araake (JP), Eiji Iwata (JP), Michinari Kono (JP), Norio Sasaki (JP), Asa Ichinozuka (JP), BANDAI NAMCO Research Inc. (JP), Hakuhodo Inc. (JP), Ars Electronica Futurelab (AT)

How could a language between humans and objects look like? Maye like FUNGAUGE – a new form of language enabling humans and non-living material to communicate more effectively with each other. BANDAI NAMCO Group, a globally leading entertainment company, and Hakuhodo have been researching this question since 2017, together with the Ars Electronica Futurelab, building on the idea that FUN could be a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries. The current research progress and background is shown in a FUNGUAGE ROOM, where the new language is installed in a real-life environment.

Immersify – cutting edge tools for the next generation of immersive media

Immersify is a European research project that started in October 2017, connecting the Ars Electronica Futurelab with four partners from all over Europe. During this year’s festival, the ongoing progress of Immersify is presented at Deep Space 8K in a series of demos. Also taking place at Deep Space 8K, is a 8K live streaming demo that stretches the limits of what is technologically possible today.

Immersify – Frontiers of European Media Creation

Panel Discussion

Immersive media let us dive deep into images and videos – sometimes to the point where we completely forget the world around us. In order to transform this new kind of media from a niche phenomenon to widespread practice, the Ars Electronica Futurelab and four partners from all over Europe are working on a common research project, Immersify. At the Panel Discussion at the Open Futurelab, project partners and involved artists gather to speak about the new generation of immersive media applications.

LIVING WALLS – Prototype Participatory Project

Hamish Banham (AU), James Dwyer (AU), Ruth Hawkins (AU), Kelly Hodge (AU), Tom He (CH), Peter Lloyd (AU/US), Thomas Long (AU), Steven O’Hanlon-Rose (AU), William Richardson-Davis (AU), Matthew Vosten (AU)

Living Walls aims to confront and explore the possibilities and challenges associated with future living in the form of a participatory exhibit. Through an audience as a participatory agent, Living Walls aims to explore the challenges and possibilities of living in a micro-home, and provides a space for the public to explore what is important and valuable for their future living situation.

Talk: Ars Electronica Partners Network

Lecture / Presentation

In its 40 years of existence, Ars Electronica has built up a vast network of partners and friends all around the world. In this session, the focus will be on exactly these connections, shared research endeavors, and cooperations, showcasing projects and insights from current research, artistic projects, and experiments.

Poetic Systems

Panel Discussion

The panel discussion Poetic Systems looks at system-theoretical approaches at the nexus of art and architecture. Where can system theory, a sociological concept, be applied outside of its original discipline? Which dimensions are opened up by artistic research, an artistic viewpoint or Art Thinking in combination with system theory – and which new points of intersection emerge? Speakers with backgrounds in sociology, architecture, art and scientific research gather here to share their insights on this topic.

Tea Session: Laboratory of the Future

Panel Discussion

What is the role of the laboratory in the 21st century? This panel discussion will take a closer look at the constellations and methodologies that form the modern-day laboratory, spanning from scientific research to the Art Thinking methods so frequently employed within the Ars Electronica Futurelab itself. Working at the nexus of art, technology and society, Ars Electronica’s very own atelier and laboratory will be the starting point for a discussion on contemporary art and research practices both within and beyond the Ars Electronica ecosystem.

Open Futurelab

Presentations and Panel Discussion

Junji Watanabe, NTT Communication Science Laboratories (JP)

Panel Discussion

Koichi Araake (JP), Eiji Iwata (JP), Michinari Kono (JP), Norio Sasaki (JP), Asa Ichinozuka (JP), BANDAI NAMCO Research Inc. (JP), Hakuhodo Inc. (JP), Ars Electronica Futurelab (AT)

Panel Discussion

Hamish Banham (AU), James Dwyer (AU), Ruth Hawkins (AU), Kelly Hodge (AU), Tom He (CH), Peter Lloyd (AU/US), Thomas Long (AU), Steven O’Hanlon-Rose (AU), William Richardson-Davis (AU), Matthew Vosten (AU)

Panel Discussion

Panel Discussion

OUT OF THE BOX

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