Mediamatic.net Blog
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SensorMania
Notes from the e-Fashion day
Interactive fashion needs technology. If we want are clothes to move, sense and light up, then we will need the materials to do this for us. There are a lot of very interesting materials out there, but their engineers may never have considered them as possible fashion fabrics. Mostly their purpose is more industrial- shielding, antibacterial or other such practical things.
a handmade, flexible, sewable and washable microcontroller
Leah Buechley, who designed the sewable version of the Arduino microcontroller, is fascinated with materials, and especially with using them for interactive projects close to her body. She was in Amsterdam for one day, and during that day she presented a circus of some of the cooler sensors and actuators she has been working with lately. Stretch, bend and press sensors, conductive thread, velcro and rubber, and much more.
24.04.08, Nadya Peek | 1 comments | permalink |
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2 april 2008
EL HEMA on the Road
Kosmopolis adopteert El HEMA
De tentoonstelling en winkel EL HEMA reist in 2008 met Kosmopolis door Nederland. Het multimediale platform Kosmopolis maakte vandaag bekend dat zij de El HEMA adopteert. De El HEMA is in mei te zien in Utrecht, in juni en juli in Den Haag en in augustus en september Rotterdam.
EL HEMA is een initiatief van Mediamatic en was van 24 augustus 2007 t/m 6 januari 2008 te zien. De aanleiding voor de denkbeeldige Arabische HEMA waren vijf nieuwe Arabische digitale lettertypen. De tentoonstelling trok ruim 50.000 bezoekers en won de Nederlandse Design Prijs in de categorie Visuele Identiteit. Lees meer over EL HEMA.
El Hema winkel chocolade shoppen
02.04.08, Michel Langendijk | permalink |
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Low-tech & High-brow
images from your kitchen sink
Lo-tech VJing
A painting looks like it has been painted. A photograph looks like it has been photographed. And yet, I am not bothered by an image being so obviously silkscreened. Why is it then, that I am so annoyed at animations that look like Flash, CD-roms that look like Director MX and the latest science fiction box office success looking like it could also be an advertisment for the latest possibilities in After Effects?
Klaas and Arne, electro acoustic visual
Some people create their own aesthetic by creating their own software: Bob Sabiston's A Scanner Darkly or Waking Life are wonderfully unique in their imagery. However, not everyone has the cash for full fletched software development for a visual project. This results in too much motion too constrained by too little software. Animators and VJs have it tough.
Last week at the Mediamatic EcoVis salon, we had the pleasure of 6 pairs of VJs performing simultaneously to our local electro-acoustic improvisation band Oorbeek. These were the results of the 1-day Lo-Tech VJ workshop. None of them looked like Photoshop filters, nor did any of them look alike. They projected onto all the white walls available, on top of the Oorbeek band members, who politely donned white boiler suits to minimize their visual appearance for the occasion.
30.03.08, Nadya Peek | permalink |
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Sorry indeed
Last night we finally watched Wilders own sorry movie.
It used a lot of footage from terror attack by islamist groups. The footage that we've all seen more than enough during the past years. Wilders' 10 minute collection is filthy. He interlaced it with Qur'an quotes suggesting that all these crimes are justified and prescribed by Islam. Of course one could have done the same with the old testament. Boring demagogy that is so transparent that it will hardly convince anyone of anything. Embarrassing indeed. Can we now get back to work please? Thank you.
28.03.08, Willem Velthoven | 1 comments | permalink |
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Fitna the Movie
We’re tired of waiting. So, let’s do it ourselves! Sorry!
There is this not-so-intelligent Dutch politician that attracts attention by doing populist provocations. His name is Wilders. Geert Wilders.He is scared of aliens and especially of muslim aliens. He attracts votes of people that are scared of Islam too. To get more votes, he tries to scare more people. And now he's suggesting to release a movie called “Fitna” that's radically critical towards islam. This hits an open nerve in Dutch media of course. We all remember how our favourite asshole cinematographer Theo was slaughtered like a pig in the street after making “Submission” with Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Only by implication, this artificially blonde embarrassment claims death defying heroism! It is sooo embarrassing to be Dutch some times. I’m sorry.
