Interactive
Telecommunications Program, NYU 1993
Project Description:
This was an investigation of interactive television where the viewers create
the programming content instead of choosing between more professionally produced
alternatives. Urban design, architecture and interior design become interface
tools as Manhattan cable viewers were invited to navigate around a virtual world
using the buttons on their telephone. Within the world viewers encountered pictures,
sounds and video that had been sent in by other viewers using modem, fax, telephone
and Ethernet. The messages seen on TV are also available for distribution over
these networks. I conceived, designed and programmed this automated television
program. This work was widely written
up and presented at numerous conferences such as Imagina in Monte Carlo and
the New York Interactive Association. It aired three nights a week on Manhattan Cable Television and was
sponsored by NYNEX. It became a showpiece for the department.
Technical Notes: V.P.L.’s virtual reality software on an SGI
machine was used to render the imagery in real-time. The SGI machine was located at the Medical School and the video
output had to travel across Manhattan making use of several different technologies
with an Ethernet connection going back to control the SGI. The system also made use of a Video Toaster
on an Amiga, for mixing video and various boxes for telephone voice and touch-tone
telephone input. A Macintosh, running
HyperCard was the main program for serving up media.