This aspect of the research project will examine the notion of presence within the social networking environment of Second Life. Identifying the Second Life community needs through online evaluation of user dynamics and aspirations. The first stage of research will also look closer at the artistic needs and developments so far in this environment and propose initiatives for beyond screen and keyboard applications that will interface to Second Life using the following practice based research experiments.

• To explore the notion of live-ness in Second Life.
• Research into live imported motion capture to Second Life
• Establish audio and visual input/output between Second Life and first/real life.
• Develop an interactive video installation between Second Life and first life.

The second stage of this research will tie into the experiments undertaken by Peter Appleton that mirror and actuate ‘real life’ phenomena in virtual environments, and also implement aspects of the emotional machinations research undertaken by Taylor Nuttall.

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Video documentation of the merged realities of All Saints Gardens in Manchester and its online three-dimensional counterpart in Second Life.

Paul Sermon - Professor of Creative Technology
The University of Salford, Research Centre for Art & Design
Centenary Building, Peru Street, Salford
Greater Manchester, M3 6EQ
p.sermon@salford.ac.uk