Here/There
Aus Entropie
Here/There ist das Thema der Digitalen Klasse im Wintersemester 2005/2006.
Inhaltsverzeichnis |
2005 Semester theme: Here/There
The network is everywhere. Most computers connect to it in some way today. But what happens when (other) everyday objects begin to migrate to the same information awareness?
The benefits of networked computing are indisputable (together with the privacy concerns, elevated crime etc.), yet thus far the networked presence has mostly existed through the illumination of the computer screen, be it bolted on the ground or carried in your pocket.
Such devices, however, are specifically made for computation, and their physical "aura" is left with little concern. Contrary to this, we are simultaneously surrounded with "dumb" object, that are still infinitely more emotionally important to us. With computers, it's the backup that matters, not the body.
"here/there" looks at the phenomenon of networkedness through the lense of design. What happens, when physical objects that are crafted to elicit personal attachment, that one lives and ages with, become network aware? What, if anything, can networked intelligence bring to everyday objects of that kind? What does the physical presence mean in the first place?
Introduction
Marshall McLuhan described how bicycle completely changed the concept of one's locality even before the newspaper. How suddenly the everyday circle extended from few kilometres to few tens of kilometres. Through telegraph, TV and finally the internet global is the local. Yet these electronic and digital means often undermine the physicality of the space that real travel embodies.
here/there is meant to examine more critically the physicality of the remote. We are looking at how we can close the gap between remote places with creative design.
Instead of thinking of networked communities, the focus is in the places at both ends of the network connection. Even an ordinary website resides in a physical hard drive in a real place somewhere. Bruce Sterling has talked about "the Internet of Things", contemplating on the future, where objects have digital extensions, accessible and searchable over the net.
Traditionally, research and development in the field has tended to focus on technology (CSCW) or the functionality a device provides (Ubiquitous computing). The object that in habits the real space(s), often is just the container of this functionality with little concern to its own presence.
Projects such as Marcus Kirsch's "Amalgam"[1] and Tobie Kerridge's "Life Event"[2], [3] highlight the importance of the consideration of the real space the network interface augments; the aura.
When building something extending to the network, privacy concerns are implicit. How does the interface manifest itself to the others? Instead of only "leeching", communication is two way. When designing new concepts, how can those be subverted by others? How they might be used by others in unexpected ways?
Prior art
As a first assignment, to be presented on the 1st of November 2005 three groups research into different aspects of the networkedness. The gropus are as follows:
Technology
Jens Wunderling, Jan Lindenberg, Martin Frey, Andre Stubbe, Tino Dobra
Research output: Netzwerk-Technologien
Artprojects
Stephan Albrecht, Felix H. Beck, Edward Müller, Markus Kison, Sascha Pohflepp
Research output: Network Art
Commercial
Ivy Kunze, Richard The, Gunnar Green, Michael Schmitz, Markus Lerner
Research output: Applied Networks bzw. auf Diskussionsseite
Technology resource
Hardware resources
Beyond Logic has a good resource [4] for IP & Ethernet Interfaces, basically embedded hardware that you can connect to the internet.
Tom Igoe's similar summary [5] of possible technolgies and devices to get things networked.
AVRfreaks have a good resource [6] for example code; good, active community from whom you can nab many ideas and bits of sample code specific to the device you're using
The Electronics superstore Quasar-Electronics (UK based) for ATMEL chips and many other niceties [7]
Scatterweb [8] provides a scattered network of embedded sensing devices. The complete firmware and several projects build upon it are open source. Development is up to now done in the C Programming Language, but there are efforts to make it more accessible using .NET, a rule-based programming language or a graphical program editor to run programs.
Software resources
OpenSound Control [9] is a protocol for communication among computers, sound synthesizers, and other multimedia devices that is optimized for modern networking technology and has been used in many application areas.
Participants
universities/schools that are tinkering on the subject.
FU Berlin, Technische Informatik, Kirsten Terfloth [10]
Projects
Detechnologisation
The first assignment of the class was to set the right state of mind to the general theme ahead, and to "techdox", and have a clear focus in the concept development. The documentation of the individual projects will be listed/linked from here soon.
Projects
- The Giant-new-Applekey by Felix H. Beck still no documentation of the detechnologized version. ASAP.
Calendar
Important events and presentations
1 November 2005 Presentation: An existing project in an analog derivative
"Think critically about what digital design is all about, take the essence of the project and try to convey it in 'less technological means'. What's the fluff in the project, and what is the indispensable computation in it?"
Jussi
8 November 2005 Research output: Different aspects of the networkedness
2 - 6 Februar 2006 DigitaleKlasse@Dorkbot
13 Februar 2006 Abschlusspräsentation
