Event 2

Today, I attended Toni Dove’s lecture at the Department of Design Media Arts. Toni Dove is an artist whom specializes in interface design, specifically interactive cinema. While listening to her lecture, two of her works stood out the most to me. I will discuss two of her works that I found to have close connections with what we have been learning in class. 

Spectropia. Courtesy of UCLA DMA

The first piece I am going to discuss is called “Spectropia”. Spectropia is an interactive video game that is about a girl who is searching for her missing father. Along the way she encounters moments and people from the past. Spectropia uses video motion sensing which allows the viewer to use their hands to dictate the movement of the girl throughout her journey. Toni Dove explained how the human body interface is a powerful immersive language. The language is created by the ability to combine the feeling of disbelief and a powerful narrative. The disbelief comes from the audience’s ability to feel as though they are part of the narrative. Interacting with the narrative creates a strong story. I think Spectropia is a really good example of robotics and art. In Spectropia, the narrative serves as the art and the robotic machines are enhancing the art, which allows the audience to have immersive interaction. The only downside of Dove’s technology is that people will eventually become too comfortable with living in an artificial world. This can be detrimental to their ability to communication and function outside of a game. 

Toni Dove demonstrates her interactive media 

The second piece I am going to talk about is the piece modeled after the human spine. Toni Dove created a spine that the audience was able to travel through on an aircraft. Toni Dove explained her multiple reasons for creating this piece. Her first reason was to explore the idea of an interactive autopsy program. In week 4 lectures, Vesna explained how it was crucial for a doctor to understand the human anatomy. Rather then seeing a 2D image of the human anatomy Dove creates a 4D image of the human body, which enhances the way to see and interact with the human anatomy. Toni Dove’s other reason was to try and fool the person interacting with the piece. Dove explained how one’s relationship with media and their body is a way to trick the body into feeling a particular way. I found this reason to connect to Diana Gromala ideas behind using Virtual Reality. Diana Gromala uses virtual reality to change patient’s pain levels. Compared to the other piece, this piece is a more realistic and helpful piece. Instead of using dangerous medication, Dove is creating a effective and safe way to try and help people. 

Overall, I found Toni Dove’s lecture to be extremely fascinating. She is pushing the boundaries between art and robotics by creating an immersive and interactive experience for the user. She is changing flat artwork into a stimulating viewing experience. 

Awkwardly standing next to Toni Dove!