So here's what we do: We all make our own “Fitna” movies. As many as possible. (see also: Fitna.nu
Why? Well we can't stop Wilders. He has a right to freedom of expression and he is smart enough to stay within the boundaries of Dutch law. Actually, we do not want to stop his movie because we cherish our freedom of expression. Even stupid populist politicians have fundamental rights. Especially they!
We can compete for attention however. And we can produce disinformation. So we are going to make Movies called “Fitna” in which we apologise for Geert Wilders embarrassing behaviour. We will make so many of them that it will be hard to find the movie by Wilders without finding lots of movies apologising for it.
Just to let the world (and ourselves) know that allowing confused people to speak does not mean that we agree with what they say. Sorry.
So if you want to join in; just make your own Fitna movie and put it on line. Put on a blonde wig, look cross eyed and say you’re sorry. Film it with you telephone or camera. Then, publish it on line as many times as you can, Youtube, Hyves, Myspace any place. Call it Fitna by Geert Wilders. Add any statement that you like to. Link to your movie and to other movies you like from your blogs and websites. Sorry!
Let’s smother this Wilders in our apologies. If we work hard enough, no one will be able to find his crap among all the noise we produce. And the world knows how we feel about Wilders and his opportunism....
WE’RE SORRY!
And we’re proud to live in a country where we
17.03.08, Willem Velthoven | 22 comments | permalink |
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A jacket to solve your social awkwardness, a bag to solve your loneliness
An overview of the projects from the Hybrid Wearables Workshop
I do not need my laptop to be merged with my overcoat. I do not want to receive email on a tiny screen mounted on my eyeglasses. I do not have enough attention to distribute to real and virtual life at once. Nevertheless, applications like these are some of the first which come to mind when one mentions wearable computing.
Instead, what if your shirt would hug you every now at then? What if your bag would warn you about forgetting your keys? What if your socks explained how to give a fantastic foot massage?
Wearables by Lucy McRae, and other wearable from Lucy in collaboration with Rachel Wingfield.
At the Hybrid Wearables Workshop, 16 participants led by Jean-Baptiste Labrune and Dana Gordon played ideas to make our clothes help us more. Not a keyboard for sending email from your pocket, but small solutions for everyday problems.
Cuddle Bag
Are you lonely? Would you like a pet to comfort you, but would you like to avoid becoming a cat lady? Anouk Wipprecht, Nick Lesley, David Morgan and Hans-Gunter Lock made a cuddle bag for you- a functional handbag which doubles as a pet. Stroke it and it will purr, its eyes will light up, and it will warm you.
The cuddle bag has been implemented using soft fabric switches which activate the LED eyes, motors which emulate purring and sounds from encapsulated piezo speakers.
The ZONE
Do people stand too close to you at parties? Do you feel uncomfortable at social events? Astrid Lubsen, Dick van Dijk, Chris Karthaus and Bertus Rosier made you a jacket that will blow air at your socially inept assailants, subtly hinting that they should take some distance.
13.03.08, Bas van Rijen | permalink |
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Happy beginning
“I found the gastarbeider of my life! Thank you Mediamatic”
Without drawing too much attention to it, Mediamatic started beta testing its on line dating service as a companion project to the Gastarbeider Dating series of social sculptures. In a few days, hundreds of daters started to make anonymous profiles and exchanging messages with like minded members of the Mediamatic network.
The dating process remains anonymous until the participants choose to disclose their identities. We usually don't know a lot about the goings on, but now we can report a first recorded success! Pierrot le Fou is the romantic pseudonym of a well know artist that stopped dating because he discovered Cat Woman / House Wife. Last night, they could be spotted together at the premiere of Room temperature by Zhana Ivanova and friends. They are a magnificent couple.
