METACLUB

Purpose and goal:

METAKLUBB has aimed to create a prototype of a future virtual nightclub, with the goal of reflecting on a future where physical socializing is no longer the norm.

A total of five virtual clubs were conducted with visitors from different physical locations in parallel. About 80 visitors had the opportunity to sing to Backstreet Boys, dance virtual slow dance and then reflect on the experience together. What is it really like to be close to someone virtually? Expected results and effects:

We expected visitors with different takes on and experiences of the club, could contribute different perspectives to the question: "what can we learn about interaction and intimacy in a potential future where physical gatherings is no longer the norm?".

Many tested things which would otherwise have been unthinkable, such as making out with a stranger or starting a fight. Some took the same role as at a regular club, for others it was a reversed role. Not being seen virtually hurt as much as not being seen in the real world. And it became clear that imagination is an important future competence.

Approach and implementation:

The technology with which the prototype has been created is still very new. Live rendering-motion capture into virtual worlds, with a group of visitors, is resource-intensive, and it comes with some limitations. I.e. the audience´s avatars only consisted of face and hands, not full bodies, which was something that many visitors reacted to as an obstacle to experiencing intimacy.

Beyond that, the club, as we know it today, is already a complex social forum. Some simply do not want to interact, but rather observe. Respecting that, while exploring interaction, has been important.