Exploration
At Ultravioletto, research shapes the future of interaction design, blending emerging technologies with creative design. Through continuous experimentation with new media, artificial intelligence and real-time technologies, we investigate new forms of human interaction while expanding the aesthetic and expressive potential of our work.
At Ultravioletto, research shapes the future of interaction design, blending emerging technologies with creative design. Through continuous experimentation with new media, artificial intelligence and real-time technologies, we investigate new forms of human interaction while expanding the aesthetic and expressive potential of our work.
Our latest researches
AI: Myth, Instrument, Work
Exploring artificial intelligence as a cultural, artistic and relational medium.
Since the early emergence of generative AI, Ultravioletto has explored its potential not only as a technological tool, but as a new medium for artistic expression, human interaction and cultural reflection.
Our research investigates how artificial intelligence is reshaping creativity, perception and the relationship between humans and machines. Through installations, public talks and experimental projects, we explore both the opportunities and contradictions of machine-generated culture, questioning authorship, bias, data extraction and the growing standardization of creative outputs.
These ideas have informed works such as Urban Oracle and Neural Mirror, interactive installations that examine the relationship between collective human knowledge and algorithmic systems, inviting audiences to critically engage with the mechanisms behind artificial intelligence.
As part of this research, Ultravioletto was invited to participate in the launch event of ARTIFACT, a Creative Europe co-funded initiative focused on the future of AI in the visual arts. During the event, we presented Myth, Instrument, Work, For the occasion, two artificial intelligences were invited to speak about themselves, engaging in a speculative dialogue on the philosophical, ethical and cultural implications of their own existence.
These themes were further explored in an interview with independent curator Rebecca Pedrazzi for Artuu. Rather than replacing human creativity, AI becomes meaningful when it expands our capacity to imagine, create and connect.
Exploring artificial intelligence as a cultural, artistic and relational medium.
Volumetric Perception
Real-time spatial scanning as a performative instrument.
Real-time spatial scanning as a performative instrument.
Ultravioletto conducted an experimental research project exploring real-time volumetric capture and spatial perception.
Using a synchronized network of four Kinect sensors, the environment was continuously scanned and reconstructed as a live three-dimensional point cloud within TouchDesigner.
The investigation was developed during Macchinette, live electronic jam session where eight musicians equipped with synthesizers and drum machines perform under the guidance of a generative algorithm.
Rather than capturing a single performer, the system observed the entire space, generating a dynamic digital replica shaped by the movements of musicians, audience and architecture.
The event provided a unique testing ground for investigating how volumetric vision systems can coexist with live performance and computational creativity.
By merging multiple depth cameras into a single spatial model, the research explored new possibilities for real-time interaction, digital scenography and machine perception, transforming physical presence into a continuously evolving volumetric landscape.
Bioluminescence
Bioluminescent fluids and their potential for artistic light installations
Bioluminescent fluids and their potential for artistic light installations
Bioluminescent fluids, naturally occurring substances that emit light through biochemical reactions. Research in this area focuses on understanding how organisms like algae, jellyfish, and certain bacteria produce light, with an aim to harness this ability for sustainable applications. Scientists are exploring how to synthesize or bioengineer these fluids for use in a variety of fields.
Unlike traditional electric-powered lighting, bioluminescent fluids generate light without energy consumption, providing a sustainable alternative. Artists and designers are beginning to investigate how to integrate these natural light sources into immersive installations, creating living, glowing artworks that not only captivate but also raise awareness about environmental sustainability.
These bioluminescent installations could serve as powerful tools for environmental education and awareness, showcasing the beauty of nature while emphasizing the need for renewable, low-impact technologies.
Wearable devices
Tech devices for performers to integrate gestures into a digital or analogic setting
Wearable tech devices, such as armbands, present exciting possibilities for performers, offering new ways to control lights, sound, and video projections through body movement.
These wireless devices can interpret gestures and motion, allowing performers to seamlessly integrate their physical presence into the digital environment. For a DJ, this means they could control lighting effects or video projections with a simple wave of the hand, creating a more immersive, real-time connection between the music and the visual elements.
For actors or dancers, wearable gyroscope technology offers an intuitive way to enhance storytelling, using movement to trigger lighting cues, sound effects. This hands-free approach transforms the performer into a dynamic controller, enabling more fluid, spontaneous interaction with the stage technology and deepening the connection between the performer and the audience. These tools not only expand creative expression but also provide new avenues for interactive, live experiences.
Tech devices for performers to integrate gestures into a digital or analogic setting
