Scotch Egg

Scotch Egg was a very interesting character with musical influences which really surprised me, especially since he is a breakcore producer. He mentioned various classical composers as heavy influences on the four albums he produced. Strauss, Bach, Moondog were three he mentioned. These influenced him as they produced there music in a very simple way. He could relate to this as he only uses 3 layers of sound while also limiting himself to sounds created using the Nintendo Gameboy sound library.

This concept of limitation is what interests him as it forces him to be more creative when producing. This for me was also very interesting especially in modern times where people have the tools to create with almost limitless possibilities. The result of which, in the majority, is overindulged work.

Limiting yourself is a concept which can encompass anything; it doesn’t just exist within the realm of music. For example, a painter may limit themselves to just one or two colours for a painting. Forcing themselves to intelligently develop there initial idea to work with this limitation.

Interactive: Understanding Interactivity

To get a better concept of what interactivity actually means I have begun to seek out the source of “interactivity” and why we as human beings require it.

In ancient times, through interactive play, people would “…learn how to coordinate manoeuvres and how to strategise. People played games for these purposes alone. (Miller, unknown Pg 8)
One could therefore say that this might be one of the reasons as to why we like playing interactive games nowadays. Once we learn how to manoeuvre and strategise our way through various tasks throughout our lives we instantly receive a sense of accomplishment. This alone is reason for the large success of interactive games nowadays.
It was not only games and storytelling that are believed to be the precursors of modern interactive entertainment, but religious rituals also. Together “they help to define some of the critical components required to create satisfying interactivity”. (Miller, Unknown, pg 14)
There are also a number of well respected writers and artists who can be said to have an influence on what is meant by interaction. William S Burroughs took his audience by storm when he launched his “cut up” works, where he would take text in “which he cut into fragments which reassembled in a different order. He believed that these rearrangements enabled new meanings to emerge”. (Miller, Unknown, pg 12)
As for the exceptional modern author James Joyce, many now believe his novels to be a pioneer of digital hypertext. (Miller, Unknown, pg 12)

Nowadays, it is easy for us to forget the practice with which the verb “interact” was once used. “To interact simply meant to relate on multiple levels to others. It implied a kind of group dynamic that one would foster in the classroom or meeting sessions…influencing each other…people working together”.(Marshall, 2004, Pg 14 )
That use to be the meaning of the term “interactive” up until the age of New Media. Now the term has evolved. “New media is interactive. In contrast to old media where the order of presentation is fixed, the user can now interact with a media object. In the process of interaction the user can choose which elements to display or which paths to follow, thus generating a unique work. In this way the user becomes the co-author of the work.”(Manovich, 2002, unknown)
Therefore one can say that interactivity entails a sense of empowerment for the user, where they acquire a sense of control over the amount of time they spend and the information with which they choose to engage in. When someone surfs the web it is unspecified and unpredictable except by the user themselves. Hence control is given to the user. This can be challenged however as this “interactivity implies only apparent control”. (Marshall, 2004, Pg 16)


- Miller, Carolyn H, “Interactivty Storytelling: A Brief History”
- Marshall, P. David. New media Cultures. London: Arnold press, 2004
- Manovich, L. The Language of New Media. unknown

Interactive: Research

Installation: Shadow Monsters

Recently I have come across a few pretty cool interactive installations, the first being a very simple but ingenious concept for shadow puppets in this case titled “Shadow Monsters” by Philip Worthington.In the installation Monsters appear from shadows cast by the hands of participants, reacting to gestures with sound and animation.

Shadow Monsters
(click work/shadow monsters - then click on the playing video to zoom in)

Outdoor Advertising

I hadn’t thought of doing anything like this but from viewing this website it is now something I will be considering. With the world full of terrible advertising campaigns it is extremely refreshing to see a creative and interactive take on these campaigns.

Interactive: Han Hoogerbrugge

During my research I have come across Han Hoogerbrugge. Hoogerbrugge, form the Netherlands, started out as a painter and cartoonist but now focuses on digital media. He is the creator of the extremely popular Modern Living Neurotica series as well as his current interactive series Hotel, created for the online Submarine Channel. Regarding his work he says "I want to put just enough in one animation to keep your attention, but at the same time leaving you hungry and wanting to see more." This is very interesting to me as he is limiting his animations, forcing himself to be more creative in what is added.

