Untitled
Symposium:
- ISEA2011: 17th International Symposium on Electronic Art
- More presentations from ISEA2011:
Session Title:
- An Alembic of Transformation: Virtual Reality as Agent of Change
Presentation Title:
- Untitled
Presenter(s):
Venue(s):
Abstract:
Chair Person: Elif Ayiter
Presenters: Selim Balcisoy, Murat Germen, Yacov Sharir, Diane Gromala & Margaret Dolinsky
We have come to recognize the vast potential of Virtual Reality environments as powerful agents of change, both on a personal as well as on a socially interactive level. Thus, this panel will discuss the implementation of Virtuality Reality technologies in the fields of healing and of personal growth, learning, as well as an all important re-capturing of potentially lost adult playfulness through three dimensional virtual presence and immersion.
In this panel we propose to look at Virtual Realites in their online as well as standalone manifestations with a special consideration for its capabilities in producing emotional, perceptual, behavioral changes in their users. That these changes extend beyond the actual immersion and continue into the everyday existence of participators has been previously established by Yee and Bailenson (2007). Beyond their considerable persuasive capabilites as we know them today, looking into the future, Biocca (1997) discusses the possibility of developing a medium that allows greater access to the intelligence, intentions and sensory impressions of another person through the usage of Virtual Reality environments and the embodied agent therin, a state which he calles Hyperpresence: Proposing sensor based technologies, used in conjunction with immersive three dimensional Virtual Reality Biocca points at the possibility of a novel communication codes which may enhance/amplify and even extend beyond spoken language and non-verbal codes such as facial expression, posture, touch, and motion, that “these can augment the intentional and unintentional cues used in interpersonal communication to assess the emotional states and intentions of others” (Biocca, 1997).
In light of and an awareness of such offerings, both current and future, we have come to recognize the vast potential of Virtual Reality environments as powerful agents of change, both on a personal as well as on a socially interactive level. What will thus be under scrutiny is how Virtual Reality based artwork can be actualized within such a process: The implemetation of Virtuality Reality technologies in the fields of healing and of personal growth, learning, as well as an all important re-capturing of potentially lost adult playfulness through three dimensional virtual presence and immersion will be some of the subjects under discussion.