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[Bruce Sterling]

Science Fiction Writer Becomes Augmented Reality Developer

Art Center College of Design, Pasadena CA,  August 18, 2011

Art Center "Visionary in Residence" Bruce Sterling has created his own augmented reality.

"Sometimes it's easiest to teach by doing," said the novelist and design critic, speaking from Art Center's "Reality Augmented" Lab in Pasadena.  "I used to write science fiction about Augmented Reality back when it was mostly imaginary. Now that it's become a real industry, I had to conjure some up for myself."

Sterling's new application runs on the "Layar" platform, available on iPhones, Androids and Symbian mobiles.  Amsterdam-based Layar was the corporate sponsor for the special project this summer at Art Center College of Design.  This was the first course in America to concentrate on the design of AR.

Twenty Art Center students from various design majors have created AR apps and also prototyped ideas for new, futuristic Layar services. 

The AR class was co-taught by creative director Guillaume Wolf and produced by Nikolaus Hafermaas, Art Center's Dean of Special Programs.

Sterling's new Layar "layer" is titled "Dead Drops," and is an international collaboration with Layar coder Menno Bieringa, German media artist Aram Bartholl and Layar artist-in-residence Sander Veenhof.

"I wrote a contribution for a new book about Aram's artwork," says Sterling, "and I realized his 'Dead Drops' network meshes perfectly with the Augmented Reality ideal. It's all about hidden data revealed in real-world, three-dimensional spaces.  So, suddenly, I had a class project.  Now I'm a registered Layar developer."

Bartholl "Dead Drops" are thumb-sized flash drives publicly hidden in cities around the world.  Bartholl's urban intervention features in the current "Talk to Me" show at the New York Museum of Modern Art.

With Sterling's "Dead Drops Layer," users can  scan the horizon for handy Dead Drops that might be lurking nearby.  A few taps and clicks create a map that will lead to the site.  Network users can then plug their laptops directly into the "Dead Drops," which are commonly embedded in brick walls and almost invisible.

Programmer Sander Veenhof, who visited and lectured at the AR class in Pasadena, is Layar's artist-in-residence.  Veenhof's own augmented reality works include the "Infiltr.AR" invasion of the White House and the "Battling Pavilions" exhibit at the Venice Biennale.

"Now that the app is launched, Menno, Sander and I have some provocative ideas about new features," says Sterling. "Aram's network is growing steadily.  I'm writing a new work of augmented fiction specifically created for Dead Drops."

Sterling doubts that he will be the last science fiction writer to embrace "Augmented Reality."

"Layar's strategy is to transform Augmented Reality into a mass medium," says Sterling.  "That means a torrent of change in hardware and software, plus new initiatives like the 'Layar Vision Creation Challenge.'  AR is happening today in places with core media competence.  The Los Angeles basin is definitely one of those places.  I'm pleased about this 'special program' -- I feel that it's opened new prospects for everyone involved.   I couldn't have done it anywhere else but at Art Center College of Design."


<a href="http://www.layar.com/layers/deaddrops">http://www.layar.com/layers/deaddrops</a>

<a href="http://www.layar.com/layar-creation-challenge/">http://www.layar.com/layar-creation-challenge/</a>