What broadband can do for you

One of the mental hurdles people face when ditching their 56k dial up connection for broadband is what to do with all this new high speed bandwidth.

There are tons of uses for broadband - most of which have been well rehearsed here previously - but one recent development that has again underscored the new possibilities opened up by broadband is that involving artist Tracey Emin, the Tate Britain Gallery and BT.

For how many of us would contemplate jumping on a plane, car or bus with the sole purpose of visiting a London art gallery? Now, thanks to broadband, we can do just that - and not leave our homes to do so.

Broadband can take users to a new interactive, online video tour of a room of Tracey Emin's work at Tate Britain hosted at www.tate.org.uk/btseries.

The new site is the first to be launched in the BT Series, a succession of online displays and media-rich interpretations of works by living artists developed by BT, exclusive sponsor of Tate Online. The Emin site allows users to explore the artist’s room at Tate Britain, listen to her own commentary on the works, and take part in a unique “reverse” interview.

The “explore the artwork” section of the site allows web users to view such diverse works as Emin's blanket Hate and Power Can be a Terrible Thing, 2004, her video installation The Perfect Place to Grow, 2001, and also May Dodge, My Nan 1963-93. Visitors can focus in on individual pieces for a more detailed look and can listen to a personal commentary from the artist who describes the concept behind the works and the often very powerful emotions that inspire them. This section boasts an extremely high picture quality as it uses exactly the same number of pixels as that of a TV image.

 The site also features a “reverse” interview, a revolutionary technique which allows Tracey Emin to respond directly to what web users think about various aspects of her work. Users are asked to select from a series of differently angled questions such as, “Does Tracey make work consciously to appeal to a female audience?” and “Is the process of making her work a cathartic experience?” This technique gives a much more intimate, conversational feel for web users who feel as if she is talking directly to them.

Tracey Emin says: “It was great fun to do and it pleases me that people can be interactive. There is nothing difficult about my work and people get to hear it from me.”

In addition, full transcripts of the artist's audio commentary and interview are provided at the bottom of the screen for web users without audio or speaker facilities.