SPIRES 'Social Issues in Research Environments' Virtual Word Cloud
Recorded live during the SPIRES 'Social Issues in Research Environments' Conference in Edinburgh, This virtual word cloud encapsulates the mood and feeling of participants while listening to the Keynote Speeches.
Participants were invited to share words describing 'how they feel now' or 'what inspires now' during the conference. Words could be submitted via mobile devices.
The installation was created within the virtual world 'Second Life' by Ian Upton for the INSPIRES project.
CONFERENCE HANDOUT
Working with the SPIRES and INSPIRES projects, artist and technologist Ian Upton has created a virtual installation especially for this conference.
Created in virtual space, the installation will manifest as a projection, an extension of our physical space. It is a place where we can collaboratively let our thoughts ‘stop and be’.
As the conference progresses we ask you to share words. We want single words, or groups of words, that describe ‘how you feel now’ and ‘what is inspiring you now’. We ask you to engage throughout the conference. Highs, lows and indifferences are all fine. Words will be captured and become part of a cloud. This cloud will fill the installation as the conference progresses.
But there is more! The installation interfaces with the BRAIN system (Jim Hensman, INSPIRES Project, Coventry University). Words submitted are processed live by BRAIN which makes connections and lateralises more words. These new words become part of the cloud creating little eddies of concept and serendipity. Words appear in the cloud only for a few moments - and then disappear. New words are drawn to replace. The cloud you see is constantly changing and always represents some facet and possibility of now.
“I have been working with word clouds for many years – and find them fascinating! Like an abstract painting they seem to contain something different and relevant for each and every observer. Some see nothing more than foggy letters. Others see words connecting or grouping to reveal some personal insight or inspiration. We hope that our installation will generate conversation and ideas and perhaps even open people’s eyes to a different way of sharing..." Ian Upton.
You can share words right now by connecting to ‘HTTP://NO LONGER LIVE’
If you would like to know more about this work please contact Ian Upton (ian@ian-upton.com) or Jim Hensman (ccx003@coventry.ac.uk). Both are attending the conference and would be more than happy to talk about the work.