Ars Electronica
Overall, I liked the Ars Electronica visit. The building itself is nice, the facilities are well designed, and Linz is already a beautiful city. I can imagine that during the Ars Electronica Festival it becomes a much more exciting place with more people, exhibitions, and events.
The project that caught my attention the most was Solar Synthesizer 0.4. I liked the idea of making electronic music with solar energy and controlling it just by changing the light with your hand. It is a simple concept, but I think it works well because it combines music, interaction, and sustainability. Even though I found the technology behind it a bit outdated compared to what is possible today, I still think the idea is interesting and creative.
My only criticism of the exhibition in general is that some of the technology and especially the AI-related installations felt a bit outdated. AI is developing so fast that I expected to see newer and more advanced examples. I think there are now other places in the world where more experimental and up-to-date technologies can be experienced.
Still, as a student studying sound and interaction design, I think it was definitely worth visiting. It is a good place to get inspiration and see different approaches to interactive media, even if not every installation feels cutting-edge anymore.