What's great about Hans' animations is that they don’t serve any other end other than to entertain. It's not navigation. It's not informational. It's a mildly interactive form of art that is both stylish and engaging.

Below are some of his creations:

Crisis, What Crisis?
Penis Envy
Public Opinion
Year of the Pig
Hotel
Flow

Interactive: Research

I have been thinking about developing a portfolio website for some time and this is an ideal opportunity to create one. Particularly, as I want to create an experimental website which the user can explore and interact with. An initial concept I have is a 3 dimensional cube which the user can rotate in whichever way they want (around its centre point) using the mouse. This box would be the navigation system for the website.

To get the project underway I have decided to research other websites of this nature, in order to see “how high the bar has been set” and try and get some inspiration. Below details a list of some of the more interesting/original websites I found:

Red Interactive Agency
Donnie Darko
karim Zariffa
Tokyo Plastic
Entrance 4
Typography Kicks Ass
Chris Erickson
Prism Girl
Robert Loffel
HL 2
Quest For The Rest - Jakub Dvorsky
Perpetuu Music Club - Jakub Dvorsky
Podvedomim(The Subconscious) - Jakub Dvorsky
Blanka Sperkova - Jakub Dvorsky

New Brief: Interactive

This week the class were given our second brief. To summarise we are being asked to design and develop an interactive project that explores the below concepts:

“…Design boundaries can be thought of as very elaborate systems of control”.
“The users of new media are becoming the content of the form.” (P. Marshall, 2004, New Media Cultures, Arnold Press: London Pp.18)

The process of interactivity, whether on a personal or sociological level, remains an integral part in the way in which we lead our lives. Many theorists suggest that it is interactivity that separates the new media from the old. With regard to computers interactivity is the dialogue that occurs between a human and a machine. Interactive media offer us new forms of empowerment - in the ability to control our experiences; but there is always a tension between these new media forms and concepts of interactivity. Although to some extent the ability to be both author and navigator of a text is an inherent property of interactivity, much of this is implied control; as we are merely operating within the bounds of constructed environments. Whether the process of mediation between the designer and the intended audience is for the purpose of instruction, storytelling and entertainment or purely for the purpose of information, the ‘language’ as defined by the visual, auditory and technical means by which this is achieved is crucial to the success of the audiences ‘experience’. Although there are some highly technical methods of providing audience engagement and interactivity, low tech methods can sometimes be just as effective.

FUCK!

The first time I have ever had a project under control, having finished it the night before the deadline. I went and lost my CD on the way to college. Moral of the story, stupidity breeds stupidity….ended up one hour late, marked zero.

Dissertation: Initial ideas

first -

"We shape our tools, and then our tools shape us." Marshall McLuhan

This idea would be set on the basis that as human beings we create technology to make our lives easier. However as a result, technology is becoming more and more intelligent as we become less intelligent or less inclined to think for ourselves.

This is already leading to technology telling us what to do in our everyday lives and we are ok with that. In some cases rather it, why is this? Are we becoming slaves to the very technology that we created to be used as a tool? In our hierarchy disciplined world will technology become the “wolf” and mankind the “sheep”?

second -

This idea is based on a title I coined because of the success of online environments “our very own self induced virtual prison”.

At present virtual worlds such as “second life” and “world of war craft” have developed into environments where millions of people world wide “live” for hours on end, daily. Some become completely immersed to such an extent that they are at the mercy of the computer. There online identity desired far more than there real life one. If this trend continues will these computer generated environments, which are completely rule oriented (meaning these rules cannot be broken), be our very own self induced virtual prison?

Will people for example, one day in the future when the technology is completely immersive, decide to go on holiday for free in “second life” to a perfect three dimensional representation of a city or decide to pay and go through all the hassle involved with travelling to that same city in reality? Only time will tell...

Impact from this new Technology

Waiting lists go down because of shorter operating times and fewer complications during surgery. Faster recovery rates due to the reduced blood loss and less post operative pain allow patients to leave sooner. All this will have a further knock on effect in that more people get appointments.

