NATO.0+55+3d was a software application for realtime video and graphics, released by 0f0003 Maschinenkunst and the Netochka Nezvanova collective in 1999 for the classic Mac OS operating system. Being one of the earliest applications to allow realtime video manipulation and display, it was used by artists for a large variety of purposes, prominently for live performance, VJing and interactive installation.

Design

Running in the framework of Max (a visual programming interface for rapid prototyping and developing of audio software), NATO.0+55+3d extended Max by allowing to access and manipulate all the media types that QuickTime supports (films, images, 3D models, QuickTime VR, etc.). The functionalities included image generation, image processing, control over MIDI and numerical data, integration with Internet, 3D, text and sound.

History

At the time of its release (the summer of 1999 ), NATO.0+55+3d was in demand as it appeared several years before other similar infrastructures such as GEM and Jitter (released by the makers of Max/MSP in October 2002). Earlier software such as Image/ine developed in 1997 at STEIM was drawing in a similar direction, but the fact that NATO.0+55+3d was operating inside the Max/MSP framework, using its "visual programming" protocol, provided at the same time greater ease of use and more flexibility, allowing the user to create their own applications and tools. It gained popularity among video artists and performers, who were using it for a large variety of purposes, prominently for live performance and interactive installation. The last version of NATO.0+55+3d modular was released in November 2000, while additional NATO objects were developed until June 2001.

Version history

Applications

Artists used the software to "manipulate video for live performance and installations" (Mieszkowski 2002). The flexibility of the interface provided artists with "a uniquely suitable environment for the creation of new synesthesiac applications and experiences" (Meta 2001) and "opened up tremendous possibillities for working with realtime video" (Gilje 2005). As NATO was distributed with a software development kit, several artists and programmers created third party extensions (e.g. the PeRColate and Auvi object libraries), or developed entire applications based on NATO.

NATO.0+55 pilots

Some of the most prominent users of NATO.0+55:

Workshops

Significant workshops centered on the use of NATO.0+55+3d were held from 2000 through 2002 at many art institutions and festivals:

Workshops held in 2000

Workshops held in 2001

Workshops held in 2002