| This thesis focuses on participants' experiences at two live events, SIGGRAPH '94 and ARS Electronica '94, using the recently patented Cinematrix Interactive Entertainment System invented by Loren Carpenter. In a selfcreated cyberspace thousands of people interact simultaneously with a wireless "mouse" that sends a reflected red or green signal, captured by a video camera, to the computer to play multi-user realtime games. General conclusions gleaned from the interviews: (1) Fast moving games with immediate feedback create an exciting dynamic that links the group together regardless of social and language barriers. (2) Many people report they feel like a cell in a larger organism while maintaining their individuality. (3) Experiencing the games as a group encouraged some individuals to take risks without fear of failure. (4) Through helping the group to succeed, everyone succeeds. In the group of technologies that assist and expand human communication, this one provides a new type of tribal campfire. |
