After a spate of initial proposals the ICWG made some progress, but afterwards little participation caused group activity to cease, after which the previous chairman, Brad Fuller, changed companies and withdrew.
David Javelosa has expressed interest in renewing the group and possibly redefining its role. Discussions will take place on the 30th and 31st of May after which a decision will be made for review by the Steering Committee.
Chairman: David Javelosa
Chairman's BIO: David Javelosa was a producer for the Voyager Company, lead the audio production team for Sega's Multimedia Studio and did audio work for the Sega-CD and Saturn systems. Since then he has worked for such clients as Sony, Nintendo, Marvel, Disney Interactive, Microsoft and Inscape; working on such titles as Jurassic Park, Pocahontas, the Sega Channel, and Tales From the Crypt. Author of the book "Sound and Music for Multimedia" (IDG), he writes occasional articles for Keyboard, Electronic Musician and Film Music magazines. He currently consults in Game Developer Relations for Yamaha's Multimedia R&D Division, and continues to compose for PC and console titles.
Overview
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The Interactive Composition Working Group (ICWG) was formed in 1995 to explore and discuss issues relating to the creation and use of a family of technologies it refers to as Adaptive Audio Systems (AAS).
The ICWG defines Adaptive Audio as audio that is delivered via a system that allows for direct or indirect control of the data and/or data stream. A quote from ICWG member Thomas Dolby Robertson, Chief Beatnik of Headspace best describes the benefits of such technology:
"Adaptive audio systems provide a heightened user experience through a dynamic audio soundtrack which adapts to a variety of emotional and dramatic states resulting, perhaps, from choices the user makes."
The initial task of the ICWG was to create a lexicon of common terminology in order to discus Interactive Composition. This was completed in 6/96.
After a 2 year break, the ICWG has been re-launched in June of 1999 under new management....
ICWG FAQ:
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Q: What is Adaptive Audio?
A: Adaptive Audio is audio that is delivered via a system that allows for direct or indirect control of the data and/or the data stream.
Q: What is the ICWG's definition of an "Architecture"?
A: Architecture: a collection of components and interactions among those components. A description of elements from which systems are built, the interactions among those elements, the patterns that guide their composition, and the constraints on these patterns.
Q: What is the desired output or result of the ICWG?
A: We hope to build a common lexicon of adaptive and interactive music terms by the end of the year. This is an important step as it will give us a foundation to move discussions and decisions along. More importantly, we hope to have the first draft of the Adaptive Audio Architecture completed by CGDC 2000.
Current Status
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We've had a hot summer of extremely provocative ideas for Adaptive Audio Systems including discussions outlining high level architectures. Unfortunately, the heat has been cooled in the last few months.
To get the discussions moving forward again we have compiled the discussion threads for your review and we are at work building a matrix of terms for interactive music. You have undoubtedly been asked to contribute information regarding interactive audio systems that you are familiar with. If not, please visit the ICWG and ask to be counted. These initiatives will provide a good history of our discussions and the state of the art We will conveniently provide this information to members of the IASIG.
The ICWG provides a forum to discuss technologies to build Adaptive Audio Systems, but it can be only as good as the contributions. We want to get the ICWG hopping again. If you have ideas, contributions or just want to be informed on how interactive audio can be part of your products, we invite you to join the ICWG and help us create technologies that will further propel audio in the interactive entertainment industry.
Brad Fuller
Chairman, ICWG
Chairman's Message 5/28/99:
From Brad Fuller via the IA-SIG Forum
Greetings All,
I'm excited! I'm excited to again be part of the professional audio community that will advance the adoption and wide spread use of real-time music systems. The Interactive Composition Working Group (ICWG) is now officially in it's 2nd phase of operation with revised goals and a management group that is dedicated to making adaptive audio systems a reality for all interactive products - on any platform.
In the coming months we will put our heads together to develop adaptive audio systems that can propel audio in interactive products farther than it has been in the past. Our imagination is our only limitation. This will be a demanding job
- we need your expertise to accomplish the goals before us. If you're not a part of the ICWG, may I invite you to join and contribute to this exciting technology. Just send me a quick msg that you'd like to join and we'll add you to the ICWG reflector.
Our first order of business is to review the version 2 goals (pdf) so that we begin upon equal ground. Please take special note of item #5. This is our current agenda with rough time lines that will evolve and become more detailed as we better understand our job at hand.
I look forward to the challenge and to the teamwork that will make adaptive audio systems the new norm in the products that we are proud to produce.
Brad Fuller
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