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Xerox unveils living document on Banaras

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DQW Bureau
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Ranjit Makkuni, eminent researcher from the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), Xerox Corporation, US unveiled a living document that showcases futuristic digital document technology and brings alive the sacred geography and intellectual and artistic traditions of Banaras, India's 2,000 year old ancient city of eternal light and knowledge. He also holds the capacity of being the principal investigator and project director for this endeavor.

Titled 'The Crossing: Learning and Transformation in Banaras' this multimedia cultural learning experience was developed at the Xerox Media Labs, New Delhi under the direction of Makkuni, together with India's intellectual and artistic talent.

The living document presents a new paradigm on the relationship of body to technology. It creates a physical/virtual multimedia exhibit in which the learner is physically engulfed in the learning space, taking communication beyond the desktop and mouse. Body responsive, kinesthetic interfaces allow a beautiful, expressive version of the living document experience on

Banaras. 

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A rich suite of knowledge portal reflects Embodied Virtuality to bridge the physical and virtual worlds. New high touch portals include the knowledge-egg, paper-multimedia, wearable computing, as also portals with embodied user interfaces like tilt-based browsing, gestured interfaces and multi level physical and virtual documents.

Speaking on the occasion, Makkuni said, "Besides showcasing futuristic technology, this living document helps preserve

diverse viewpoints of artists, crafts persons, painters, musicians and dancers whose skills often face extinction because of modernization."

The Crossing is a collaborative effort of Xerox PARC and Developing Markets Operations, Xerox Corporation, US, which has funded this project. The physical/virtual multimedia exhibition will travel to different cities in India, as also New York and Europe to allow learners across the world to connect to a fascinating living culture.

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