TechnoSphere: “Real” Time, “Artificial” Life

Abstract

This paper focuses on the real-time 3D version of the artificial-life art piece TechnoSphere, a collaborative project by the author, Mark Hurry and Gordon Selley. It begins by positioning TechnoSphere's simulated landscapes in relationship to the English landscape and its tradition in painting and problematizes ideas of “the natural.” The TechnoSphere creatures are evaluated as both artificial wildlife and domesticated animals before the authors consider the relationship between creature and environment. This is followed by a comparison of the Internet and real-time versions of TechnoSphere and concludes by outlining the work-in-progress—a merging of the two systems.