OP_ERA: A Journey

OP_ERA: A Journey was developed within a CAVE virtual reality system (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) at the Digital CAVE of the Laboratório de Sistemas Integráveis, University of São Paulo (LSI–USP), with support and production from Itaú Cultural’s Transmídia Program. The Brazilian CAVE is an immersive system composed of five projection screens (3 × 3 meters each), providing a wide field of view and enabling a strong sense of immersion in images perceived as three-dimensional. The system ran on a precisely synchronized PC cluster, programmed in C and C++ under Windows, using OpenGL-DiceLib as its primary framework. Developing this environment was a major challenge for the team, as no ready-made software was available at the time. This version also included custom software for both stereoscopic visual modeling and spatial sound modeling. Special stereoscopic glasses and tracking devices measured the user’s position inside the CAVE, generating real-time sensations of depth and interactive responsiveness. Spatial sound interface The sound interface was designed specifically for the project: An 8-channel MOTU audio interface enabled an octophonic spatial sound system (independent in/out channels). Audio behavior varied in real time according to the user’s position. Sound was programmed in Max/MSP (Macintosh) and connected to the cluster via MIDI. Sonic logic The sonic structure followed the project’s internal rules: Evolution from a pure sine wave to a complex sound; References to the history of music and sound; A repertoire characteristic of the 20th century; Spatialized “sound particles” oriented within the environment. OP_ERA: A Journey aimed to develop intuitive interfaces capable of translating complex and abstract information into tactile-visual and sonic experiences.