GRAHAM T. SMITH
Home Toronto, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Born 1958 Vancouver, Canada
Education 1979 – 1983 Ontario College of Art, 2017 University College Dublin – PhD Candidate
Websites www.designartscience.org
Contact graham.smithwebchair@gmail.com
Telephone 437 249 1137
I have been exhibiting my artwork internationally since 1986 when I took part in the “Strategic Arts Initiative” exhibition that linked Canada and Italy in the world’s first telepresence robotics exhibition. From 1993 to 1995 I directed the VRAAP program (Virtual Reality Artist Access Program) at the McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology at the University of Toronto where I explored the effects virtual technologies have on society. In 2001 I was one of 10 artists involved in the ground breaking “Liveform Telekinetics” project that linked Interaccess in Toronto to the WAAG new media center in Amsterdam with videoconferencing media. In 2007 I exhibited “MOBI” and “Morphing Machinery” at the DEAF festival in Rotterdam and in 2009 completed the “Emoti-Chair”, a 3 year Canada Council /NSERC research project with Ryerson University to develop a way to simulate the affect of sound in movies for deaf people using a combination of non audio sensory inputs. In 2010 I exhibited “Intersection” at Transmediale in Berlin, “3di” for the Dutch cultural pavilion at Expo in Shanghai, “Third Eye” for the European Capital of Culture that took place in Essen, Germany and OVERVIEW for the European Space Agency. In 2011 I exhibited the telepresence art piece “Displaced Perspectives 2.0” at the second Strategic Arts Initiative 2.0 exhibition that linked V2 in Rotterdam with Interaccess in Toronto as part of the McLuhan 100 festival. In 2014 I exhibited the robotic work “MOBI Jr.” in Sandnes Norway and my first outdoor kinetic sculpture “Undulations” in the Delft Sculpture Park in the Netherlands. In 2015 the Vitenfabrikken Science Centre in Norway installed my first permanent robotic installation called “Froken Mobi”. In 2017 I exhibited “Sensing Presence” in an exhibition at the VRTO conference and created the HUBOT Mobi robots for the Next Nature Network in The Netherlands.
For three decades, I have worked professionally as an international robotics expert and ‘robot maker’, technologist, international researcher and entrepreneur in the areas of telepresence, robotics, and virtual reality. As an entrepreneur I have started 3 companies in these areas.
In 1987 started my first company called Horizonscan to commercialize my panoramic virtual reality inventions and in 1996 formed my 2nd company named Telbotics to roll out PEBBLES (Providing Education By Bringing Learning Environments to Students) that was installed in over 150 hospitals and schools in Canada and the US.
My current focus is on TAR (Telepresence Autism Research) focusing on the positive impact telepresence technology can have on people with Autism and other nonverbal and ‘hard to reach’ individuals. We are working with schools and institutions in Canada and The Netherlands on the use case studies for this project, as part of my PhD in the SMARTlab Thematic PhD in Inclusive Design and Creative Technology Innovation in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at University College Dublin, in partnership with our Canadian Centre of Excellence at Ryerson University in Toronto. As part of the PhD I have recently co-invented the EyeMaus: a robotic presence device enabling increased ‘control’ of their presence stream for people with communications challenges.
In 2007 I started my 3rdrd company, Webchair: through Webchair we deployed over 500 units that link children recovering from cancer to their learning environments in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany.
