CITYCLUSTER is a virtual-reality networking matrix, a high-tech container with original technological features, navigation, interactivity and graphic and content style. In which multiple environments, ambiences or cities both real and imagined, can be hosted, coexist and be interrelated within themselves through a common, virtual territory, interconnected by high-speed network, enabling remote participants to interact and collaborate in shared environments.

The framework may be expanded, modified, enriched, developed, and produced ad hoc in accordance with the nature and typology of the environment to be incorporated. The system has been designed to produce an integrated computing facility and to implement a creative high-tech container in which multiple environments may coexist and be interconnected within a common, virtual territory. City Cluster can be adapted to a number of diverse cities or virtual environments.

Press Release CityCluster - ARS Festival 2003
Press Release CityCluster Project

The implementation of City Cluster has given rise to a range of technological challenges. Ygdrasil, the software utilized for developing the project, has been upgraded and enhanced to address these issues.

For the first part of the project two Virtual Reality environments we recreated: Florence, the "Renaissance Age”, Chicago, the " Gigabits Networking Age". Each virtual environment is inhabited and guided by a group of avatars: David, Venus, and Machiavelli are the Renaissance-Age avatars. Mega, Giga and Picasso are the Gigabits Networking-Age avatars.

One of the most intense interactive experiences that the visitor can have is to exchange objects and buildings from one city to the other in real time over the Net.. Buildings may be moved to recreate a new city comprising elements and vital parts of Chicago and Florence. Ygdrasil, the software utilized for developing the project, has been upgraded and enhanced to address these feature.

A virtual-reality networking interface display, a VR-pathfinder called Meta-Net-Page was designed and implemented for City Cluster. This "view panel" will serve as the main interactivity tool for the user. Able to detect information, images, and details that are invisible zones or intangible realities for the naked eye.