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Assumptions to be tested: We are all drawn to it. We all want it
integrated into every aspect of our lives. It will become the Net’s
prime communication of culture and social consciousness.
The first generation virtual worlds already live. The pop
culture will come with the voice interaction and the use of sophisticated
3D engines from the computer game industry. The explosive growth of
this application will only slow with the amount of quality art work. A lot of frustrated artists of every discipline
and experience are in for the good times. Not long after this we will
realize the ability for all of us to play with our own 3D creativity.
Powerful programs enabling the average user to generate landscapes.
High quality 3D art and 3D animation tools have been evolving into
mainstream use for the last 2-3 years. Genius Net artists will become
the new rock star. Pop icons to be paraded on the previous mass
platform for interactive entertainment (interactive by TV remote
control). The new rock star will be the charging icon rushing
us to a flood of virtual world technology. The greatest
attraction will be the social and cultural aspect - the art of it.
Interactive thematic art will dominate the Net coming
into its own inherent characteristics in a modern society. Social
consciousness in five years: got a cause? - enlist a virtual engineer/designer
and a team of artists. In ten years just produce that socially
conscious art your self. Check out the scenario combining
E-Commerce and socially conscious art in the E-Commerce
Overview.
How will virtual reality and sharing it
with others enhance art? Interactivity in a new space excites the mind and
the senses. It is all about exploration. Interactive 3D environments
promise everything art has always promised. The exploration of
self, of the mental aspect of spaces, the ability to experience what
can’t be done as easily or as often in reality. We watch movies 3 or
4 a week because they give us experiences. We are spoiled with the
adventures and history of thousands of years through a non-interactive
medium that is still evolving after a hundred years of exploration.
Now virtual worlds are in their infancy. In video gaming we do what
isn’t physically possible for the masses - racing, pro football, far
away lands, combat. In the info-sphere it is sleuthing down those
resources that aren’t sitting physically within our residence or
business. Socially its finding contacts for that special interest that
no one else around you shares. Sexually it is luring out fantasies and
experiments never realized before. Why is all this relevant to VWN?
Because it indicates the potential integrating technology brings to every facet of our lives
- and art will become the next
premium technology enhanced communication. Because it is
a missing link in modern life and the Net will enhance art as much as
it does to everything it touches. Art will be a new world to the
masses. The reasoning behind that statement: An artless society
is marked by an attitude that art is the domain of
artists. Western culture falls under the conceit that the
creative process falls into the hands of the lucky few born with the
talent. For now the values of art are not apparent except to those who
live in it through participating in its creation. Who will be the
artists lucky enough to explore the new medium that can bring that
world to the non - creator.
The best gift the new art can give to modern society? The
realization we are all artists. When
digital artists can bring full expression to all then all become
aspects of art again, then all seek its creativity for themselves
through the tools of tomorrow. Imagine the impact on the child who
does crude cut and paste versus the child who experiences more
powerful tools than scissors and... well there is some controversy - for
those who consider themselves artists? If art comes to modern society
are we in for decades of art diatribes? Will that become a bigger turn
off for art then it is today?
Why would tomorrow's computer graphic tools be any more attractive
to you than today? Imagine the thousands of features
and tweaks of today’s powerful graphic tools used through voice
recognition. "Is there a way to make that (where the cursor is -
we will automatically talk to our computer with hand and voice) almost
the same darkness as the rest of the image? Ya I like that - just a
little darker and sharpen that object too - and add some shadow going
in the default shadow direction - no that doesn’t look right -
extend the tip of the shadow out farther until it hits this object
right at this spot"
The virtual artist of the next 5 years will enjoy, more and more, the
intuitive powers of the digital tools. The artist may only see
constraints but the un-intimidated will see the same old challenges - its all about working within the limitations. The
excitement of creating something captivating even though it is
constrained within technical parameters. Making the web page that
dazzles with very little animation will turn into the challenge of
making all your textures for that virtual bank fit under 3,000
kilobytes.
But
during all this time, you are squirreling away bigger dreams for when
the technology fits.
The demand is already surpassing the pool of talent using
the exciting new tools...and tomorrow they will be
overpaid. I am looking for something there. It is
probably easier to be politically incorrect with an "artist"
than just about anyone else. J
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