SELECTED ART EXHIBITIONS
2017 HUBOT MOBI, Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
SENSING PRESENCE, VRTO, Toronto, Canada
2016 ROBOT REACTIONS, Vitenfrabrikken, Sandnes, Norway
2015 FROKEN MOBI, Vitenfrabrikken, Sandnes, Norway
2014 UNDULATIONS, Delft Sculpture Park, Delft, Netherlands
MOBI JR., Vitenfrabrikken, Sandnes, Norway
2013 RIECHSTAGSBRAND 2.0, Berlin Messa, Berlin, Germany
SPIRAL BELL, Bestuling, The Hauge, Netherlands
FUKUSHIMA CAFÉ 1.0, WAAG Society, Amsterdam, Netherlands
FUKUSHIMA CAFÉ 2.0, Berlin, Germany
2012 MORPHOGENIC, Collaboration with Anouk Wipprecht, Vienna, Austria
2011 DISPLACED PERSPECIVES 2.0, SAI 2.0, Interaccess, Toronto & V2 Rotterdam, Netherlands
SUMO WRESTLING ROBOTS, Cinekind, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2010 OVERVIEW, European Space Agency, Noordwijk, Netherlands
THE THIRD EYE, Ruhr2010, Zollverien, Essen, Germany
3rd i, Expo2010, Netherlands Culture House, Shanghai and Rotterdam
INTERSECTION, Transmediale, Potzdamerplatz, Berlin, Germany
2009 EMOTION CHAIR, Music Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2008 EMOTION CHAIR, Ontario Science Centre, Canada
EMOTION CHAIR, Multi_Modal, V2, Rotterdam, Netherlands
2007 MORPHING MACHINERY, DEAF, V2, Rotterdam, Netherlands
MOBI, DEAF, V2, Rotterdam, Netherlands
MOBI, Dutch Ministry of Culture, Netherlands
CYBERCITY RUHR, Robotdag, Bochem, Germany
2006 CYBERCITY OPEN AIR ATILIER, Utopia Machen, Wandelbar, Essen, Germany
MOBI, Zwijger opening, WAAG, Amsterdam, Netherlands
MOBI, WAAG 10th anniversary, WAAG, Amsterdam, Netherlands
TELEMOBI, STRP Festival, Eindhoven, Netherlands
TELEMOBI, Fusion 06, Ontario science Center, Toronto, Canada
TOUCH ME, TOUCH ME, Villa Zebra, Rotterdam, Netherlands
2005 ECHO’S, 60 anniversary of the end of WWII, Netherlands/Canada
LIBERATION, Splendid Immersion, V2, Rotterdam, Netherlands
TELEPRESENCE STAIRS, Splendid Immersion, V2, Rotterdam, Netherlands
2003 PEBBLES, Museum for Communications, The Hague, Netherlands
SENTIENT CREATURES, WAAG , Amsterdam, Netherlands
2001 TELETABLES, Liveform Telekinetics, Interaccess, Toronto & WAAG , Amsterdam
1999 ORIENTATION, Artist as Machine, Durham Art Gallery, Durham, Canada
1998 RAIN SPHERE, Space Probe, Interaccess, Toronto, Canada
1996 ORIENTATION, Perspective on Perspective, Interaccess, Toronto, Canada
1995 CYBERCITY, Net@works, National Centre for the Arts, Mexico City, Mexico
COUP D’ETE, Electric Skin, Interaccess, Toronto, ISEA 95 Montreal, New York, USA
1993 CYBERCITY, Aperto, Venice Biennel and McLuhan Program UofT, Toronto, Canada
LAURA’S HOUSE, Image du Futur, Old Port, Montreal, Canada
1990 THE AMBASSADORS, Cyberdelic Rave, Toronto, Canada
1989. INTERSECTIONS THROUGH TIME, Harbourfront Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1988 INTERSECTIONS THROUGH TIME, Museum of Check Point Charlie, Berlin
1988 THE AMBASSADORS, New Works Showcase, The Funnel, Toronto, Canada
METRO MOTIONS, Back To Amsterdam, De Meervaart, Amsterdam, Nertherlands
DISPLACED PERSPECTIVES, Artculture Resource Centre, Toronto and Salerno, Italy
DISPLACED PERSPECTIVES, Artculture Resource Centre, Toronto and Paris, France
1985 METRO MOTIONS, Collages & 3-D Photographiques, Ovo Gallery, Montreal, Canada
WREAK BEACH, Contemporary Canadian photography, McGill, Toronto
1984 METRO MOTIONS, Toronto Documetary Photograhy, Harbourfront, Toronto, Canada
