I Am Afraid is a networked virtual reality application (currently for the Daydream platform) where multiple people can create interactive sound sculptures using their own voice.
Words are recorded and rendered as textual objects in the environment. Non-word sounds can also be recorded and are represented as abstract paper ball-like objects. The word objects can be played back through touch at any speed, direction, position. Paper balls loop their sounds when touched.
Custom loops through words and paper balls can be drawn, recorded, and played back, creating a layered soundscape that evolves dynamically through interactive and collaborative actions.
The application can be used for voice and sound exploration/composition, and performance. The same concept was also used for an interactive dome performance at the SAT in Montreal.
You can read more about this project in a short paper published at CHI 2018 as well as a poster at SIGGRAPH 2018.
Production Team
Maria Lantin: Concept, Design, Programming, UX
Simon Lysander Overstall: Sound Design, UX
Liliana Beristain: Programming, Porting to Oculus Quest
Hongzhu Zhao: Programming, UX
Kimberly Parker: 3D Assets
Amir Tamadon: 3D Assets
Adrian Bocker: Sound Server
Mirko Carich: Mocap integration
This research is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Mitacs, and Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
For the last 5 months or so, I’ve been working on a new networked social VR application called I Am Afraid. This application brings together ideas that have been on my mind for over a year, perhaps longer. Ideas around voice, poetry, sculpture, and performance.......
This video documents an early version of I Am Afraid.