Mediamatic offers Pierrot and Cat a complimentary museum night for two. Museum night for two is a — soon to be announced — special arrangement by Mediamatic with an other Amsterdam cultural institution. A couple can be "accidentally" locked into the exhibition at days end. A place to sleep and a bottle of champagne will be made easy to find and the alarm will remain switched off for that night. Absolute discretion guaranteed...
Good luck together you two!
25.02.08, Willem Velthoven | permalink |
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Review
Report DIY Electronic Circuit
8 February 2008
Again a wonderful sunny morning with a clear blue sky and a beautiful view on Amsterdam from the Mediamatic workshop space. But this time there is something in the air - or at least there will be something in the air later that day when each participant of the DIY Electronic Circuits Workshop will have built their own MicroTV transmitter!
And we are on air! By the end of a single workday workshop participants were transmitting with their self made micro tv!
So let's get started: After a short introduction of the workshop guided by Marc Boon, a mediator between art and technology, and Bernardo Gaeiras from the Mediamatic FabLab, everybody had a clearer picture about the exciting new techniques this workshop was dedicated to.
Usually the production of electronic circuits (PCB's) takes a couple of different steps until you have turned a plain copper plate into a filigree network of conductive paths by means of photochemical processes. But especially for a small edition of self-designed circuit layouts this common procedure is often a bit too tedious for quick prototyping or last minute birthday-presents. So why not making use of the enormous precise fab tools that are more and more available in small prototyping facilities for quick and easy "getting things out of the computer into the real world"?
As an example circuit Marc brought the schematic of a micro television transmitter (designed by Tetsuo Kogawa) which can transmit video signals that can be received by a common analog television with an antenna. The first thing to learn was how to design a circuit layout in the free available Eagle software: First decide which parts are needed, place and connect them to a schematic which than can be converted into the proper board layout. If it would be that easy...
But everybody mastered that ch...
11.02.08, Nadya Peek | permalink |
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Review
On the Urban Typography workshop
fabbing communication
Urban Typography: what does your city say to you and what do you say to your city? This workshop encouraged participants to express themselves through words and text in their urban environments through the use of Mediamatic's Fab Lab.
These letters will be used in a stop motion video by one of the participants in a project about Amsterdam Noord.
A piece of paper cut like lace as textural inspiration.
An example from Zwarts en Jansma architects showing how to construct 3D pieces with 2D paper cut by a laser.
Participants are discussing in front of a red mural by one of the inspirational speakers, street artist ZEDZ.
Some laser cut pieces to inspire the participants and get the creative juices flowing.
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Mirthe Blusse spoke about street art and using written word in design for public places.
The Urban Typography workshop took place at Mediamatic over two days. Participants were encouraged to form groups for collaboration. Ideas, inspiration, and brainstorming were the focus of day one, while day two focused on putting ideas in practice on the machinery of the Fab Lab. A Fab Lab is a space where computer controlled machines allow one to build just about anything. The focus of the Urban Typography theme helped reign in the participants to create works using the Fab Lab that shout, scream and engage others using text in an urban environment.
The workshop started out with some engaging presentations by visual artist Mirthe Blusse, street artist and graphic designer ZEDZ, and architect Jack Bakker from Zwarts en Jansma Architects. Participants then were encouraged to brainstorm, share ideas, and form pairs and teams for their projects. Day two was strictly hands-on as the participants put their ideas into practice with the help of Bernardo. Some parti...
30.01.08, Nadya Peek | permalink |
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On line Dating at Mediamatic
Discreet and effective.
Are you looking for a Muse, a Flatmate, a one–night Adventure or a Sponsor? We host a special dating machine for people in the Arts. It's safe, free and open for everyone.
On the right, you see a random selection of dating profiles. Feel free to click around. The most effective way to search them is to make your own profile. The system will then automatically select the best matches for you!
How to get started
Just click on "new dating profile" above and follow the instructions.
