The Multimedia
Thesaurus (MMT) – 2002 becoming
Interactive
Multimedia Playroom (IMP) - 2005
+
Network of
Exploratory Spaces for Temporal Arts Research (NESTAR) 2008
=
IMP-NESTAR
These projects grew out of my desire to
develop a more refined descriptive vocabulary for music, and a perceived need
for more adequate terminology for discussing sound in multimedia contexts,
especially among potential collaborators who may not have an intimate knowledge
of music jargon. The initial project was first presented in conceptual form at
the ESCOM [European Society for Cognitive Sciences of Music] conference in
2003; the first demonstration was given at the ICMC [International Computer
Music Conference] in Barcelona, in September 2005, and the first prototype was inaugurated at the Concordia Hexagram
facilities the following month. The
projects received initial funding from Hexagram and CIAM; subsequently a small but very
helpful support from Canada’s federal granting agency Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
IMP-NESTAR consists of a several physical
installations in different environments (labs, school, science centre, film
festival) which we hope to connect soon by virtual means and a loosely-knit but
growing team of researchers, artists and collaborators in various disciplines
(music, psychology, theatre, sculpture, film, translation, gaming,
communication, software development, etc) and countries (Canada, USA, Portugal,
Spain, England, France, Norway, New Zealand, etc).
Each installation is a platform for
exploring the effects of sound on image, and vice versa, and the
terminology that might be appropriate for describing and classifying them. As
people an encouraged to explore in groups, the project also stimulates
discussion and promotes better understanding of the variety of
perspectives/perceptions and word usage.
We are preparing a campaign for further development:
looking for more participants, funding, industry partners, venues to reach the
next stage.
Further information
can be found on the website (still under construction):