I was on a panel with Janine Cirincione, who was hired by Microsoft
to run the art section of Microsoft Network, and the concensus was
that we desperately need to develop networks that get programmers
and creators talking to each other and working together. The model
of an "opera" seemed to appeal to everyone. According to Janine
Microsoft knows (cares?) next to nothing about the concept we have
of "art", which is why the term they like is "creativity", as does
the MIT Media Lab. Microsoft's gives us SoftImage while what we need
are intuitive tools.

I would guess there is the same gap in need of bridging in terms of
Museums and getting museum workers and software programmers talking
to each other on a level beyond the hissing and eyeball-rolling
stage. What's needed may not be something that is evident to the
public (like a CD-ROM or kiosk) but a foundation that will
eventually spawn new techniques for curators etc. But that's sort of
like asking for funding for building maintenance, isn't it?
___________________________________________
ROBBIN MURPHY, creative director, artnetweb
[log in to unmask]
http://artnetweb.com/artnetweb/
426 Broome Street, NYC 10013  212 925-1885