SPHERICAL ANIMATION, Artculture Resource Centre, Toronto, Canada
1983 WHOLE IN THE WALL, Informatique, La Charteuse, Avignon, France
THE WAR IS ON, Recent Works, Burton Gallery, Toronto, Canada
MOBIUS, Artculture Resource Centre, Collaboration with Karen Tzventarny, Toronto, Canada
DISPLACED PERSPECTIVE, Open House, Ontario College of Art, Toronto, Canada
1982 ORIENTATION, Artculture Resource Centre, Toronto, Canada
1981 THE DOMINO EFFECT, 1st prize Ice Sculpture Competition, North York, Canada
SKINNED, Artventure, 2nd prize, New Works Competition, Royal Bank, Toronto, Canada
1980 DEPENDENCE, 1st prize, New Sculpture Competition, Koffler Gallery, Toronto, Canada
CURATORIAL
2017 PRESENCE FIELDS, VRTO, Toronto, Canada
2000 PANDORA’S BOX, Fylkingen, Stockholm, Sweden & InterAccess, Toronto, Canada
1995 ELECTRIC SKIN, Interaccess, Toronto, ISEA 95 Montreal, Canada, New York, USA
CYBERCITY, Aperto, Venice Biennial, Venice, Italy
GRANTS
2017 Media Arts, Production Grant, Ontario Arts Council
2017 Media Arts, Production Grant, Canada Council
2013 Media Arts, Research Grant, Canada Council
2009 Media Arts, Production Grant, Canada Council
2006 – 2008 Media Arts, New Media Initiative, Canada Council and NSERC
1983, 1984, 1994 Computer Integrated Media, Canada Council
1986, 1988, 1994 Photography & New Media, Ontario Arts Council
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
2006 Da Vinci Award
1999 Sweden, Global Bangamann Challange
SELECTED SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS & CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
2001 TeleMedicine 2001 Fels, D.I., Williams, L., Smith, G., Treviranus, J. The Supply Student, June 2001, Montreal, Canada.
1999 Telemedicine Journal, Williams, L. Fels, D.I., Smith, G., Treviranus, J., Eagleson, R. (1999), Developing A Video-Mediated Communication System For Hospitalized Children
1998 International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Williams, L. Fels, D.I., Smith, G., Treviranus, J., Eagleson, R. (1998). Control of a remote communication system by children.
1998 Internationaö Conference of the Learning Sciences, Williams, L. Fels, D.I., Smith, G., Treviranus, J., Eagleson, R., (1998), Analysis of a Video-mediated Communication System For Children
1998 Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineers, Williams, L. Fels, D.I., Smith, G., Treviranus, J., Eagleson, R. (1998) Creating An Interactive Supply Student
1997 Human Factors and Ergonomics ,Williams, L. Fels, D.I., Smith, G., Treviranus, J., Eagleson, R. (1997). Using PEBBLES to Facilitate Remote Learning , Albuquerque, pp. 320.
1997 Seventh International Conference on Human Computer Interaction Williams, L. Fels, D.I., Smith, G., Treviranus, J., Eagleson, R. (1997). PEBBLES: Providing Education by Bringing Learning Environments to Students. San Francisco pp. 115-118.
1996 CYBERG Conference, Williams, L. Fels, D.I., Smith, G., Treviranus, J., Spargo G, Eagleson, R. (1996) Control Of A Remote Communication System By Children
PATENTS
2004 http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20030151658.html
1998 http://patents1.ic.gc.ca/details?patent_number=2289697
1998 http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?wo=1998051078
1993 http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5040055.html
1992 http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5153716-claims.html
