The depiction of physical presence is central to my work, not as a substitution for live action but as a way of examining our relation to it. By looking at kinesthetic awareness in virtual space I began to wonder how independent the senses are from each other as much of this experience integrates information from collaborating senses to make up our perceptible words.
My first experience with virtual presence was in working with a Leap sensor and Touch Designer. I created a space where I could interact with a virtual object with careful and explicit physical interaction. This object was diamond-like, and slightly-larger-than-my-palm, multifaceted, and reflective. It hovered, gently rotating on its axis. Already, this object engendered an unattainable mystique. In the absence of haptic feedback, awareness of my body and the implications of my movement increased in an effort to be recognized by the program. The diamond-object required experimentation of the grasping gesture, where the colored finger trails offered lots of visual feedback and was more immediately cooperative. Watching others test the program, I saw that interaction was not successful without a demonstrated consideration for the program’s capacity. I witnessed a relationship of care, as classmates performed and listened, trying to be understood. The enacting of physical potential in a virtual space presented a distinction between embodiment and empathy: sensing something yet to be experienced.