You have to be a member of the website to participate. If you are not a member yet, the website will help you to register first when you click the "New dating profile" link. Just give your name and email address. It will not appear in your dating profiles but only on your normal member page.
Is it an art project?
Yes. You're at Mediamatic.
Is it real?
Of course. You're at Mediamatic.
Is it anonymous?
You can use a pseudonym for your dating profile and even have multiple personalities if you wish! However, always remember that the internet is not the best place for keeping secrets:-) Also, if we detect malicious use, we'll find on you.
What are the rules?
Be NICE. For people that are less civilised: Dutch law applies so no threats, spam, slander, kiddie porn, identity theft or other mayhem please. The are more pleasant ways of being naughty.
Will you sell my data?
No.
How do I get in touch with the other daters?
If you have a dating profile, you can leave messages for others. Your real name w...
26.01.08, Willem Velthoven | permalink |
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Solving Social Network Fatigue
Social Network sites open up to applications, but how can we make the network our own again?
A social network site is a website where we share some common interest with other people. That interest can be your personal life (Facebook), your professional career (LinkedIn), your sport, your hobby, or just a single conference (Picnic Network).
All these networks have one thing in common: they are walled gardens, islands that force their users to rediscover their friends and re-explain who they are.
At Mediamatic Lab we are exploring methods to connect all those islands, creating an archipelago where you can travel from island to island.
Joined -
Found in Yunan - Province of China
Social Networks Should be Fun
A common interest is what fuels most sites. It brings people together, it leads to discussions, creativity and close relationships between people. Groups, hobbies, clubs, it is the glue of society. Social networks bring that glue to the internet, make it possible to interact from our homes to interact with the very same people we know from the sport field, that conference or some photo we shared online.
We have more than one interest. We might have more than one career. And we definitely have more than one group of friends. All those groups will most definitely not be present on one single website, and probably will have a multitude of different online places where they meet. The website of the rowing club, the website of a cultural foundation, the website of the family.
Here the problem starts.
Social Networks Are Walled Gardens
Creating and maintaining profiles on social network sites leads to a very real social network fatigue. More and more people simply refuse to become member of yet another o-so-cool website. I am one of those people who refuse to become member, it is just too much. And I definitely do not maintain my profiles.
People not maintaining their profiles is a shame. It makes sites less interesting, and gives less incentive to create an active community around a common interest. And that active community was the goal in the first place.
Establis...
04.12.07, Michel Langendijk |17.12.07, Ino Paap | 2 comments | permalink |
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Persbericht 23 november 2007
Arabische chocoladeletters eindelijk in voorraad bij EL HEMA
El HEMA nu ook 's middags open
Amsterdam 22 november 2007 – Vanaf zaterdag 24 november zijn Arabische chocoladeletters te koop bij El HEMA. De Amsterdamse culturele instelling Mediamatic verkoopt speciaal voor het Sinterklaasfeest het hele Arabische alfabet in melk en puur. Vanwege de aankomende feestdagen, sinterklaas, het offerfeest en kerstmis, is de El HEMA nu ook in de middag open. De openingstijden van de tentoonstelling zijn woensdag t/m zaterdag van 12.00 tot 20.00 uur, en op zondag van 14.00 tot 18.00 uur.
El Hema chocoladeletter puur
Waarschijnlijk zijn dit de eerste Arabische chocoladeletters in Nederland. De afgelopen maanden heeft de Mediamatic de mallen voor de letters in het Fablab, de productieruimte van de EL HEMA gemaakt. Samen met het Amsterdamse bedrijf Chocolateria Jordino worden de chocoladeletters ambachtelijk en in kleine oplage geproduceerd. Een Arabische chocoladeletter kost 7,50.
Een nieuw Arabisch lettertype is gebruikt bij het ontwerp van de verschillende chocoladeletters. Het is een van de nieuwe digitale Arabische lettertypen die deze zomer de aanleiding voor de El HEMA vormden. De El HEMA is een denkbeeldige Arabische Hema. Een tijdelijke winkel waarmee Mediamatic bijzondere uitingen van Nederlandse- en de Arabische cultuur samenbrengt.
