"Metaverse" is a generic term for 3-D virtual spaces on the Internet. Inside such virtual worlds, users manipulate avatars - representations of themselves - in order to navigate within the space and communicate with others. As defining features of a Metaverse, users are allowed to create their own 3-D spaces, and engage in economic activities such as placing advertisements and selling/buying goods and services.
Among such Metaverse services which provide Internet architecture with socialware aspects, Linden Lab's "Second Life" is known to be the most prominent example. The technical specifications of these Metaverse services require users to be present in the same virtual area in order to establish communication. This aspect of synchronism might be one reason why these services struggle to build enthusiasm at the mass-level.
"ICC Metaverse Project" aims to find alternative applications of the Metaverse, which is arguably still at a transitory stage by holding study sessions with artists and researchers seeking for new possibilities.
The issues that are discussed in these sessions will be documented on this website. From there, we plan to conduct experiments with the Metaverse platform, and are looking forward to present them online and in gallery situations.
The sessions aim to understand the features and issues and to find alternative applications of Metaverses, by holding study sessions with artists and researchers seeking for new possibilities.
February 28, 2009 release
HAMANO Satoshi
March 13, 2009 release
ETO Kouichirou
March 24, 2009 release
exonemo x Dominique CHEN
March 30, 2009 release
TANAKA Hiroya x KARASAWA Yuusuke