The document presents research from the Yoichi Ochiai Laboratory at the University of Tsukuba on their vision of "Digital Nature", which transforms audio-visual media from 2D pixels on flat screens to 3D "pixies" in haptic environments, the production of material existence, the shape of human presence, and human-computer relationships. The ecosystem of Digital Nature will involve interdisciplinary computational projects spanning multimedia systems, graphics, HCI research, fabrication, robotics, art, architecture, materials science, and biology. Examples of artwork and research achievements from their Digital Nature projects are exhibited.

1. U n i v e r s i t y o f Ts u k u b a , Yo i c h i O c h i a i L a b r a t o r y
Digital Naturesuper-n ature d efi n ed b y c om putational r e sources
To prese nt th e vi s i o n of a post-pixel m ultimedia ecosystem after the ubiquitous
soc iety , w e have c ondu ct ed the r e sear ch towards our vision called Digital Nature,
an altern ati ve pers pe ctive of nature , hum anity, and computational environment.
The ecos ys tem of Digi tal Nature transform s the audio-visual methods from the
p i x e l s i n 2 D f l a t - s c r e e n t o w a r d s t h e p i x i e s i n 3 D h a p t i c e n v i r o n m e n t s , t h e
producti on proc es s o f mate r ial e x iste nce, the shape of human presence, and
human-co mp u ter re lati on ship.W e belie ve the ecosystem of Digital Nature will be
desc ribe d as th e i nte r dis ciplinary com putational projects on multimedia systems,
grap hics , HC I res earc h, f abrication, robotics, art, architecture, materials science
an d biol ogy . Here we e x hibit m ixture s of our artwork and research achievements
on t he Di gi tal N atu re pro je cts.

2. Pixels towards Pixies:
Release data from material existence
and Remains Material Properties
U n i v e r s i t y o f Ts u k u b a , Yo i c h i O c h i a i L a b r a t o r y
Pixels Pixies

3. Designed Hidden Layers
Magical Experience

4. Material
Mechanics and Audio/
Visual/Haptic
Human
Computation
Display
Computational
Design Method
Design the hidden layers
toward the Enchantment
human factors

5. Material
Human
ComputationDisplay

6. Human
Haptic Structures
Visual Structures
Audible Structures
Forming & Manipulating
Matters
Field Generators
Light, Acoustic, Magnetic,
Electric, Aerodynamic…
Designing Loops
Light / Acoustic
illustration by Dr. Hiromi Nakamura
Light / Acoustic
with object
Acoustic
computer

7. U n i v e r s i t y o f Ts u k u b a , Yo i c h i O c h i a i L a b r a t o r y
Digital Naturesuper-n ature d efi n ed b y c om putational r e sources
To prese nt th e vi s i o n of a post-pixel m ultimedia ecosystem after the ubiquitous
soc iety , w e have c ondu ct ed the r e sear ch towards our vision called Digital Nature,
an altern ati ve pers pe ctive of nature , hum anity, and computational environment.
The ecos ys tem of Digi tal Nature transform s the audio-visual methods from the
p i x e l s i n 2 D f l a t - s c r e e n t o w a r d s t h e p i x i e s i n 3 D h a p t i c e n v i r o n m e n t s , t h e
producti on proc es s o f mate r ial e x iste nce, the shape of human presence, and
human-co mp u ter re lati on ship.W e belie ve the ecosystem of Digital Nature will be
desc ribe d as th e i nte r dis ciplinary com putational projects on multimedia systems,
grap hics , HC I res earc h, f abrication, robotics, art, architecture, materials science
an d biol ogy . Here we e x hibit m ixture s of our artwork and research achievements
on t he Di gi tal N atu re pro je cts.