De El HEMA is gevestigd op de begane grond (zij-ingang) van het Post CS gebouw, Oosterdokskade 5, 1011 AD Amsterdam.
Informatie over de EL HEMA is te vinden op www.mediamatic.net/elhema---------- einde bericht ------------
Voor informatie over dit bericht kunt u contact opnemen met Michel Langendijk, afd. communicatie van Mediamatic via 020 - 6389901 of direct met Willem Velthoven, directeur van Mediamatic op 06 46078777
22.11.07, Michel Langendijk | permalink |
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Vaat–i–Maatjes publiekslieveling
Hollands en Arabisch op z'n huiselijkst
Tijdens de Museumnacht konden de bezoekers van El HEMA stemmen op de inzendingen van de Ontwerpwedstijd die Mediamatic organiseerde. De vaatwashandschoenen met handbeschildering in Arabiserende stijl verzamelden met grote afstand de meeste stemmen.
Vaat-i-Maatjes votes -
The visitors of El HEMA got a voting sticker at the entrance. They were invited to vote for their favorite design in the show.
Tijdens de museumnacht bezochten meer dan duizend bezoekers El HEMA. Iedereen kreeg een stemsticker bij binnenkomst. Het uitbrengen van de stemmen ging makkelijk en feestelijk. Gewoon plakken op je favoriete ontwerp!
04.11.07, Willem Velthoven | permalink |
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Persbericht 3 november 2007
Schotelsticker wint El HEMA ontwerpwedstrijd 2007
Rene Repko van Hema reikt 1e prijs uit tijdens Museumnacht
Amsterdam 3 november 2007 - De eerste prijs van de El HEMA ontwerpwedstrijd is vanavond uitgereikt aan Studio The White Room voor de Satellite Dish Sticker. De vakjury van Mediamatic bestond uit onder andere René Repko, marketingdirecteur van de HEMA, en Tweede Kamerlid Khadija Arib. De jury gaf 2 tweede prijzen en 9 eervolle vermeldingen. Alle bezoekers van Mediamatic stemden tijdens de Museumnacht voor de El HEMA publieksprijs. Om 02.00 's nachts bleken de Vaat-i-Maatjes de onbetwiste winnaar van de publieksprijs.
Turkish dish sticker 64cm
1e prijs
De Satellite Dish Sticker is een zelfklevende decoratie die de grijze saaiheid van de geveld met schotelantennes op een vrolijke manier doorbreekt. De jury was zeer te spreken over de lucide eenvoud van dit volledig nieuwe product. De schotelsticker is niet alleen voor gebruikers met een Arabische achtergrond maar voor iedereen die graag naar zenders kijkt die niet in het standaardaanbod zitten. Het hinderlijk grauwe blik aan de gevels wordt omgetoverd tot een trots en vrolijk spektakel. Het product is bovendien makkelijk aan te brengen en produceerbaar voor een aantrekkelijke prijs. Zie ook www.schotelsticker.nl
De eerste prijs bestaat uit een geheel verzorgde talenreis naar Damascus van 4 weken. De winnaars schenken de prijs aan Joost Janmaat van de organisatie Partizan Publik.
Twee 2e prijzen en 9 eervolle vermeldingen
Er zijn twee producten die een tweede prijs hebben gekregen: Vaat–i–maatjes van Eva Gonggrijp en het Duizend en één nachtkussen van Nellie Keijzer. De jury was zeer te spreken over het hoge niveau en de diversiteit van de inzendingen en heeft besloten 9 eervolle vermeldingen uit te reiken.
Ontwerpwedstrijd
Onder het motto: de El HEMA is van ons allemaal, kon iedereen aan de ontwerpwedstrijd meedoen. Ruim 100 ontwerpen werden via de website bij Mediamatic ingediend en gepubliceerd. 31 wonderlijke, si...
