Architecture and authoring tools for prototype for Living Images and new Video Experiments

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Surrounded by an increasingly media-rich world, technology is now empowering artists and content producers to unleash their creative spirit to create imaginary worlds where physical and virtual reality merge. AlterStation is a powerful multimedia tool that combines data extracted from the real world with virtual information. The AlterStation product was based on research from the IST programme funded Art.Live project. Commercialised by the spin-off company Alterface, created on 24 December 2001 by the team at Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, it allows users to display augmented-reality output in real-time to the public or to send it via the Internet. This cutting-edge technology ''therefore not only innovates technically but also achieves a socio-cultural breakthrough'', said the Art.Live organisers. The Art.Live project brought together many techniques that were possible with multimedia facilities before, but allowed one user to produce something that is an alternative to the usual narrative of television and film or even that of painting. The project ran for two years. According to the project manager Xavier Marichal: ''There were many roadshows and exhibition appearances and there were plenty of demonstrations at conferences and exhibitions. The project also organised two opportunities for the general public to test the system''; This brought the project to the attention of business and the public. Organisers were pleased with the way in which this helped in increasing awareness of the new technology. Demo videos from these events can be seen on the project website. "Basically, the technology used for trial2 has been turned into a product, the AlterStation, that is sold to museums and entertainment parks"; says Marichal, commenting on the product's commercialisation. To date (November 2003), three installations already exist in Belgium and France, and 5 more are under preparation. The most innovative parts of the system are that it offers the user: - Real-time system on a standard PC architecture; - Open architecture for mixed-reality; - Video segmentation without chromakeying (the process by which a blue background is used in studios to produce different backgrounds from the actor or presenter); - Real-time interaction through gestures. "AlterStation is a new mode of communication, which allows users to 'dive' into the contents intuitively, naturally, with a pedagogical or entertaining approach"; say its creators. The Alterface system, for instance, captures video information or images thanks to sensors and cameras, and mixes those with virtual settings. Users then see themselves swimming in an aquarium, flying in the air, or walking on a remote planet and so become actors in imaginary worlds. Such worlds are created thanks to video, stills or 3D contents. Unlike virtual reality there is no need for a helmet, mouse or gloves. As the experience occurs in real-time, the system transposes users as they are, freeing them to act and move naturally. Intuition is enough to interact with the virtual world. This approach to an overall intuitive experience is embedded in the four different products of Alterface: - AlterTrace - which memorises the itinerary of the museum visitors in order to offer them a personalised product. - AlterDesk - which enables dynamic collaboration between different operators or parties. - AlterStation - which can be used to create fictional situations. - AlterKiosk - which delivers information according to natural behaviours. Together they offer enriched information, personalised content, simple, intuitive and natural modes of interaction allowing users and spectators to enjoy a rich, augmented, experience. For storytellers and their public, Alterface's solutions are opening up a whole new world. Source: Based on information from Art.Live Promoted by the IST Results Service

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