Society becomes more confident in the medical system. This results in a positive attitude in people when going for operations. More people who may otherwise not go for operations decide to do so because of this new found confidence. Mankind becomes healthier.

Through this technology hospitals will become extremely efficient…and with health care being fundamental to the success and development of us as a civilization the technology holds a future where everyone will benefit.

Contact Lens Display versus Present Displays

Present day augmented reality systems rely on swivel monitors to display the augmented view of the treatment area. (http://www.inigraphics.net/press/topics/2004/issue1/1_04a13.pdf) These displays have there problems as specialised displays can be very expensive and require tedious setup time. They also can lack mobility. Head mounted displays are sometimes used but are considered by most to be too bulky and deteriorate the wearers perception of there surroundings and reduce mobility due to wires. (http://www.gris.uni-tuebingen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Paper/Fischer-2004-Medical.pdf)

With the use of the contact lens display, problems regarding setup time and mobility are solved. The doctor need only insert the lenses and setup it complete. With the lenses in place he/she will be able to freely view areas without having to limit there view inside the confines of the swivel window used currently. They would also prove to be a more natural and accessible device for a physician when compared to the swivel display window. Once placed on the eye they will be completely unnoticeable. The physician can then fully concentrate on the procedure at hand.

Contact Lens Display for AR in Medicine: Safety and Usability

Safety is of course paramount: a minor miscalculation could result in a patient’s death. Augmented reality relies upon an exact registration of virtual to real life, and misalignment cannot be allowed. It is also important that the surgeon retains tight control and can monitor, evaluate, and adjust factors throughout a procedure that depends on augmented reality.(http://student.bmj.com/issues/08/03/life/108.php)

The determination of the position, the visualisation, as well as the graphic interactive access of instruments, organs and regions should be as natural and transparent as possible. It is essential for its acceptance that the existing practice of physicians is as little changed as possible. The use of augmented reality particularly fits well to achieve this goal, as it overlays the real view on the patient with computer generated images and information. (http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)

Finally ergonomics and ease of use must be considered. All information displayed through the lens must relay information to the surgeon in a very intelligent way as to not impede vision or distract in any way. Failure to do so could compromise a patient’s safety.

Contact Lens Display for Augmented Reality(AR) in Medicine

With my project now focusing on the Medical domain I began to look into the areas where this technology would be very beneficial. The following are specific areas/applications in medicine for Augmented Reality.

Puncture, Biopsy

This is the introduction of Needles into the body to extract tissue samples. Currently these interventions are performed by the physicians with the use of previously assembled image data and there experiences in the field regarding anatomy. At present it is impossible to see if the needle injection harms healthy areas by the intervention.
(http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)

Cancer Treatment, Brachytherapy

Medication is injected through a needle or a supply of radiation is introduced to tumor.
When a physician injects this radiation supply it must be as close to the tumor as possible in order to minimize damage to the surrounding cells which are healthy. This however is not always possible as the tumor is sometimes hidden from the view of the doctor.
(http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)

Minimum invasive surgery

An instrument for inspection or intervention is introduced through a natural or induced body opening. (http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)

This area has become increasingly recognized over the past fifteen years - As the avoidance of large incisions typically results in a reduced loss of blood, significantly less post-operative pain, faster recovery, and better cosmetic results. However, the first problem encountered with minimal invasive surgery is it confronts the physician with a limited view to the region of intervention. The second problem is the lack of reference between the pre-operatively acquired medical image data (MRI, CT etc.) and the patient during the operation. This relationship between the treatment region and the pre-operatively acquired medical data is an unsupported process leaving a considerable extra workload for the surgeon. (http://www.inigraphics.net/press/topics/2004/issue1/1_04a13.pdf)

The above listed areas will all be revolutionized through augmented reality…as the pre-op image data will be directly registered in the exact position of the treatment area with all instruments used being tracked electromagnetically. This will be further complemented with helpful information regards the procedure displayed through the lens display for the physician to see.