03.11.07, Michel Langendijk | permalink |
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Persbericht 29 oktober 2007
El HEMA verlengd tot januari 2008
Stemmen voor de El HEMA publieksprijs tijdens Museumnacht
De tentoonstelling El HEMA wordt verlengd t/m 6 januari 2008. De EL HEMA trok tot nu toe bijna 30.000 bezoekers. De El HEMA is geopend op woensdag t/m zaterdag van 12.00 tot 2o.00 uur en op zondag van 14.00 tot 18.00. Tijdens Museumnacht op 3 november stemmen bezoekers voor de El HEMA publieksprijs.
El HEMA winkel
El Hema is een denkbeeldige Arabische Hema. Een tijdelijke winkel die bijzondere uitingen van Nederlandse en de Arabische cultuur samenbrengt. Aanleiding voor de tentoonstelling waren vijf nieuwe digitale Arabische lettertekens maar inmiddels is de EL HEMA uitgegroeid tot een lichtend voorbeeld van culturele integratie. Ook qua design is de El HEMA opgevallen, het project won vorige week de Nederlandse Designprijzen in de categorie 'visuele identiteit'.
Museumnacht en uitreiking EL HEMA designprijs
Aan de El HEMA is ook een ontwerpwedstrijd verbonden. Dertig van de ruim 100 ingediende ideeën zijn genomineerd voor de EL HEMA designprijs. De prijs wordt tijdens Museumnacht door een vakjury uitgereikt.
Tijdens Museumnacht stemmen de bezoekers voor de publieksprijs. Om 01.00 uur wordt de El HEMA publieksprijs uitgereikt. Ook tijdens Museumnacht: gratis henna tattoos, halal rookworst eten, el hema shoppen, buikdansen leren (alleen voor de mannen) en een Arabisch-westerse mix van deejay andre.
De El HEMA is gevestigd op de begane grond van het Post CS gebouw, het gebouw naast de nieuwe openbare bibliotheek, Oosterdokskade 5, 1011 AD Amsterdam.
Informatie over de EL HEMA is te vinden op www.mediamatic.net/elhema-------- Einde bericht -----------
Voor vragen over dit bericht en beeldmateriaal kunt u contact opnemen met Michel Langendijk van Mediamatic op 020 - 638990...
29.10.07, Michel Langendijk | permalink |
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Mediamatic wins Dutch Design Prize 2007 for El HEMA!
Category 'Visual Identity'
This weekend El HEMA got awarded a Dutch Design Prize! Not the audience prize (we were second there) but the prize for "Visual Identity".
Jans Possel and Willem Velthoven went on stage to receive the prize; a china goblet with inscription that is now part of the El HEMA interior. Jort Kelder hosted the event.
The 8 o'clock news was so kind to mention us again and show some video of the exhibit. So that was cool.
20 oktober, El HEMA wint designprijs. Jort Kelder draagt El HEMA hoody. -
Jort Kelder presenteerde de Nederlandse Design Prijzen in Eindhoven op 20 oktober 2007. El Hema won in de categorie 'Visuele Identiteit'.
22.10.07, Michel Langendijk | permalink |
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PICNIC 07 owned by hackers
Mediamatic RFID & Physical Computing Hackers Camp @ Picnic 07
Working long hours with hardly any sleep paid off really well. The projects lived up to the camp’s aim of creating fun and easy to use social RFID applications beyond expectations. During PICNIC the projects were very well received by the visitors, speakers and media and attracted a lot of attention.
happy faces @ iTea
All projects with the exception of the Connection Cushion were finished on time. If we would have had one or two more extra days it could have been done, but within the time span of four days it was unfortunately not feasible. The other projects were up and running at the beginning of PICNIC on Wednesday. Most of the projects had some updates and needed some trouble shooting during the event, but there were no big problems. Having that many projects up and running in a period of four days made everyone very happy and was more than expected beforehand. The group selected by Mediamatic turned out to be productive and very well balanced in expertise. Long hardworking hours were made and we had a lot of fun in the process. All participants had their own projects they were working on, but they helped out at other projects where possible. To end this report of a very successful hackers camp, a youtube movie taken at Pablos Holman’s talk about Implementing Science Fiction. Pablos was so kind to include the projects in his talk on the main stage:
...
