| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/I032088/1 |
| Title: |
Digital Originals |
| Principal Investigator: |
Blythe, Professor M |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Fac of Arts, Design and Social Sciences |
| Organisation: |
Northumbria, University of |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research |
| Starts: |
28 December 2011 |
Ends: |
27 December 2013 |
Value (£): |
208,213
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Digital Art & Design |
Digital Arts HTP |
| Economics |
Human-Computer Interactions |
| Installation & Sound Art HTP |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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01 Mar 2011
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Digital Economy Research in the Wild
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Digital OriginalsThe ease with which digital files can be copied and shared presents profound challenges for the creative industries. This project seeks to explore alternative business models for the dissemination of digital content and takes art as a case from which to learn. The British artist David Hockney has received much attention for drawings he has made both on the iPhone and iPad. The images have been both produced and disseminated digitally, leading critics to ask what or where the original image might be. Traditional notions of a signed original or even a limited print run begin to break down in this context. Clearly this is not a problem for established artists such as Hockney but for many new and aspiring digital artists it presents serious challenges. New technologies and new business models are urgently needed to turn some of the challenges into new opportunities both for artists and collectors. We will use off the shelf or near to market technologies to ensure the real world viability of any solutions generated. This project will prototype two new systems for adding value to digital art and test the associated business models in live field studies. (1) Authorized Art AppDigital watermarking embeds information in ways that are difficult to remove. Watermarks may be visible or invisible). Many variations of this technology already exist but it is usually deployed to support legal action against copyright infringements, for example, tracing the source of an illegally distributed reviewer's copy of a new film. Using similar techniques it would be possible to create a unique watermark that would relate artworks to particular owners. The digital watermark itself would need to respect the aesthetic of the artist and this would create an interesting space for creativity. The key might include information such as when and where it was created or perhaps even bioinformatic information from the artist. The certification process could take the form of an app which allowed users to take a photograph of their artwork and verify a digital signature. (2) Digital Original ArtifactsA second field study will explore the ways that a physically unique object complementary to the artwork, such as a bespoke digital frame could be used to imbue the work with a collectable value. For example, within the physical frame of a digital artwork, it would be possible to embed an RFID tag with an encrypted certificate of authenticity. This tag would be read with a separate device (an RFID reader) provided by the artist. Providing the work in an infrastructure like an interactive frame would also allow for a subscription model of digital art ownership, with the limited issue of the subscription being guaranteed by the authentication mechanism. For example, the frame might be online and the display updated with new work. Users might pay a membership fee to rent a set of work that changes each month. Different models of sale and rental will be explored in a real world market setting.Prototypes will be developed with artists, collectors and dealers at the Bar Lane Studios at York. Bar Lane Studios is a Social Enterprise Business hub with a contact list of over 250 artists and collectors. We will conduct a live market testing of the prototype technologies in exhibitions and study the experience so as to inform future market development.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
http://digital-originals.com |
| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
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