MEDIA ELEMENTS FOR COMPUTER- BASED ARTWORKS 
1.	General
a.	Presentation parameters
b.	Visitor interaction/ participation
c.	Computer environment
2.	Component information
a.	Media
i.	Software
ii.	Content/ assets
b.	Production history
c.	Condition assessment 
3.	Assessment of risks

1.	GENERAL INFORMATION
PRESENTATION PARAMETERS
•	Where is the work sited? 
o	Static gallery installation
o	Constructed environment
o	Existing space such as a lift or staircase
o	Outdoors in a public area
o	Portable 
o	Networked and accessible via the internet
o	Closed network with multiple access / viewing points. Describe where these are located
o	Within a sculpture
o	Other

VISITOR INTERACTION / PARTICIPATION
•	NO? simple playback
o	Does the work have a fixed duration? 
o	Via data projectors or screens

•	Yes? 
o	Multiple or single user?
o	Motion detection
o	Visitor navigation e.g. joystick or mouse
o	Visitor required to input information
o	Via the internet accessed by a computer
o	Via a portable device such as a PDA
o	Via a virtual reality suit
o	Via body suits or motion detection
o	Other (please specify)

STRUCTURE
•	Simple executable file?
•	Web page?
•	System with proprietary devices and coding? 
•	System with custom-built devices with coding?
•	Other (please specify)

COMPUTER ENVIRONMENT
Please describe the computer environment the work has been optimised for.   Please include details of the system, for example:
•	Platform
•	Processor
•	System software
•	RAM
•	Display peripherals. 

2.	COMPONENT INFORMATION
Describe in general terms the elements which make up the work, their role (for example are their archival materials or materials used in the display?) and how they interact. Indicate what came as part of the purchase of the work and what needs to be purchased/made in order to display the work. 
See also the template ‘Installation Specification’.

3.	MEDIA 
SOFTWARE
Give an overview of the original and current software environment and what it does. Please state whether it is pre-loaded and whether you have the licence details and back-up disks. Please include the following details
•	Operating system  
o	Name 
o	Version 
o	Location 

•	Main programme 
o	Name 
o	Version
o	Location
o	Describe whether the programme was written for this work or proprietary. If written for this work describe the environment in which it was written and by whom. 
o	Open source?
o	Open format?
o	Proprietary?
o	Custom?
o	Adapted?

•	Subsidiary software including plug-ins such as media players and drivers for peripheral devices etc
o	Name 
o	Version
o	Location

•	Production History (if proprietary please indicate)
o	Who built the software?
o	Were there any problems? Has it been modified to ‘work better’? If so please describe the modifications
o	Has the software been ‘upgraded’ since the work was first installed – what were the reasons for these ‘upgrades’?
o	What are the dependencies of this software on the other components of the system e.g. Operating system, peripherals etc?
o	What do you think will be most likely to fail as other components change?

•	 Passwords, keys and dongles required?
CONTENT / ASSETS
Many computer programmes draw upon images, sound and video. For the purposes of this project these files are called assets. You may have been provided files used in the making of the work by the artist or their representative or extracted them from the work. 
•	TYPE
o	Video (.avi, .mov, .mp4 etc)
o	Audio (.aiff, .mp3, .wma etc)
o	Images (.gif, .tiff, .jpeg etc)
•	FILE NAMES AND EXTENSIONS
o	Link to the file extension database project
•	LOCATION
o	The assets will be drawn on by the software, describe where they are located within the system/ computer. Also state were you are storing the copies you are saving as part of the archival strategy for the work. 
•	HOW IS THE CONTENT DEPLOYED
o	Describe how and where the assets are used in the programme. 
•	PRODUCTION HISTORY – Please describe the history of the production of the work.  
o	Who was involved in the production of the different components. 
o	If possible describe the software used to create the asset and the version if known. For example audio file recorded with a mini disk, ingested into Garage Band 3.0.4 and exported as an AAC file. 
•	STATUS
o	The assets are usually back-up of content used in the work – either provided by the artist or the gallery or extracted. It may be of a higher resolution that the assets used in the programme.  
•	PROPERTIES
o	Size of the file
o	Sampling rate/bit rate/resolution etc. 
o	Duration if applicable. 

CONDITION ASSESSMENT
•	Artwork fully functioning
•	Artwork unchanged by any changes in technology
•	Properties such as colour, speed etc as intended
•	Vulnerable due to dependencies on outside links or proprietary software, or particular hardware

4.	ASSESSMENT OF RISKS
•	Vulnerable to failure due to dependencies on
o	External links (web environment)
o	Proprietary software
o	Particular hardware
o	Features of hardware which are likely to change
o	Particular versions of software – for example plug-ins
o