28.09.07, Esther Weltevrede | permalink |
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Power naps
Mediamatic RFID & Physical Computing Hackers Camp @ Picnic 07
Sun is rising. It's 7 AM in the morning and we stayed the night over with nine hackers. Most of us gave up sleep one hour ago and decided to work through the night. We hope to realize at least five or six of the projects by morning. Some of us take a quick power nap. To get an impression how hackers live at night, there are some more pictures after the jump...
RFID hacker taking a little nap
26.09.07, Esther Weltevrede | permalink |
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Construction time #3
Mediamatic RFID & Physical Computing Hackers Camp @ Picnic 07
Tomorrow at 9 AM the projects need to be ready for PICNIC 07. It's past midnight and it looks like we're going to be here for a while. We do feel at home at our new location though.
Our new location -
12 hours later
This project is finished! It's the Friend Drink Station, which was on PICNIC 06 as well. The Friend Drink Station gives out free beers! If you connect with someone using your RFID tagged badges, the machine will print out a coupon. The coupon is only valid for free beer when you pick it up at the bar with your new friend.
Although it's not part of the hackers camp, it has RFID and Andy did most of the programming. Similar software is used for other projects such as the Photo Booth and Connection Cushion. This is how it looks from the inside:
The Connection Cushion is almost finished! Nadya did some beautiful stitching. The soft cushion vibrates and produces sound when two people get connected. It only needs to be connected to the database. Johannes is working on that.
26.09.07, Esther Weltevrede | permalink |
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Construction time #2
Mediamatic RFID & Physical Computing Hackers Camp @ Picnic 07
Another day of hard work at the hackers camp. All teams are working to get everything ready on time. Some projects are nearly finished and only need some fine-tuning or final assembling. The Westergaspabriek area is getting much more crowded. We are now at our new location in Zuiveringshal Oost.
Zuiveringshal Oost -
Hackers camp relocated
Jim is working on the badges for Badger. “Badger” is a word play on badges as in buttons, and badge, the mysterious animal. The idea behind Badger is each visitor gets an animal button. The button identifies you as one of the twelve animal types based on the keywords you filled in your profile. The aim is to increase socialization among visitors. You might like to talk to someone similar to you, but you might also like someone with another animal badge.
Mark is working on the code for this project. He has made sure the RFID tagged badges can be read, connect to PICNIC database, generate an animal according to predefined keywords and print it out. The software is completely ready. Only the display of the project on PICNIC needs some work.
The RFID Racket Reader is finished. Mark has been working on some hacker exper...
25.09.07, Esther Weltevrede | permalink |
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Yay! El HEMA nominated for Dutch Design Prizes!
Vote for us if you like El HEMA
We're very proud that we have been nominated for the Dutch Design Prizes. We're also on the shortlist for the Audi(ence) prize. And that's where you, dear reader, come in... You can vote for El HEMA on nederlandsedesignprijzen.nl.
We all <3 El HEMA -
AND WE ARE SO PROUD!
If you go to the website of de Nederlandse Designprijzen, make sure that you check out the other designs too. maybe you'd rather vote for the folding bicycle or the CI of Boymans by Thonik! Anyway you can only vote once by clicking "ik kies dit werk" link at the right side of the page. Thank you for voting:)
25.09.07, Willem Velthoven | permalink |
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Streets of Memory – Roads to Connectivity
EL HEMA Koopavond 12: the Baghdad edition
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4 Oct 07 20:30
Mediamatic | Oosterdokskade 5, Amsterdam (view on map) | T 020 638 9901 | www.mediamatic.net
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Visualisation of Rasheed Street by Nedim Kufi
1 van de weinige kaarten van bagdad
A poetic title for evening about that which our TV screens fail to show us: the streets of Baghdad where apart from carnage and destruction there is life, love, culture, history, memory and present. Obliterated by media narratives from their history, tonight we focus on the personal stories from the streets of Baghdad, brought to you be artists, writers and bloggers.
