# carrier (becoming symborg)

> creative work by Damien Everett, Melinda Rackham

**Wikidata**: [Q132197983](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132197983)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/carrier-becoming-symborg

## Summary
Carrier (becoming symborg) is a 1999 electronic literature work created by Damien Everett and Melinda Rackham that combines interactive storytelling with Virtual Reality Modeling Language through Adobe Shockwave technology. The work exists simultaneously as a web-based application and an optical disc, positioning it at the intersection of literature, software, and interactive media.

## Key Facts
- Publication date: 1999
- Authors: Damien Everett and Melinda Rackham
- Genre: Electronic literature
- Technical requirements: Uses Adobe Shockwave software engine and Virtual Reality Modeling Language
- Distribution formats: Web page and optical disc
- Classification: Creative work, web page, application, and video game
- ELMCIP ID: 1340
- Programming language: Q2005

## FAQs
### Q: What is carrier (becoming symborg)?
A: Carrier (becoming symborg) is an electronic literature work from 1999 by Damien Everett and Melinda Rackham that combines interactive elements with storytelling. It's accessible through a web browser interface or optical disc format.

### Q: When was carrier (becoming symborg) published?
A: Carrier (becoming symborg) was published in 1999, placing it among the early works of electronic literature and interactive digital storytelling.

### Q: What technology was used to create carrier (becoming symborg)?
A: The work was built using Adobe Shockwave as the software engine and Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) for its interactive elements and three-dimensional environments.

### Q: How can I access carrier (becoming symborg)?
A: The work is distributed as both a web page and an optical disc format, making it accessible through web browsers or via physical media from that era.

### Q: What is the ELMCIP ID for carrier (becoming symborg)?
A: Carrier (becoming symborg) has been cataloged with ELMCIP ID 1340, an identifier in the Electronic Literature as a Model of Creativity and Innovation in Practice database.

## Why It Matters
Carrier (becoming symborg) represents an early experiment in blending narrative with interactive digital environments during a pivotal period in electronic literature development. As a work that exists simultaneously as literature, application, and video game, it exemplifies the interdisciplinary nature of digital creative expression at the turn of the millennium. The work demonstrates how authors began to push the boundaries of traditional storytelling by incorporating technology that allowed readers to become active participants in the narrative experience. Its preservation in both web and physical formats also documents an important transition in how digital art was distributed and consumed, contributing to our understanding of the evolution of electronic literature and interactive media.

## Notable For
- Pioneering use of Virtual Reality Modeling Language in narrative contexts during the early web era
- Being cataloged as both electronic literature and video game, demonstrating the blurring boundaries between these forms
- Its availability in both web and physical distribution formats, documenting early digital distribution methods
- Its inclusion in the ELMCIP (Electronic Literature as a Model of Creativity and Innovation in Practice) scholarly archive

## Body
### Creation and Publication
Carrier (becoming symborg) was created by Damien Everett and Melinda Rackham and published in 1999. This places the work within the formative period of electronic literature, when authors were first experimenting with the potential of digital media for storytelling and artistic expression.

### Technical Implementation
The work utilizes Adobe Shockwave as its primary software engine and employs Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) for creating interactive three-dimensional environments. These technologies were cutting-edge at the time of publication and allowed for greater interactivity than many contemporary web-based works.

### Format and Distribution
Carrier (becoming symborg) is distributed in two distinct formats: as a web page accessible through standard browsers and as an optical disc. This dual distribution strategy reflects the transitional period in digital media when both online and physical formats were viable methods for distributing interactive works.

### Classification and Context
The work has been classified as multiple entities: it is considered a creative work, specifically electronic literature; a web page application; and a video game. This multifaceted classification highlights how the work operates across different media categories, blurring traditional boundaries between literature, software, and games.

### Digital Preservation
The work has been preserved in the Electronic Literature as a Model of Creativity and Innovation in Practice (ELMCIP) database with ID 1340. This cataloging recognizes its significance in the history of electronic literature and ensures its preservation for future study and appreciation.