Haptic technology is the means for tactile feedback, often computer mediated and usually employed in conjunction with other mediums. It allows the user to experience information through the sense of touch.
This technology has proven use in computer games and for high-end virtual reality simulations. Emerging technologies will enable a host of new applications with miniaturised tactile devices.
In a report for BBC Innovations Avco examines the potential for new haptic technologies with particular application to the broadcast industry.
Avco's Daniel Jackson has created a sonification in collaboration with musician and audio programmer Tim Venison for the BBC series Volcano Live.
These audio clips were produced from data taken from the Soufrière Hills volcano in Montserrat between April 2005 and May 2007, during which time the volcano was erupting continuously. Three different kinds of measurements were taken - the sonification combines seismic, sulphur dioxide and GPS data.
Data courtesy of Paul Cole, Director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.
NMC launched our updated Music Map at the Southbank 20x2012 New Music weekend.
Avco was commissioned to add social media, embedding functionality to the Music Map to allow seemless integration of the map into any website or blog. The map is now transportable much in the same way as a YouTube video.
Anything can be sonified. Sonification is the representation of data with sound.
Avco has produced a report for BBC Innovations on the subject of sonification. The report includes case studies and interviews with a scientist from Cern and an artist.
The report identifies key trends in the field and suggests 3 possible uses for the broadcast industry.
We're very excited that Shout Out is now up and running on the IC tomorrow platform. We spent the day at Innovate 11, an annual conference held by the Technology Strategy Board, shouting about it.
ShoutOut.fm is our brand new web service to record messages or 'shout outs' over your favourite music tracks. There are over 10 million music tracks to choose from so it is easy to find the right music to fit the message, whether that is thanking friends for a great night out or promoting a favourite track. Shout outs can be emailed or shared with friends on Facebook.
Our latest web app ShoutOut is one of the winners of the IC tomorrow Digital Innovation Contest. ShoutOut is a tool that combines spoken word and music clips to make audio messages that can be instantly posted and shared. Over the next 6 months we'll be working with IC tomorrow and the music industry to create shout-outs using ShoutOut.fm
IC tomorrow is part of the Technology Strategy Board
How to future proof digital works of art?
Avco has worked on computer editions for artist Michael Craig-Martin since 2002, writing software to control the display of his drawings.
In February 2011 Tate Conservation invited us to attend a symposium on how best to future proof digital works of art. We were consulted with regard to the works in the Tate Collection by Michael Craig-Martin 'Becoming, 2003' and 'Things Change', 2007. Daniel Jackson from Avco wrote the original software and Avco was commissioned in 2010 by the Tate to migrate the sofware as part of the artworks' digital conservation.
Thinking about how digital works of art exist in the world is of real interest to us, we have a great deal to say on the matter if you ever wish to hear our thoughts.
Photo by Daniel Jackson - Michael Craig-Martin, 'Things Change' 2007, installation for Tokyo New Art Centre, Japan
