The Browser as a Modular, Networked Video Synthesizer

Explore the concept of using browsers as modular, networked video synthesizers in this JSConf.Asia 2019 conference talk by Olivia Jack. Dive into the world of generative graphics inspired by 1970s analog video synthesizers, where visuals are created by routing, transforming, and recombining multiple sources and outputs in real-time. Learn how WebRTC enables peer-to-peer video sharing, allowing each browser or device to output and receive video streams for modification. Discover how transformations to color, coordinates, and blending are abstracted as separate JavaScript functions, which can be chained and composited to create complex visual patterns. Examine the technical, aesthetic, and collaborative possibilities of treating web apps as interconnected nodes rather than specific sites. Gain insights from Olivia Jack, an independent programmer and artist known for her work with audiovisual installations, interactive visuals for dance performances, cartography, live-coded visuals, and experimental interfaces. Understand the principles behind Hydra, a browser-based platform for networked visuals inspired by analog modular synthesis. Follow the talk's structure, covering topics such as the introduction to Hydra, Satellite Arts, immersive places, WebRTC, analog video synthesis, initial experiments, and feedback loops.