21 July 2008

From collaborating online to creating artistic pieces that help us understand different ways of life, the internet is helping revolutionise the way people interact, according to a speaker at a British Computer Society (BCS)-backed conference being held this week.

The EVA (Electronic Information, the Visual Arts and Beyond) event at the BCS' Southampton Street Offices, London, from 22-24 July, will showcase how digital technology has impacted on arts and interactive media. The international conference is next year set to mark its 20th anniversary as the most established and comprehensive event of its kind on the use of cutting edge technology in a creative environment.

Patrick Towell, from the UK National Commission for UNESCO, who will be speaking at the conference on the role digital culture can play in promoting peaceful concepts, says: "Digital culture, including computer art, helps people explore their identity and the identities of others. In common with other creative expression, it helps create both shared values and greater understanding and respect of difference. Being digital extends the reach and impact of this effect as well as enabling diverse and geographically disperse networks of people to work collaboratively."

Highlights include a talk on evaluating the V&A's collection in the computer age, creating art collaboratively online, and how images can be created using sound waves. There is also a look at digitisation in archaeology, visualisation in video games, and the use of new media in cultural institutions.

There is even systems analysis of a conductor's hand movements, and using vision science - the role of vision from various scientific disciplines - to interpret Rembrandt.

A number of all-day exhibitions will take place, including how the use of mobile devices can help people interact with heritage collections, and the role of 3D technology in cultural installations.

Dr George Mallen, Chair of BCS specialist group, the Computer Arts Society which is helping organise the event, says: "The conference has established itself as an important and fertile meeting ground of information technology and the arts and culture. We are delighted to collaborate with EVA in presenting this year's conference which we believe is an important step in the engagement of the BCS with the lively and innovative arts and culture world."

For the full programme, see: www.eva-conferences.com

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