Sensational Technologies

This paper is part of an ongoing study of performances that make a physical and psychological connection with the public by synthesising various media such as sound, image, smoke, smell, etc. The research project focuses on the history of the live image and tries to connect this to current practices in popular culture and art, for example live video jockey (VJ) performances and interactive-technology-based installation art. For our presentation at SIGGRAPH 2004, we concentrate on three cases that make use of state-of-the-art technology in order to create specific bodily sensations. We will also take their temporal character into account and explore whether, and if so how, these 'events' can be presented and preserved for future generations as part of our cultural heritage.