The Art of Privacy - Data Protection on the Theatre Stage Data protection? Important, but when do you really think about it? With the virtual reality installation "The Art of Privacy", which could be seen at the Oldenburg State Theatre in March 2023, OFFIS scientist Frederike Jung shed new light on the topic. Artful, interactive and unexpected - here are some impressions of the event.
Admittedly, the suggestion to deal with the topic of data protection on a cosy Saturday morning doesn't sound very inviting. But if you then add the terms "theatre", "unique" and "virtual reality", things start to look quite different. This was the idea behind the artistic-scientific installation that could be experienced in the Technical Ballroom on 4 March 2023.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the weekly market, the Exerzierhalle at the Pferdemarkt opened its doors to the curious and onlookers. In an auspicious atmosphere, a dark stage was hidden behind a curtain, illuminated by the light of three spotlights and a large screen with the glowing inscription "My private life is...". Actors would not be on stage that day. Instead, three virtual reality goggles were in the spotlight on 4 March. The main attraction: what could be seen through them: "The Art of Privacy".
"For most of us, privacy is an important issue. What we are currently lacking is an incentive to think about it and reflect critically," says researcher Frederike Jung. For this reason, she collaborated with creative minds to draw attention to the topic. "The Art of Privacy" lets viewers travel into the world of data. Here they experience first-hand what it feels like when a space that was thought to be private becomes public and personal data ends up in other hands.
Many of the 70 or so guests, including both young people and senior citizens, experienced virtual reality for the first time through this installation. "The best thing for me were the reactions and conversations," emphasised the OFFIS employee. Many of the visitors lingered in the Technical Ballroom, exchanged views on the topic of data protection and watched the futuristic spectacle on the stage: While the word cloud with privacy associations of the spectators grew in the background in glowing letters, up to three guests explored virtual reality at the same time. While some hesitantly or statically took in the installation, others wandered across the stage with large strides and reached for the virtual objects. "Even if it's things you actually already know, it's impressive what visualisation can do" summed up one audience member.
After a day full of exciting conversations and impressions, everyone involved agreed: Thanks to the skilful staging by the team of the Oldenburg State Theatre and the technical implementation by Jonah-Noël Kaiser and Frederike Jung, OFFIS had a successful theatre debut on 4 March.
Inspired by the positive response to the installation, those involved are looking forward to the institute's further artistic-scientific projects, which will be exhibited in the Technical Ballroom during the 2023 season. "The Art of Privacy" will be presented as an interactivity at the CHI Conference in April, making it clear that digital issues and innovative research can take place and inspire beyond laboratories.
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