Assignment 1 : Interactive Installation

Interactive Bar Table 

Installation : Interactive Bar Table

Artist :  Golan Levin and Zachary Lieberman with the production of Ars Electronica Futurelab

Year : 2004

How Does it Works?

The interactive bar tables are an interactive installation for cafe-like social venues, and an early example of a multi-touch surface in interactive art. The project forms the natural habitat of a species of creatures that exhibits a unique pattern of social behavior. When someone touches the surface of their virtual terrarium, these digital organisms react with playful curiosity. They flock to drinking glasses placed in their vicinity like hungry sharks, and teem around everything that enters their world. But have no fear: they don’t bite. If you catch one with your fingers, it will follow your movements, and you can send it on in any direction and from table to table. Left alone, the creatures descend back into the depths of their digital environment. In this way, the colorful organisms become part of a communicative game involving the users of the Interactive Bar Tables, whereby the flow of communication extends throughout the individual terrariums and creates an interconnection among the participants.

Reflective Questions

What attracted you to this piece of interactive art in 

the first place? 

As the technology of touch screen interaction growing, an artwork which is collaborated with the technology attracted me at first place. Its also because the installation of the work is not for private use but its made public.

How did you feel when you first saw this interactive 
art? 

I feel its interesting to know more about the artwork because its giving a game like experience to interact with.  Its makes me think that bar is going to be an interesting place with lot of activities. its also make me curious how will be digital creature behave.


What element/s made this interactive art successful 
in engaging you?

The main element of this artwork is the movement made by the creature in the projection. it follows the movement of our fingers when we touch that. People usually like artworks that realistic as real world behavior .  If you catch one with your fingers, it will follow your movements, and you can send it on in any direction and from table to table. Left alone, the creatures descend back into the depths of their digital environment.

What was the ‘wow’ factor for you?

It made me say 'wow' when i found out where was the installation took place. The artwork could be installed  in a children nursery or in a school environment . But the artist choose the bar to be the place. in my opinion ,  the artist has a marketing purpose beneath his work. This kind of interactive art could attract more customers.

If there is one thing that you want to add to this 
interactive artwork, what would it be?

I would like to suggest the artwork not only to be in an table form, but as a floor if could. So it will be not only a interactive spot in a certain area of the bar, it will be the whole bar as an interactive floor underneath our feet.