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Blast Theory - The New Media Challenge
About Blast Theory
Blast Theory - Program in Adelaide
Blast Theory - The New Media Challenge
Residency dates were from 30 December 2003 to 19 March 2004.
Award winning UK performance group Blast Theory challenged Adelaide with cutting-edge new media technology.
Blast Theory:
- confronted and explored the boundaries between South Australian cultural and information technology sectors
- promoted a rich and dynamic climate of knowledge, innovation and collaboration through access to and experience with the very latest in new media practices
- established and promoted South Australia as an innovative and progressive leader in new media technologies.
About Blast Theory
Based in the United Kingdom, Blast Theory is a highly renowned and influential multimedia performance group, recognised as a leading expert in its field. Utilising cutting-edge technologies in combination with rigorous research, Blast Theory creates highly interactive and socially engaging cultural performances. Blast Theory's work inspires debate and critical reflection on contemporary issues found in popular culture.
Comprising Matt Adams, Ju Row Farr and Nick Tandavanitj, Blast Theory has been shortlisted twice for an Interactive Arts BAFTA Award. Can You See Me Now?, originally commissioned by the UK's Shooting Live Artists initiative between the BBC, Arts Council England and the Culture Company, won the Golden Nica at the 2003 Prix Ars Electronica - an international competition of cyberarts - and has led to the group being commissioned by the BBC to develop an interactive television programme.
Blast Theory will be accompanied by personnel from the Mixed Reality Laboratory (MRL) of the University of Nottingham with whom they collaborate with on projects. MRL brings together leading researchers from the Schools of Computer Science, Engineering and Psychology to research mixed reality - new technologies that merge the physical and digital worlds. The members from MRL accompanying Blast Theory are Professor Steve Benford, Martin Flintham, Jan Humble, Dr Ian Taylor, and Dr Duncan Rowland who will be based in the UK.
Professor Steve Benford's interests lie in technologies that support rich and dynamic social interaction across computer networks, including mixed reality and collaborative virtual environments (CVEs). Martin Flintham's key areas of research are CVEs, computer graphics and temporal links, while Dr Ian Taylor's focus is located in wireless networking, outdoor tracking (especially GPS), mobile device design and mobile telephony. All are highly skilled in the areas of new media and offer a rich opportunity for collaboration by new media technicians and researchers in South Australia.
Websites with further information about Blast Theory and Mixed Reality Lab:
www.blasttheory.co.uk
www.canyouseemenow.co.uk
www.uncleroyallaroundyou.co.uk
www.mrl.nott.ac.uk
Further information on Blast Theory:
Blast Theory - Program in Adelaide
The Adelaide Thinkers in Residence program for Blast Theory was developed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the following partners and sponsors:-
Partners:
- Adelaide Fringe 2004
- m.Net
- South Australian Film Corporation
- Australian Network for Art and Technology
- Department of Education & Children's Services
Sponsors:
- Internode
- Australia Council
- Technology School of the Future
- Australian Film Commission
- Arts SA
- Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology
During the visit to Adelaide Blast Theory undertook a range of public, government and industry engagements including seminars, master classes and a public lecture. The residency culminated in a world-first media technology performance for the Adelaide Fringe 2004,' I Like Fank in Adelaide', providing access and experience of cutting-edge new media cultural performances for the general community.
The objectives for the residency were:-
- to promote South Australia and Adelaide Thinkers in Residence locally, nationally and internationally
- to provide Blast Theory with opportunities to influence key decision makers and leaders in South Australia and to stimulate and exchange ideas
- to assist in the establishment of SA as a site for forward-looking uses of new technology in culture and as an innovative and dynamic leader in new media cultural initiatives
- to contribute to a strategic plan for new media development and utilisation in South Australia
- to generate and strengthen the knowledge base and practical experience of South Australian students, practitioners and related stakeholders (e.g. IT personnel) in advanced performance/multimedia skills
- to develop on-going collaborations between South Australian cultural and information technology sectors
