SWCTN Immersion Showcase

Squidsoup AudioWAVE Photo Jon Aitken

With 2 publications, 2 podcast series, 3 panel discussions, 4 talks, 8 prototypes, 9 demos, 27 fellows, 36 team members, 230 lunches and over 250 taking part in the day, the Immersion Showcase was a wonderful example of how the South West creative networks can be brought together to do something a little different.

The SWCTN created a free event that was complex, challenging yet digestible for a wide range of sectors and disciplines. The Network would like to thank those who attended, for their contribution, and their openness to discover, play, watch, listen, create, and talk with the Network, we are so grateful for their participation and enthusiasm.

The Network asked those who attended to consider their own question on immersion, the results were thoughtful and provocative contributions. Below are a couple of examples that got the Network thinking:

The production and organisation of the Showcase was a huge team effort and the Network were pleased to have been able to work with the Arnolfini and the Bristol VR Lab. The crew behind the event were drawn from Watershed, Kaleider, and the four partnering Universities, UWE, Bath Spa, Plymouth and Falmouth. The SWCTN Immersion Showcase would not have been possible without the support of our funder Research England and their funding also meant we could invite deliver the event for free.

The Network were delighted to shout about and share with you the thoughtful work of our Immersion Prototype teams. Here is a link to the wonderful  prototype showreel by filmmaker Jon Aitken, he did a brilliant job of capturing the essence of the developing prototype projects.  

With over 150 of you attending throughout the day the buzz was incredible. Playful questioning spread across the multiple locations, filling each space with wonderful curiosity. VIKA Books took over the Watershed cafĂ©/bar with babies, BSL, bananas and badges with the launch of their new BabyBSL Buggie book.

The Limina Theatre space was transformed into a playground of activity as people explored the beautiful Magic Leap work EarthSongs, the gaming experience of Triangular Pixels and the new Realtime Stagemaker VR Toolkit from Anagram.

In the Arnolfini auditorium we saw a mass of bodies moving through space, twisting and balancing to the voice of Ben Dunks. Upstairs we heard the swarming sounds of the SquidSoups AudioWAVE and delved deep into complex stories of objects with Coral Manton’s augmented reality prototype Shared Pasts: Decoding Complexity.

With demos and talks from the SWCTN Immersion Fellows and the UWE MA Virtual Reality Students the programme was a rich variety of ideas, research and questions.

The Network has been enjoying your feedback, here are a couple of snippets to share the love with the network…

“I’d be pushed to think of a more enjoyable and inspiring professional engagement. It was beautifully organised and coordinated”.

“Thank you very much for all the hard work that must have gone into the preparations. From a participant’s point of view, it was worth it”.

“What really shone out was Watershed’s ethos of authentic and positive communication, led from the front”.

Finally, do get hold of the Publication Framing Immersion written by Mark Leaver. You can pop into the Pervasive Media Studio at Watershed, Bristol to pick up a copy or download the PDF here: Framing Immersion

All in all it was an incredible day and as producer for the programme I would like to say a huge thank you for joining us on the day.  Please do keep in touch with the network and if you haven’t already, sign up for our newsletter here

Hannah Brady hannah.b@watershed.co.uk