Contact Lens Display: Focusing on One Area

During my conversation with Mìcheal this week we discussed the various areas (good and bad) I had researched regards this technologies impact on society. Through this discussion it became apparent that in order for me to carry this project forward and to produce a viable presentation in the allocated time. I would need to focus on one area which would use this Contact Lens Display. Having many areas would result in a project/presentation which was too broad.

Taking this on board I began to look at the various areas I had researched and analyze them on there merits. To begin with I compared Virtual Reality (immersive environments e.g. gaming) to Augmented Reality. In order to distinguish which technology would be the most practical as a future technology and also best suited for the Lens display.

Virtual Reality(VR) versus Augmented Reality(AR)

In Virtual Reality systems the external world is completely blocked out with the user being presented with an environment that is under complete control of the computer. The user is completely immersed in an artificial world and becomes divorced from there real environment. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html) They are at the mercy of the computer living in a kind of virtual prison with rules that cannot be broken.

In some cases the user might become addicted to this virtual world preferring to live in this environment. Could this be considered healthy living in a computer generated environment? Your real world identity lost instead replaced by this user desired virtual one.

In contrast, an Augmented Reality system is augmenting the real world scene necessitating that the user maintains a sense of presence in that world. This is a lot healthier, as you do not loose your sense of identity. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html)

Virtual Reality systems while being extremely expensive will also require a lot of supplementary technology to be fully functional, such as complete user interactivity and mobility. This looks from research to be a lot further into the future then augmented reality technology.

It is for these reasons I have decided to develop my concept with Augmented Reality in mind as it is more feasible for this futures brief.


Augmented Reality: Medicine

It became very apparent to me what area I should concentrate on once I decided not to go down the obvious road of immersive gamming (virtual reality). The Medical field is viewed by most as one of the more important for augmented reality systems because many applications throughout depend chiefly on image technology.

With the majority of surgery’s being image guided surgery pre-op images such as CT or MRI scans offer a surgeon a necessary internal view of a patient. The operation is then planned using these visuals. With the use of Augmented Reality these 3 dimensional scans could be directly superimposed on the anatomy of the patient while the operation is in progress when viewed through the lenses. Having these visuals superimposed onto the patient will enhance the performance of a surgical team and eliminate painful stereotatic frames currently being used. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html)

Below is a sketch detailing how this 3D MRI image might look seperimposed on a patient.


Another area which will use this technology will be ultra sound imaging. Using the display a doctor would view a 3 dimensional image of a fetus superimposed on the abdomen of a pregnant women. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html)

Contact Lens Display for Augmented/Virtual Reality : Meaning to Society

Over the last few days I decided to research further the impact this Augmented/Virtual Reality Contact Lens Display would have on society. Shown below are examples of how this will be beneficial and also non-beneficial:


Immersive Environments:

With this lens totally immersive three dimensional environments will be possible. For gaming this is the “holy grail” of displays, making the Star Trek “holadeck” that step closer. However other technologies will also need to be developed if the gamer wants to move around the environment.


Medicine:

This is an area where mankind can really benefit. Twenty-four hour health care will become common place as bio-censors placed on the lens constantly check for health problems.

Operations would be made simpler. With cameras incorporated in the lens surgeons would be able to zoom into minute areas during an operation (bionic vision). They could also, using augmented reality, have areas of the body such as major arteries, veins etc. traced during operations. Both of these factors making the surgery a lot less complicated. (http://www.gizmag.com/electronic-contact-lens-promises-bionic-capabilities-for-everyone/8689)

Operations could also be practiced as, like the completely immersive gaming concept mentioned above, an operation could also be created much like a game. Surgeons would then practice techniques (within this immersive world) without having to think about the consequences of anything going wrong. This would be highly beneficial to all doctors in whatever stage of there career be it surgeons in training or specialists.