2013 Webchair 2.0 – next generation telepresence display.
2010 Web Booth – Exhibited at the World Expo in Shanghai for V2 in Rotterdam.
2009 Webchair 2.0 –80 units deployed linking sick children to their schools.
2007 Webchair –120 units deployed linking sick children to their schools.
2003 Presence Projector –Video display that creates a sensation of human presence.
2002 PEBBLES 2.0 – Most Innovative Product award from Kiosk World magazine.
2001 LookBot – Robot panoramic video projector and camera for the Crevice Collective.
2000 Eyecam – Prototype eye contact telepresence display for Ex’ovision.
1999 Jestertek – Hand recognition vision system for Jestertek.
1998 PEBBLES 1.0 – Robot videoconferencing system for Ryerson University.
1991 Horizonscope – Panoramic display for HorizonScan.
1990 Videoglasses – Head mounted video display for Jaron Lanier at VPL Research.
SELECTED MEDIA
2017 Huffington Post, Webmoti, online
Forbes , “Hand Made and Well Done” online
2012. De Pers, March 12, page 15
2011 CBC Radio, Nov. 4, Strategic Arts Initiative
2010 Discovery Channel – Dec. 7th, Daily Planet, Aqua Cinema
New Scientist, May 10, Art meets Science, issue 2759
Berlin Unlike, Feb 2, http://berlin.unlike.net/articles/366-Intersection
2009 Discovery channel – Daily Planet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5wW4tIgd80
CBC Television, Emotion Chair
New Scientist, Emotion Chair
2008 WAZ, Kinder Planen, March 13, , Eseen Germany
2007 Revver, http://one.revver.com/watch/243959
NRZ, Kunstler unterrichten Schuler, Feb. 19, Eseen Germany
2006 WAZ, Gestaltete fassaden in der City, Dec. 2, Eseen Germany
SWITCH, March 16, V2, Rotterdam Netherlands
2005 Splendid Immersion, June 2, V2, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Discovery Channel, May, 12th, Daily Planet
2004 Toronto Star, P.3, Entertainment
NRC Handelsblad, De aarde op speelfilmlengte, June 4, Ine Poppe
2003 Time magazine, September, P.45, PEBBLES launch in USA
WAAG Society, Sentient Creatures, Nov. 26, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2001 BBC Tomorrows World
2002 Performing Arts Journal, The Disembodied eye, pp122-126
2000 Now Magazine, Pandora’s Box, March 4, page 44
1996 Now magazine, Cyber swarea, Wilma
1995 Toronto Star, Oct, Page C1, Christopher Hume
The Washington Post, Cyber-Culture, G8, Richard Lieby
Maclean’s Magazine, 100 Canadians to Watch, July 5, Page 31, Bruce Wallace
1992 Cyberart, McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology, Toronto, Canada
1991 Virtual Reality and Photography, Turin Photography Biannual, Turin, Italy
1989 Photo Life, April, Page 13, Ken Hoffman
1988 Views, November, Cover, Page 8, Hamish Buchanan
1984 Toronto Star, July, Page D12, Christopher Hume
1983 Vanguard, Fall, Page 32, Micheal Hume
SELECTED WEB LINKS
2015 – Froken Mobi
http://www.jaermuseet.no/vitenfabrikken/froken-mobi/
2014 – Undulations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf6zLq5xHRs
2011 – Displaced Perspectives 2.0
http://interaccess.org/exhibition/strategic-arts-initiative-20
2010- Intersection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YOFNSRiexY
2010- The Third Eye
http://www.cybercityruhr.com/indexeng.htm
2010- 3di
http://v2.nl/events/virtual-city/?searchterm=3rd%20i
2009- Emoti-chair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM3HqBLwRrE
2007 – Mobi jr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne8R2HcKrdg
2005 – Echo’s
http://www.ict-edu.nl/archief/canada-echoes-project-2005/
2003 – Sentient Creatures
http://connected.waag.org/sentient.html
2001 – Liveform Telekinetics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdi5cohMpz4
2000- Pandorna’s Box
http://www.year01.com/issue6/pandora.html
1995 – Electric Skin
https://vimeo.com/132882303
1993 – Toronto Cybercity
http://cybercityruhr.com/projekte.htm
1986 – Displaced Perspectives
http://v2.nl/archive/works/displaced-perspectives
1983 – Displaced Perspective
https://devpost.com/software/displaced-perspective