Page 144 - AC/E Digital Culture Annual Report 2016

144in line with what it also discloses through the conferences and activities of Sónar +D. Concern with privacy is not simply a growing social and cultural trend or a fashion. We will expand on a few considerations in the following section.Finally, one of the applications we can use to broaden or access new options at a festivalis Virtual Reality (VR for short). Only afew years ago speaking of VR sounded like science- ction or brought to mind colossal technical investments in artistic or experimental installations.By virtual reality we mean a graphic environment that is digitally (computer) generated or manipulated and captures at least the sensations of sight and hearing and sometimes also touch using special gloves or special e ects in the environment, and in a few cases sensations, to the extent of creating an impression of reality or a plausible realistic environment. Its best known applications are in the world of videogames.Nowadays its capacity and game engines have improved and software, cameras and methods have emerged for simultaneous 360-degree recording (essential for generating a full three-dimensional lmed experience) with fewer resources, though there is still room for improvement and further development.Another factor – perhaps the most important in explaining its foray into the commercial domain – is the appearance of low-cost glasses which have in turn stimulated the development of new products tailored to them. One example is the Oculus Rift headset with built-in headphones. Its rst version made the news as the prototype was funded using a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. In 2014 the company was purchased by Facebook.97 It creates a fairly accessible sensation of virtual reality that is geared especially to the videogames market.Furthermore, we now have Cardboard VR glasses (yes, they really are made of cardboard!).The best known are Google’s, which were launched in 2015 (and are therefore a very recent development, still in its infancy).98 They consist of frames – generally made of cardboard, though there are slightly more sophisticated versions in plastic, metal and other materials – which hold a smartphone.In addition, the design of the frames is freely available for no cost (the Open philosophy, something to be very grateful for) on Google websites and many others, so that anyonecan make their own out of a piece of recycled cardboard. Perhaps the most costly part is getting the made-to-measure convex lenses. But there are also very cheap DIY kits.The idea is to convert a mobile into a virtual reality viewer (limited to sight and hearing) inspired by old-fashioned stereoscopes. To do so, it is necessary to download and install an app designed for this purpose on your mobile (there are currently videogames, proprietary virtual interfaces and other leisure experiences), whose screen is divided into two with each side providing a slightly di erent view. With the viewer, users can enjoy both the view and a three-dimensional experience.This technology has already been experimented with in the performing and audiovisual arts, such as at Paul McCartney’s concert 'Live and Let Die’.99 But one festival in particular has begun testing the ground: Coachella Festival. Usingan app for Cardboard, Coachella Explorer,100 the organisers experimented with showing2. NT BEFORE AND DURING THE FESTIVALFocus: Use of New Digital Technologies at Cultural Festivals