Prague College

Phase 1. Definition of the Interdisciplinary platform (artistic, social and technological)

The virtual community’s statute, regulations, moral and ethic codex, terms for citizenship, beneficiary’s rightsand obligations , technical and other requirements, as well as different tools,services and facilities to be offered on the platform, will be discussedinternationally and interdisciplinary by inviting European artists, scientists,programmers, other experts and cultural operators to propose the first model ofthe future platform in regard of artistic, social, political, legal, economicaland technological issues. Available tools, technologies and already existing communities like Blaxxun, Second life, or ActiveWorlds will be studied and evaluated to enable definition of a strategy that meets requirements of the UCXXI community related to collaborative work, art production and implementation of mixed media content within interactive 3D realtime environments on the Internet.

• Various tools will be presented related to 3D modeling techniques as wellopen source, gnu, or some other well known software, and evaluated (usabilityand perspectives).

• Various languages and applications like VRML/X3D, Java, 3D games engines,OpenGl, DirectX, will be presented and evaluated (quality and networkusability).

• Various communication technologies will be evaluated to meet requirements of the UCXXI network, regarding interactivity, collaborative work and virtual Internet communities (Real time content manipulation, audio/video streaming,chatting, shared database management).

Basic virtual city infrastructure will be defined, synthesizing different already realized studies (Faculty of Mining, Zagreb) and using existing digital data provided by laser measuring of the ex-coal mine (VIAS, Vienna). An interdisciplinary European expert team will be established to develop proposals for some spatial/urban units with streets, squares, parks, buildings, to design fundamental ‘public’ buildings like museum, theatre, City Hall, gallery, cultural centre, to propose and integrate various means of transport such as lifts, railways,cycle and walk tracks, as well as some other infrastructure, for preparation ofthe 3D model construction Phase.

Phase 3. Creation of the 3D Model

3D artists and programmers in a closer elationship with architects and designers will create the first 3D model of the Underground City XXI based on real dimensions and situation of the ex-coal mine,using advanced CAD techniques and results of the previous mine studies and measuring. They will collaborate in experimentation and integration of architectural studies, installations and utopist architecture projects as wellas in adaptation of gained proposals/ideas to be optimally integrated in thefuture 3D virtual environment.

Phase 4. Development and implementation of the real-time multi-userplatform for delivery of shared interactive 3D content on the Internet

Programmers will directly collaboratewith expert team to enhance the potential of virtual 3D environments and provide an advanced multi-user server platform. Server for computer aided architectural design within real-time multi-user 3D platform will be provided, enabling users/community members to visualize and communicate their proposals.The UCC XXI platform will provide community communication tools (chatting,forums, message boards and clubs), extensive multi-user functions (members andprofile management) and integration of web 3D formats (3D, 2D, audio, video andstreaming media). Regarding technology UC XXI platform will prefer networked 3Dr endering engines, with performance comparable to 3D games engines, which support character animation (avatars), enhancing social experiences aswell as web 3D content visualization. Programmers directly co-operating with expert groups and artists will Integrate 3D models developed during the Phase 3. into multi-user environment shared and distributed on the Internet.

Phase 5. Dissemination (a): Creation and public presentation of mixedmedia art works and performances, in between real and virtual spaces

Artists will experiment and createmixed media works (sound, video, 3D volumes, 3D architecture, texts, images,2D/3Danimations, etc.) that will be implemented in the UCXXI platform, in orderto stimulate and promote artistic and cultural dimension of the project. Artists will thus also initiate inter-connection with other artistic forms, based on real-time experimentation with image processing, contemporary poetry, performance, contemporary music events, broadcasting of independent radioprograms, robotic installations, etc. This inter-connectivity will help to modify existing creative strategies and make the revolutionary step into theage of mixed reality.

Phase 6. Dissemination (b): Communication/ Promotion

Communication strategy is based one stablishment of a trademark “Underground City XXI” and use of differentpromotional tools: organization of seminars, festival, conferenceinternationally announced; website www.undergroundcityxxi.com,www.artservis.org,www.artfactories.net,and other European cultural websites; banners on some internationally popularwebsites; announcements and press releases for each project’s activity inregional/national/European printed and electronic media; production and publicpresentations of multimedia art works and performances; digital & printedbrochure UC XXI, flyers and posters; T-shirts, caps, stickers, badges andsimilar products with UC XXI logo; UC XXI ‘supporters’ - famous artists,musicians, actors, models, sportsmen and other popular public persons; publicpresentations of initial and finalized platform in Zagreb, Prague, Venice, Ljubljana, Belgrade, Vienna, at some new media/electronic art festivals andevents in Europe.