New Media Dictionary: Part VII--Multimedia Part 1

Abstract

The New Media Dictionary project [1] was born out of the desire to name and define the many and varied forms of art that have developed in conjunction with technology. A whole lexicon is being created to describe the many processes, techniques, instruments, and critical and aesthetic concepts—in short, the entire emerging culture—of this immense laboratory workshop.

The terms selected for this issue come from the field of Telematics. The terms and definitions have been chosen by the Groupe de recherche en arts médiatiques (GRAM).

Interested artists and researchers are invited to submit additions and comments to Section Editor Louise Poissant [2]. These contributions will be added to the electronic version of the dictionary, with credit to the author. In this way, the New Media Dictionary will gradually become a collective project, in which each significant contribution will find its place.

These definitions were prepared by Jean Dubois and Suzanne Leblanc, directed by Louise Poissant.

Project director: Louise Poissant. Translator: Lou Nelson.

Dictionary Terms—Part VII: Multimedia Part 1

ACTUATOR—Pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical device used to move all or part of a robot. Despite their limited power, electrical actuators are the most common type because of their speed and precision. Hydraulic actuators can precisely control heavy loads, but only at relatively low speeds. Pneumatic actuators are fast and economical.

ANDROID—Robot or automaton that looks and behaves like a human being. The robot theme has been widely used in science fiction to raise questions about the identity and complexity of artificial beings.

ARGON—Rare gas comprising 0.8% of the earth's atmosphere. Because it is chemically inert and its electrical resistance is low, argon is suitable for use in discharge lamps and electric light bulbs. Argon gives off lavender light when ionized in a discharge tube. When mixed with mercury vapor, it yields a bright blue light. Light from the ionization of argon is also used to produce certain blue or green lasers.

ARTIFICIAL LIFE—Computer programs that synthesize lifelike pattern-based objects that can evolve in ways similar to natural organisms. These programs also develop diverse scenarios based on pre-set environmental and evolutionary parameters.

ARTIFICIAL REALITY—Type of reality that exists in computer-generated environments. The expression was originated by Myron Krueger.

AUGMENTATION RESEARCH CENTER—Research center set up in the 1960s by Douglas Engelbart at Stanford University in the United States. The idea of augmentation involves using the many possibilities offered by computer technology to enhance human abilities and, as a result, productivity. This was the goal behind the research center's work with hypertext and networks. The mouse and windows features used by graphical user interfaces were also invented at the Augmentation Research Center.

AUGMENTED REALITY—Virtual reality system using a transparent display, in the form of glasses or a head-mounted unit, that allows the user to see data from a computer source superimposed onto the "real-world" view.

AURAL PERSPECTIVE—An illusion of three-dimensional space created by special sound recording techniques. For example, sounds that should seem distant are recorded at a lower volume than those that should seem closer. The Convolvotron is a system used to simulate three-dimensional soundscapes.

AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION—Capacity of a computer system to react to verbal commands given by the user. This ability is particularly useful in the realm of virtual reality, where it helps to increase the user's illusion of reality.

AUTOMATON—Machine that looks and acts like a living being, powered by an interior mechanism. Automatons were built using clockwork techniques, an art that reached its height in the 18th century. The most famous example is Jacques de Vaucanson's mechanical duck (1738), which could drink, swim, eat and pass its food just like a real duck. In principle, automatons are intended for entertainment and decoration, unlike robots, which are designed to do work.

BACKGROUND PLANE—See Backdrop, "New Media Dictionary Part VI," Leonardo35, no. 4.

BBS—See Bulletin Board System.

BIG ROOM, THE—Computer...