Deep Space 8K: The Soul of the Cube

raphaelgi — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 12:36:01 +0000

In the centre of the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) new Science and Engineering Centre stands the Cube, a high-end display/interaction environment including 14 high definition projectors and 52 x 55” touch screens. But what is behind the technology? What is the identity of the Cube? And how does it relate to the campus and its environment? The Soul of the Cube (SOTC) is a virtual being, an abstract creature that is visible in between applications, it is both a “host” and the inner self of its complex infrastructure.

It is entirely shaped by data such as the building’s power consumption, the campus research output and the academic calendars. All of which influence the Soul’s mood, its appearance and behaviour. Furthermore, its very structure – a rhizomatic web of light reminiscent of neuronal activity – is generated by the interrelations between QUT’s faculties. SOTC is also a major upgrade to The Cube’s operating system, allowing the environment to gracefully transition between projects. This presentation from the core team of collaborators provides a greater insight into this unique project and the Cube environment.

The project is a collaboration between the Ars Electronica Futurelab, the Cube Studio (Precincts, QUT), the ePrints Team (Library, QUT), and ViseR (IFE, QUT).

Ars Electronica Futurelab: Peter Holzkorn, Horst Hörtner, Benjamin Mayr, Michael Mayr, Kristefan Minski, Clemens Scharfen, Florian Berger

Queensland University of Technology (AU)

Precincts: Andrew Casper, Sean Druitt, Daniel Fisher, Brian Jeffery, Nigel Oram, Rachael Parsons, Gary Rasmussen, Susan Street, Lubi Thomas

IFE: Tim Gurnett, Ian Mackinnon, Jim Reeves, Gleb Sechenov, Gavin Winter

Library (ePrints): Stephanie Bradbury, Marco Fahmi, Matthew Kerwin

Deep Space 8K: The Universe Within – In the Virtual Anatomy Theater of the Future

raphaelgi — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 11:20:35 +0000

An application developed by the Ars Electronica Futurelab transforms Deep Space 8K into a virtual anatomy theater in which viewers can observe the human body in 3-D and familiarize themselves with it layer by layer—the organs, muscles, bones, the cardiovascular system and the network of nerves. This development, coming only a few months after the establishment of the University of Linz’s medical school, makes available a unique medical education platform that far surpasses the anatomy books of bygone days with three-dimensional learning and visual understanding of the interrelationships within the human body. And that applies just as much to future physicians as it does to interested members of the general public—from little kids to seniors.

Ars Electronica Team Universum Mensch: Roland Aigner, Maria Eschlböck, Martin Gösweiner, Roland Haring, Horst Hörtner, Andreas Jalsovec, Michael Mayr, Clemens Francis Scharfen, Gerfried Stocker, Marianne Ternek (AT)

With the kind support of Maria Pfeifer

With contributions from: Fraunhofer MEVIS (DE) (A Cardiac Journey) sowie der Universitätsklinik Gießen und Marburg (DE)

virtual – Post City

Deep Space 8K: The Soul of the Cube

Deep Space 8K: The Universe Within – In the Virtual Anatomy Theater of the Future