Mobile Device Displays:

This is an area which will be revolutionized by this technology. The main problem currently with mobile devises is the screen size. As miniaturization is the main focus with all of these devises the smaller a devise the smaller the screen size must be. This leads to usability problems as it is harder for the user to read what’s displayed. This is the main problem for developers making these devises. Taking the display out of the devise will allow developers to rewrite the rule book.(http://www.gizmag.com/electronic-contact-lens-promises-bionic-capabilities-for-everyone.html)

An example would be users will be able to surf the internet on there phone using the lens as there display. This lens would then superimpose what the phone generates onto the users field of vision, allowing for a display that only they would see.
(http://www.gizmag.com/electronic-contact-lens-promises-bionic-capabilities-for-everyone.html)

GPS Systems:

With the use of augmented reality in unison with the lens the wearer would never get lost in any new environment. The user would use the lens to display a map detailing their route. This would then overlap what they already see (obviously some sort of computing devise would also be needed, to key in a destination). The user would then simply follow this map to get to their destination. A more serious example using the same idea could be in the military. Here troops would navigate through hazardous terrain using the devise.
Through this visual communication all troops in a unit will always be organized without having to converse with the commanding officer. As a result team operations are much more efficient.


E-Learning

This is another area which will benefit greatly from using this devise to display augmented reality. For instance, books will begin to come to life. This will mostly be within the realm of children’s books. These books will completely engage any child (and maybe even adults). The concept would work in much the same way as a pop up book however what you would see is the “pop-up” characters coming to life, walking around the page. (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FMJwURqpFWs) A problem with this concept however would be placing the lens in a child’s eye. This might not be too easy. A wrap around visor might be a simple more efficient idea.

Class rooms will become more interesting to students as teachers/lecturers will use the technology to explain visually. (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FMJwURqpFWs) This will benefit students greatly as it is known that the mind remembers visuals much easier than text. Students will also be able to interact with this augmented reality making a very entertaining experience.

As education may seem boring to some people tuning in to this “popular culture”, in this case video games, will be very important in future learning.


Emergency Sector:

Firefighters entering a burning building could have the location of the various exits, sprinkler systems throughout the building mapped out digitally. These 3D maps would then be superimposed onto there vision using the lens. They could also have cameras integrated (like the bionic vision concept above) so they could see other team members view which would allow them too communicate easily. This would also enable them to see different areas of the building allowing them to distribute themselves evenly to fight the blaze. All this supplementary information would need to be displayed to the wearer very intelligently so it would completely assist not distract the firefighter.


Next are some areas which might be seen as obstacles in the development of this technology.

Could people reject the idea of wearing an electronic devise on top of their eye?

Wearers of modern day polymer contact lenses have no such problems, saying that they are completely unnoticeable. So it won’t be a comfort factor which would decide this. It seems that the circuitry involved and the “Cy-Borg” association when looking through the display could be the defining factor whether it will triumph or not.


The end of Social Interaction

In modern times, where “face to face” interaction is becoming less and less frequent. Would this technology widen this gap even further than it already is when developed even further. I say this as most people, for instance, when traveling on public transport or walking down a street are usually “plugged” into to some mobile devise such as an i-pod or working on there laptop. Completely oblivious to the people located around them. With this devise might people have another reason not to talk to one another?


Developed Countries versus the Under Developed Countries

This Augmented Reality Lens Display will be the next big revolution in technology. With this technology being mass produced in all developed countries these areas will become even more sophisticated in education, medicine, welfare, etc. This will leave the already large gap to the poorer nations unbridgeable. If this is the case, the developed world might decide to forget about these countries leading them to become an eventual wasteland.


Immersive Environment Addiction

Mentioned above was the main advantage of having a completely immersive environment to play in. However there is also a rather dark view one could have regards these environments and addiction. From looking at today’s most successful computer games, “World of War Craft” and “Second Life”, there is an enormous quantity of people interested in fictional online worlds. With the birth of immersive environments displayed through these lenses. Users might become so obsessed they may not want to leave. Exiting from the real world where they feel meaningless, instead deciding to live in the fictional where they are god.


Advertising Overload

When in mass production users will begin to wear the lens constantly to help in there everyday lives. Advertising companies will clearly want to tap into this lucrative area. With that said how would this augmented reality be policed to stop wirelessly transmitted advert “pop ups” accruing on your display once in use. If this wasn’t controlled in the right way the wearer would be inundated with advertisements.

Research: Augmented Reality

Shown below are some you tube videos showing the functionality of Augmented Reality.



