The Bush soul: Travelling consciousness in an unreal world

Abstract

This paper describes a software system called “Emergence” that displays three‐dimensional, computer generated environments and autonomous, animated characters, in real‐time. The users, or participants, are represented as ‘avatars’.

Through a scripting language one can use techniques of Artificial Life to specify behaviours and relationships between characters and objects. This system allows for the creation of multi‐participant virtual worlds that are ‘alive’, responsive and interactive.

We examine the role of the avatar and the relationships between the avatar and its human counterpart as well as relationships between avatars and artificial life forms.

Keywords:

• artificial life
• avatar
• consciousness
• media art
• virtual reality