Sunday 28th September // 1100-1300

Michael Palumbo: Video Games as Cooperative Performance: Designing Meaningful Play in Laptop Orchestras

Laptop orchestras have much in common with video games, such as utilization of networked play, singular [solo] and cooperative [ensemble] modes of play, and hardware that is multipurpose and widely available. In this talk, the composer will outline the project goals and iterative design process that have lead to the creation of Stethoscope Hero, a sci-fi multiplayer “choose your own adventure” game-composition for networked laptop orchestra that is designed to be inclusive and accessible to participants who may be unfamiliar with laptop performance and/or musical performance, while still offering a challenging and rewarding experience to those who have already performed with such an ensemble. Stethoscope Hero is part of ongoing research on the social and design parameters that contribute to meaningful play and fun in the context of networked laptop orchestras, and is supported by a grant from the Concordia Undergraduate Summer Research Award, and supervised by Dr. Eldad Tsabary under his Interdisciplinary Networked, and Telematic Laptop Orchestra Project (INTLOP).

Charlie Roberts: Gibber

Gibber is a live coding environment that runs in the browser, taking advantage of the affordances the browser offers for networked collaboration, both in realtime performance and in asynchronous content creation. Its primary contribution in this area is a centralized server providing a database to publish and browse both sketches and instruments; the server also enables users to chat and easily enter into collaborative live coding sessions via the shared editing of code documents. As compared to most live coding environments dedicated to audiovisual performance, the centralized server allows users to easily collaborate without requiring knowledge of networking specifics such as the IP addresses of performers. In contrast to other browser-based, shared editing environments, Gibber also allows users to execute code on remote computers (assuming permission is granted).The ability to execute code remotely and locally affords performances where performers can audition code on their computers locally, and then send it to remote computers for execution after making any necessary alterations. Gibber also provides a flexible layout mechanism allowing shared editing of multiple code documents concurrently; these documents can be in different languages (currently JavaScript and GLSL are the two most commonly used). This affords a variety of strategies for networked performance, such as users participating in the shared editing of a single column of code, or having each performer editing their own personal code column while triggering remote execution of the code they write, or the collaborative editing of multiple code columns in different languages over the network.Multiple networked Gibber performances have been conducted using these and other strategies. In a pair of early performances conducted on a LAN, groups of three to eight co-located performers submitted code for execution to a single computer attached to a projector and speakers. In another more recent performance, a code fragment was passed between members of a laptop ensemble who were scattered throughout the audience. Each member altered, augmented and executed the code in the style of an exquisite corpse before passing the altered fragment to another member.

LaptopsRus: CrisisRus

CrisisRus is a LaptopsRus project scheduled ongoing during 2013-2015.

LaptopsRus is a self-organized open-participatory platform engaged in networking woman live performers. In Spring 2009, laptopsRus launched “MEETING | REUNIÓN”, bringing woman live performers for open public meeting/performance set inside an electronically updated boxing ring.

Prompted by the prolonging economic crisis as manifested in global Cacerolazo (dubbed global noise) of massive street protests with pots and pans, we launch CrisisRus “NETWORK | RE:WORK” in 2013. We want to acknowledge woman work force and resilient capacity in these time of personal and general crisis. “NETWORK | RE:WORK” is conceived as an online and offline Cacerolazo live performance with woman performers, homemakers, nomads, artists, activists across north-south continents and east-west hemisphere. Combining network streams of audiovisual materials with local perspectives in addressing issues of concerns, the CrisisRus live performance remixes slogans, signals, noise and visuals in AV manifestation.

LaptopsRus has launched the new project CrisisRus and has held its preview at Pikselfestival in Bergen, Norway on November 24, 2013 and its official premiere at Vision’R/FUZ festival at Le Générateur.