1 October 2001: updated software description

History: After the first set of meetings in June 2001, the primary research team for Software for Dancers developed a concept for a screen based rehearsal tool for choreographers (see Emergent Moves description). At the end of the first research week, a more detailed description as follows has emerged. Intense discussions amongst the primary research team have continued to divide the possibilities along two lines: the functional and the inspirational that are equivalent to the basic input and the artificial creativity layer from the initial description. At this point, ideas for the collaborative layer have not been developed further.

Training sessions with iMovie, the easy to use video editing software from Apple that is provided free with new Apple computers, has shown that for a basic editing tool that combines sound and moving image, iMovie is quite sufficient. What is being developed now are some concepts for additions to something like iMovie that would allow for annotation or comments to be added to the audio video material to enhance its usefulness when played back by dancers in rehearsal and as an archiving medium. Dubbing voice comments into iMovie worked quite well, but some other simple additions are not currently part of the iMovie functions. For example: the ability to perhaps draw or sketch directly onto the video is a feature that would be very useful.

This and other similar features to enhance the ability to 'annotate', provide additional commentary, to label, 'make notes in the margins', provide instructions and descriptions for changes, etc. are being investigated. In addition, greater ease of manipulation of stillness and slow/ fast motion would be useful. It is not clear if apple script would be sufficient to enable some of the features within iMovie itself. As iMovie is not an open source software and does not provide the means for 3rd party plugins to be written, it is likely that something like iMovie would need to be built in a more open environment. The aim for the functional/ annotation software is to provide for a more generic use. The structuring of the object database will be important, but will need to function invisibly/ behind the scenes. Maintaining the ease of use of iMovie is an essential characteristic.

[Original Description: The BASIC INPUT LAYER is intended to be generally useful to a wide range of choreographers (or others working in time-based media). The aim is to make this layer as easy and straightforward to use as possible. It will comprise a functional "storyboard" that will accept video, audio, text and graphic input via standard i/o features (sound/ video card, firewire in, graphics tablet, scanner, graphics tablet, etc.). Structural features will include a database and indexing system and time line. There has been a discussion of the use of 'skins' to enable some level of customisation to take place.]

Possibly linked to the Functional/ Annotation software, this area of development investigates the use of what is being referred to as "transformational" algorithms. In this instance, the transformation refers to ways that the computer can generate complex results from rather simple rules. Algorithmic examples include the Lindenmayer system, Markoff Chains, the Cellular Automata, etc. These algorithms, once understood, may also be applied as rule structures without the computer… but the computer is able to perform the calculations at a speed that is not possible without one. The concept currently is to take input from the functional/ annotation layer, to use these algorithms to transform this material and generate output of the same nature as the input, but differently organised/ patterned. This material can then be freely re interpreted by the choreographers/ dancers in the studio.

[Original Description: The ARTIFICIAL CREATIVITY (QUIRKY) LAYER is intended to provide small customized tools for use by particular choreographers. The aim is to develop small modules that may or may not function as plug-ins or extensions to the Basic Input Layer. Some examples of possible functions/ features: Pseudo 3-D might enable the artist to instantly render two dimensional graphics into forms that evoke three dimensional spaces. Various forms of video signal processing may be used to generate drawing, text, sonic or number abstractions of videotaped movement material. Artificial Life algorithms (rule based, generative, randomised, emergent) may be used to create visual and other forms of abstractions that may be used directly as input into the choreographic process. For example, "creativity sliders" may be implemented that would allow the artist to set a number of simple behavioural rules to generate complex patterns.]

[Original Description: The COLLABORATIVE LAYER is intended to enable and support collaborations between different artists on the same project. The aim is to link this layer in particular with the Basic Input Layer so that composers, media artists and choreographers working on the same piece can more easily share information essential to the structuring of a work. For example, time coded material can be easily exchanged and used to coordinate sequencing/ structuring of a performance work.]

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