From: ikingsle@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Ilana Kingsley)
Subject: CyberArt proposal
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1991 15:32:25 GMT
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY



I'm a grad student at Syracuse University working on VR
applications for the SU VR lab. I'd like some feedback on the
application of CyberArt. I need to know what is technically
available to make the program happen...What voice rec systems are
available; if it will be possible to scan in pictures and have them
move in real time; if animated graphics can move in real time and
how complex animation can be; and any other comments & suggestions
on the overall design. Read on...

What is CyberArt

CyberArt is 3-dimensional graphic, auditory, and textual "art" that
can be accessed through a virtual world. Using goggles and gloves,
the player can create and interact in her own artistic world, or
she may browse through prototype designs. Similar to a "psychedelic
experience" CyberArt enables players to see colors shifting,
floating, and metamorphosizing through a "space". Two phases of
CyberArt, are described in the following outline.

Phase 1: The Prototype Design
The first phase of CyberArt consists of "canned" programs that
allow the player to visualize and experience the endless
possibilities of CyberArt. Users (players) may interact with a pre-
drawn graphic landscape. They will be able to change the landscape
by grabbing and moving its components. Players may also manipulate
any text residing within the 3-D world. For example, plates
(drawings) of William Blake will be scanned into a graphic
computer. Text (poetry) and auditory input will be entered into the
sytem. The plates will be programmed to move. For example, one of
Blake's plates portrys a man playing the harp. In the VR world,
the man will actually play the harp, 3-D harp sounds will accompany
the images hand movement, the stars on his cape will twinkle.
Furthermore, text will be inlaid and/or superimposed onto the 3-D
image. Users will be able to interact with the space/plate by using
voice recognition and/or dataglove. For example, the user may be
able to play the harp herself by plucking its strings. She will be
able to pick up text and place it wherever she wishes. With a voice
recognition system she can manipulate objects by "telling" them to
get bigger or smaller, move to the left/right.

Phase 2: Using voice recognition and the data glove, users will be
able to create their own 3-D CyberWorld. Using a 3-D McPaint
system, players will be able to point and gesture with their hands
to create a graphic world. At anypoint in time while drawing the
world, the user may add text by voice recognition. For example,
while drawing a 3-D bear, the user may say the words, "bear hair";
and the words will then appear on the screen. By grabbing at the
text, the user can pick up words and place them wherever she
wishes. She may also enlarge of shrink text by giving verbal
commands (ie. enlarge text bear). She may also rotate the text,
create different shapes and textures from it, and manipulate its
entire structure.

Specifications/Options for using the system:
1) Voice recognition: A word list can be given to the user, listing
words that the computer will recognize; this may prove unfruitful
if the system uses 50,000 words. Consequently, words that the
system does not recognize could possibly be programmed in by the
user; or the computer will "beep" and notify the user that the word
can not be recognized. 

     Another problem with implementing the voice rec system is
differentiating when a word is stated as a command and when words
are meant to be input onto the screen. This can be solved by
creating input and command modes, where input refers to generating
text on the screen and command refers to verbally moving
text/images around.

2) Animation/scanning/abstract art forms
     To be further researched 

3) Multiple Users
The world should be able to hold multiple users in one space.
Multiple users will be able to enter the same world and interact
with the VE and each other.

...Comments, suggestions, criticisms will be greatly
appreciated!

Ilana Kingsley                          ikingsle@rodan.acs.syr.edu
Syracuse University                     kingsley@sunrise.bitnet
Information Studies