Lifemirror
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Computing & Communications
Abstract
Lifemirror is a practice-based research project evolving around an online crowdsourced filmmaking tool. It aims to re-imagine cinema as a tool for collective community communication, creativity and engagement. Inspired by the crowdsourced film Life in a Day(2011), Lifemirror will create a framework in which initiated projects will document themselves through the growing number of users with cameras. This power to build, frame and contribute to other people's stories lies at the heart of Lifemirror and provides the framework for deep analysis of collective storytelling, mass creativity and cinematic systems development.
Planned Impact
We are a cinematic generation, grown up with a developing audiovisual understanding of stories and concepts. The main objective of Lifemirror is to provide research and development of 'cinematic systems' which aim to provide a framework for guiding and understanding new forms of collectively formed narratives. The tool allows users to create their own films which can then be followed and contributed to by the community. The uniqueness of Lifemirror is that it provides a film-centric model of networked communication rather than the traditional user-centric models found in the social networks. Current research is aiming to prove that this seemingly small shift in thinking has a distinctively powerful impact on the nature of the narratives which emerge and how communities connect and contribute to them.
By reframing channel and content media systems, a 'cinematic system' will initially endeavor to connect research to community. Research projects whose stories are being played out in a Lifemirror film stream have access to a growing user-community for audiovisual data contribution. Cinema can provide a sense of togetherness, and if it can be collectively created, could also develop into an evolved communication/entertainment space for our internet-connected, camera equipped society. A multi-perspective filmmaking tool could have far-reaching impact and societal application across a diverse range of communities and organisations.
This research positions itself to not only develop such a future but also to inform wider aspects of visual storytelling and mass creativity. It is a tool looking to sustain the future of ideas and as internet broadband speeds increase, and cameras become connected, there is a surging need for research and development into high-bandwidth communication and optimal channeling systems. Lifemirror aims to place itself in the centre of this progress as a high impact connective tool for both research and community.
By reframing channel and content media systems, a 'cinematic system' will initially endeavor to connect research to community. Research projects whose stories are being played out in a Lifemirror film stream have access to a growing user-community for audiovisual data contribution. Cinema can provide a sense of togetherness, and if it can be collectively created, could also develop into an evolved communication/entertainment space for our internet-connected, camera equipped society. A multi-perspective filmmaking tool could have far-reaching impact and societal application across a diverse range of communities and organisations.
This research positions itself to not only develop such a future but also to inform wider aspects of visual storytelling and mass creativity. It is a tool looking to sustain the future of ideas and as internet broadband speeds increase, and cameras become connected, there is a surging need for research and development into high-bandwidth communication and optimal channeling systems. Lifemirror aims to place itself in the centre of this progress as a high impact connective tool for both research and community.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Gordon Blair (Principal Investigator) |
Title | Lifemirror IOS App |
Description | IOS App to allow users to participate in crowdsourced film making using mobile phones |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | Community engagement + lots of outreach activities (documented elsewhere on ResearchFish) |
URL | http://www.lifemirror.org/ |
Title | Lifemirror website |
Description | Website hosting Lifemirror crowdsourced films |
Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Impact | Public engagement plus outreach activities |
URL | http://www.lifemirror.org/ |
Description | Demo at Digital Economy Research Showcase |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Interactive demo at the Digital Economy Research Showcase organised by the DENS network, held in Shoreditch and targeted at industry |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Demo at Lancaster University Community Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interactive demo at Lancaster University Community Day, held to celebrate the University's 50th anniversary |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Demo at Synergize 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Interactive demo of Lifemirror software at Synergize 2014 conference, Lancaster |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Lifemirror screening and discussion (Gregson, Lancaster) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Screening of crowdsourced films created using Lifemirror, following by discussion with audience - informed future research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Pop up interactive workshop (Google REMIX London) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Pop up interactive workshop held at Google REMIX London |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |