Title: Live streaming performing arts within a social virtual environment

Authors: Matthew Hudson

Addresses: Toshiba Design Center, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8001, Japan

Abstract: This paper aims to explore the experience of live performing arts, why they are so enduringly popular, and yet why they have not become widespread as online live streaming video content. This paper explores this issue by first providing a literature review which compares the social experience of live performing arts to new forms of live online entertainment. The implementation of a proof-of-concept system for live streaming performing arts into a social virtual environment is then introduced. This paper concludes that social virtual environments have the potential to provide a greater degree of social awareness within a virtual audience. However, these environments still struggle to transmit the full extent of a live experience due to current limitations in the technology. Finally, the paper discusses directions for future research.

Keywords: audience; live streaming; virtual reality; online communities; performing arts; live events; social virtual environments.

DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2017.092453

International Journal of Arts and Technology, 2017 Vol.10 No.4, pp.271 - 284

Received: 17 Sep 2016
Accepted: 24 Aug 2017
Published online: 21 Jun 2018 *

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