Total Immersion - Demo 2007 - Website



Beyond Tomorrow Show: Augmented Reality



Beyond Tomorrow Shown: Augmented Reality GPS Tour

The portfolio website of Pablo Valbuena : his work deals with the idea of augmented reality, and plays with viewers perceptions of what is real. Pablo Valbuena website

Research: Contact Lens Displays

Below is an excerpt from a website detailing a new contact lens digital display and some of the possibilities it may have for the future. This is very interesting because if developed further it will revolutionise many areas. Screen size in mobile devices will no longer be an issue. Gaming will be transformed as we will see the birth of the first immersive environments. Augmented Reality systems will also become a main stream technology. This contact lens technology will also have the capacity to provide round the clock health checks through bio-censors placed on them. These are just some of the areas covered n the article, read on for the rest…

The University of Washington has used microscopic scale manufacturing techniques to combine a flexible contact lens with an imprinted electronic circuit and lights. Though in its infancy, the combination of a wearable contact lens with embedded optoelectronic and electronic devices promises many things, most notably this could well be the beginning of the Computer Human Interface of the future.

Accordingly, the University of Washington, there contact lens offers the promise of a viable large screen display alternative for connecting users with various mobile devices. Project head and Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Babak Parviz envisages that his team’s electronic contact lens will offer the ability to superimpose a transparent high resolution display over the field of vision of one, maybe both eyes of the wearer.

"Looking through a completed lens, you would see what the display is generating superimposed on the world outside," says Parviz.

Apart from the expectation of eventually offering a large screen display for our wearable and micro computers, PDAs and phones, the heads-up aspect of the contact lens leaves the way open for a democratization of Augmented Reality.
Unlike Virtual Reality, where the user's field of view is completely replaced with an artificial visual environment, Augmented Reality uses head tracking in conjunction with augmented vision to overlay complimentary information on the user's view.

The system can tell which direction the user is looking and adjusts the displayed image accordingly, displaying new and appropriate information for the scene being viewed.

If these tools were readily available and in mass usage, a plethora of new applications for augmented reality would almost certainly come to light.
Video-game companies could use the contact lens to completely immerse players in a virtual world without restricting their range of motion. In Communications, people on the go could surf the Internet on a display screen that only they would be able to see.

One of the aspects of the UW Contact Lens most likely to capture the imagination of the public is its promise of bionic vision. “Using nanotechnology you can extend the sophistication of the contact lens as far as you like,” says Parviz. “There is interest in including cameras on the contact lens and incorporating other lenses so that, for example, if you were looking at something very small, you would be able to zoom in to get a closer look. Similarly, if something is far away, you would be able to zoom in.”

With an array of lenses wirelessly connected to a wearable computer, there’s obviously the capability of “recording images”. The possibilities are almost endless once someone is wearing such a contact lens. With the ability to record everything we see, which the UW Contact lens will ultimately enable, the concept of privacy, instant recall and a whole host of new capabilities come into play. A decade from now, recording everything we say and do is now a distinct possibility.
Bio-sensing and a wearable health monitoring system.

Perhaps the most left-field aspect to the UW study is the promise of a wearable health monitoring system. “The second big area that we are looking at is bio-sensing, because on the surface of the contact lens there are a lot of biomarkers already present that are important for monitoring health care,” explains Parviz.
“We recognized that if we could have a contact lens that incorporated biosensors that could sample the biology of the eye we could constantly report it outside, and hence have a non-invasive way of putting people on continuous health monitoring.”
What’s more, the system also has the capability of displaying the key indicators in real time to the wearer.

To view the entire article click here

Brief: Design Futures

From first looking at the brief I was somewhat intimidated by it. This was mostly to do with the fact that I only read through the first two paragraphs, which went straight over my head, before I disregarded it. However after reading through it a few times and discussing it during our lectures. I think the brief itself is not as bad as I first taught.

To start, I have begun researching various technological websites. Investigating existing/upcoming technology as I feel I have limited knowledge in this area. I am also researching past advances as I feel “you need to know where something has been to know where it is going”. While researching I have also started brainstorming possible future concepts.

