Philosophy of the Field: The Art of Communication Anywhere, Anytime

Author: (Japanese) Yasushi Yamamoto
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features:
The word "Ubiquitous" is becoming increasingly intertwined with our lives. "Ubiquitous" originates from Latin, meaning "present everywhere, omnipresent." In Japan, it is interpreted as "anywhere, anytime, for anyone." Electronic systems similar to paper exist in every aspect of our lives.
The first person to say this was the late Mark Weisert from Xerox PARC in the United States. Today, desktop computers and laptops account for only 2% of electronic system products. In contrast, more than ten times as many other electronic system products are widely used, such as mobile phones, refrigerators, washing machines, cars, electronic watches, microwave ovens, fans, televisions, rice cookers, water heaters, air conditioners, and even electrified bathrooms, kitchens, and heat storage greenhouses.
If IPv6 management data is added to these home electronic products, remote operation of all digital appliances can be performed anytime via the Internet or mobile phones. This is the Ubiquitous environment that is now attracting attention in Japan. In short, I believe that from now on, digital appliances will enter a "Ubiquitous Society" where they can be remotely operated at any time and any place.
The term "field" refers to the place where something is happening or taking place. It is generally used as a linguistic expression for spaces like "on-site," "battlefield," or "sports field." It is also used to describe situations reflected across different spaces, such as "immediate presence." Therefore, "field" can have various meanings depending on the context.
Mobile phones have gone beyond traditional calling functions. With the emergence of video calls and digital photography, they have become adept at rapidly transmitting the state of the "field." Large studio cameras have moved beyond studios due to portability, bringing us entirely new realms of reporting. Similarly, as camera and recording functions were integrated in "Betacam," the space for filming and expression was greatly expanded. I believe that mobile phones will also broaden the world being expressed as they are equipped with camera and information dissemination functions.
Just as newspapers, magazines, and other media are ubiquitous, computers have been applied to various aspects of daily life. This ubiquitous computer world has become a medium for artistic expression, boldly exploring new realms with strong sensibility.
For this project, we use the most advanced means of communication—mobile phones and the Internet—to attempt artistic expression in the following three sections. We take "Gate" as the subtitle. "Gate" has many characteristics. It distinguishes and connects the imaginary world in the mind with the reality of our lives, acting as a window between the virtual space and the real world.
With the information transmission time approaching zero seconds, how do we control space, and what relationships and meanings exist between the imaginary world and the real world? What will we encounter, discover, hear, and possibly create—new forms of art? This is what we aim to explore.