C3LOOPS

C3LOOPS is an interactive prototype for collaborative live multimedia performances whose purpose is to explore “surface interaction” in practice. C3LOOPS was demonstrated and field-tested at New Media Meeting in Norrköping September 2008 by Håkan Lidbo, Sophie Rimheden and Måns Nyman.

ConCentric CRAFT (C3)

The C3LOOPS prototype was create in the resarch project Creative Activites Framework for Content Centric Interaction Techniques (ConCentric CRAFT or C3). The driving vision is that information content is the base for all interaction between users and the systems. I call this concept content centric interaction. Users conduct their activities in an unbroken creative flow.

Collaborating laptop musicians and video artists use C3LOOPS in real performance situations using monophonic touch screen or keyboard-and-mouse. The computer is a surface onto which all the user’s’ information content is visualised; the surface can extend to infinity like a magic paper. Surface interaction permits content centric computing, where content of different data type is moulded into blended media.

Longitudinal studies and use in real contexts requires usable features for collaborative music and video live performances delivered by robust technology. C3LOOPS utilise for example OpenGL for all graphics, operating system services were provided by SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer), and RakNet was used to develop realtime multiuser collaboration services.

The game development community’s technologies were applicable in creating a non-generic interaction artefact. Surface interaction is well suited for exploring novel interaction techniques for instance gesture control and multi touch displays, and is quickly emerging from a concept to usable tools and systems.