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The program that powers Ego Machine was authored in Macromedia Director. The program uses a web-spider that goes through web gathering and indexing specific information automatically, data being mentions of Sullivan’s name. The data found, containing originating web address, context and date, where Sullivan’s name was mentioned will be logged into a mySQL database. The Director program then accesses gathered data through a plug-in called xMySQL.
The Ego Machine’s prototype will be presented in virtual death memorial gallery. He’s to encourage visitors to link into his website, discuss him on their blogs or visit Ego Machine’s beta version and manipulate his store of after-life points. Meanwhile, gallery visitors will be given a chance to interact directly with its non-beta version. Other graphic design artists also created pieces for show. An urn that holds remains of Roy Ferdinand, an artist who lost his battle with cancer on Dec. 3, 2004, will also be shown. Two artists are commissioned by Antippas to create Ferdinand’s urn that displays some of things he treasured and his artworks, after Ferdinand’s sister handed over Ferdinand’s ashes to Antippas.
The show simply showed that even as we are practically mortals and all, not entirely permanent in this world – technological advances may help in making us virtually immortal. -30-
Lala C. Ballatan is a 26 year-old Communication Arts graduate.
Book reading has always been her greatest passion -- mysteries, horrors, psycho-thrillers, historical documentaries and classics.
Her writing prowess began as early as she was 10 years old in girlish diaries. With writing, she felt freedom – to express her viewpoints and assert it, to bring out all concerns -- imagined and observed, to bear witness.