Yesterday I chatted with Mìcheal and guest lecturer Sam Butler. We discussed the various ideas I had generated. This for me was very helpful as I got some feedback on how promising each idea was and possible problems regarding each. I was also told to deliberate on the other side of a technology, which is its meaning. The reason being the majority of my ideas were based totally on the technological side which was limiting the possibility of growth. Thinking about the meaning behind a technology would result in a much richer and original concept. I was also asked to think about the social aspect of technology.

From revising my list of ideas and thinking about my earlier conversion with Mìcheal. I decided the concept which had the most substance and originality was the virtual reality contact lenses. This was echoed by another guest lecturer Mike Blow who I chatted with yesterday evening. One use for these lenses, besides the obvious use in computer games (completely immersive 3D enviornemts), could be in the emergency sector by using Augmented Reality. Firefighters, for example, could wear these lenses entering a burning building. The lens would then have a 3Dimensional map of the buildings interior displayed on top of what the firefighter would already see through his own vision. In a sense the firefighter would then be able to see in the dark, through smoke etc. Another use would be in the Medical area, where doctors could practice highly challenging operations. With these lenses a doctor could work on virtual patients to develop there skills. One problem with this example however would be some sort of virtual gloves would have to be invented as well.

Some of the advice that Mike Blow gave me during our conversion regarding this concept was to:

• Look into what has been done already technology wise with virtual reality lenses.
• What stage the research is at now and where is it about to go.
• Think more about the various uses this concept could have, which may lead to a very original/interesting outcome?
• Think about why the Virtual Reality Goggles didn’t take off - versus - Why these new lenses will?

Brighton Photo Biennial 08’ - University of Brighton Gallery - “Iraq through the lens of Vietnam”

This exhibition compares the Vietnam war and the ongoing Iraq war through photographs from both sides in both wars. Some of which have rarely been seen in the west.

The first impression I got from walking around the exhibition was how real everything felt. Regarding the Vietnam photographs, although I knew that this war occurred from reading about it and watching the movies. It still felt slightly fictional in my mind.By viewing these, in some cases horrific photographs, somehow it really hit home that this wasn’t fictional at all, but was a major historical event. I think the reason for this was the photographs, in my view, portray the human aspect much better than movies or to a lesser extent books. As these are the actual people involved in the war looking back at you.

With that said, the side of the exhibition I was most interested in was the photographs from Iraq. As this is a war I have lived through and still ongoing and one where my views have not been influenced by any movie.

I firstly began looking at the photographs from Guantanamo Bay where the Iraqi detainees were tortured and humiliated by U.S troops. This was a major interest because I had just recently finished a book by the well known journalist Jon Ronson called “The Men who Star at Goats”. In it he depicts some of these incidents of torture and humiliation. One torture technique which was heavily covered in the book was torture through the use of sound. This torture was where a detainee would be hooded, put into a metal container, and then blasted with a single music track playing in a loop for up to 12 hours. In some cases the U.S troops used the Barney the Dinosaur theme tune in others it was Metallica “Enter Sandman”. It was hard to conclude if any of the photography on show depicted this torture.

The next part of the exhibition I stumbled upon was the propaganda element of the ongoing war. Here two large walls were covered with various small photographs. The first had a lot of smiling Iraqi’s, mostly children, in various situations with U.S troops. These images been released to the press.The second wall was full of photographs, again small, taken by Iraqi civilians on mobile phones and other digital media devices. These horrific images show the truth of what really is going on.

When the leaving the exhibition I though that although both wars were very similar in stature. There were two major differences:

The first was the difference in how each war was reported. In Vietnam for instance Photographic Journalists were free to do and go wherever there liked. These journalists were called unilateral’s. Regarding the Iraq war journalist are embedded in a particular U.S troop, where photographing dead soldiers is forbidden. Thus shielding the press to what the U.S army feels the public should see.
The second major difference was the level of respect between the U.S army and there advisories. During the Vietnam War the U.S troops although hating there enemy they still felt a respect for them and the “fighting spirit”. This respect seems to have vanished with regard to the Iraq War. Here U.S troops have decided that it is ok to humiliate the Iraqi’s where possible.

This for me is a very worrying part of the ongoing War…