Nedim Kufi introduces us to his work-in-progress Rasheed Street, wherein a real and imagined street come together, constructed from memory, present, and dream. Cecile Landman (assisted by new media artist and researcher Federico Bonelli) connects us with Iraqi bloggers through the streamtime project, which since 2004 offers a platform for alternative media reports, journalistic accounts and personal blog postings from Iraq. Finally Saleh Faris will close the evening by performing a piece about his beloved Al-Mutanabbistreet in Baghdad, which used to be the literary heart of Baghdad.
Hosted by independent curator Nat Muller
Biographies
Nedim Kufi (IQ/NL)
Is an Iraqi-born Dutch visual artist, working a.o. with
new media and 3D architectural projects. He graduated in
printmaking in Iraq, and then continued to study graphic design
in The Netherlands, where he lives and works as a film maker, animation and web designer. Daftar was established in 2004 a visual Arab-language magazine. Nedim has exhibited widely (inter)nationally in groups show such as the trave...25.09.07, Willem Velthoven | permalink |
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4 Oct 07 20:30
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Construction time!
Mediamatic RFID & Physical Computing Hackers Camp @ Picnic 07
Projects are ready to be prototyped and build. This monday all participants are working individually or with a small number of people on parts of the projects. You might think a “hackers camp” only includes hardware and software hacking and tweaking. Today there was however some old style building going on with hammers and saws. Transforming our hackers into wood hackers.
woodhacking -
Erik: "we're doing some serious wood hacking"
The Photo Booth team had some delays waiting for crucial material to arrive. The time was spend usefully fine-tuning and redesigning their project before the actual build. Measuring the most optimal distance for the camera position in the booth for optimal framing is crucial to know before construction.
PICNIC related conferences are already starting downstairs. This means loud building activities have to be relocated or wait till later in the evening to start building... Timo , Einar and Anne descide to work "on location" and build the Photo Booth up in the entrance hall of PICNIC where their project will be located. While Jørn is programming the backside of Photo Booth in the camp. If anyone was wondering if it was buildable, the Photo Booth is drawed out IKEA-style. Well measured ready made parts, quickly to assemble.
The...
25.09.07, Willem Velthoven | permalink |
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Social experiences with RFID
Mediamatic RFID & Physical Computing Hackers Camp @ Picnic 07
This workshop is technical. It should include RFID. However, the aim of the projects is to make something for people. After some great technical and sometimes geeky first ideas for the projects, in the morning session we looked at the projects individually to see if we can twist the concepts into something more social. Willem Velthoven stresses that the aim is not only to create cool hardware and software gadgets, because the number of geeks that want to know how it actually works is small. Rather, the projects have to be meaningful to the audience on a personal and social level.
Connection Cushion - sketch.jpg -
Connection Cushion - sketch...
Tim Olden from the interaction design collective Blendid is realizing the Connection Cushion. This project uses a mobile RFID reader in a cushion where people can connect on the spot through (a) physical object(s). You can hold your RFID badge on the cushion together with someone you want to be friends with to create a connection in the PICNIC network. Looking at the cushion from a social perspective, it is missing feedback. There is no direct reward. To make this object more social is to transform it from a connection tool to connection experience. Adding feedback in the form of vibration, glowing, lighting, or audio when a friendship is successfully made can turn RFID technology into a pillow experience. The question whether the feedback from the cushion should be subtle or strong has implications for the sociality of the object. Should it remain private? Or should it be visible for the public? Using strong feedback shows that people are connecting to a larger audience which makes it a more public experience. Tim argues the cushion should give subtle feedback. The act of making a friendship is and should be private, while the visibility of the connection on the online PICNIC network is public.
24.09.07, Nadya Peek | permalink |
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