Community
25
Oct
Collective Soundscapes
- By admin
An interactive web-based application that allows you to mix user generated audio samples recorded in New York City. In this urban environment we are hyperstimulated by many sounds. These sounds are often interpreted as noise and we adapt to this through creating filters that push these sounds further from our conscious.
At the same time these, many of these sounds are what define our city life and the urban environment. How can we reclaim these sounds and gain a better understanding of how to interpret them?
If we record the soundscape, we can then begin to create a vocabulary that describes the sounds we capture. Though the power of user generated content, we can begin to catalog these sounds and create deeper connections between signifier and the signified.
25
Oct
Windowfarms
- By admin
Community web development for Windowfarms, an open source hardware system that promotes and educates urban agriculture and sustainability. Using various google APIs, web tools are quickly prototyped and implemented to serve the R&DIY community that supports the Windowfarms project. Tools include a educational sponsorship program registration and pledging as well as a custom online instructional site that supports user translation into other languages. I work as part of the Windowfarms core team in other faculties such as publicity and exhibition installation as well.
24
Oct
API for the World
- By admin
API for the world is a physical device that can turn anything with a power cord into a networked object. It’s part of an effort to fill the gap between “smart” and low-tech devices. You can use an online dashboard to create unique profiles for different objects in your house and connect them to a variety of web services. It was created by a team of ITP students at NYU’s TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon. Other team members included Karla Calderon, Cameron Cundiff, Chika Iijima, Rune Madsen, Sofy Yuditskaya, and Shahar Zaks.
“API for the world was my top favorite. I think that’s a sellable product and it is damn awesome.” – Judge Cyan Banister
15
Apr
Online Chessboard
- By admin
photo by Tom Igoe
This wifi connected chessboard allows you to play against others around the world who are connected via another chessboard or a web game interface. Each board contains a unique ID that is registered with a username created by the owner of the board. They can then request to connect to other users via SMS or telephone interface.
Opponents moves are indicated on the board through the illumination of the spaces. The board also warns of illegal moves through simple light patterns. Beyond normal two person game play, the board has other features such as playing against the computer and learning mode. A key element to the board was to maintain the traditional aesthetic and manner of gameplay while allowing the ability to transcend physical space. This board also becomes more interesting when left in a public space such as a cafe where user can casually play with anonymous opponents, creating interesting social relationships.
04
Nov
Juncture LA
- By admin
Juncture is a participatory, public space, media environment about historical memory, cultural identity, and collective recognition in Los Angeles. The core content component of the environment is the Remapping-LA interpretive media database, containing thousands of historical images, videos, and sounds enriched by layers of metadata including temporal and geographical information, descriptive texts, and extensive tagging. Junction is a collaboration between REMAP/UCLA, California State Parks, Walt Disney Imagineering, and CENS/UCLA. Contributions included conceptualizing the interface mock-ups, participating in creative development, and producing online and print content.
14
Jun
Monumento 872
- By admin
What began as a simple end of the year party ended in a culmination of art, music, community, history, technology, and last but not least—tacos. UCLA’s TFT course in Interactive Multimedia teamed with REMAP to explore the history of Los Angeles through the integration of cutting edge Nokia N83 mobile devises and Cisco Systems WiFi grid. We used these devices to map Los Angeles in innovative ways using GPS and REMAP’s massive image database.
Monumento 872 was, at it’s core, a way of sharing these “maps” with the community. Though the collaborative conception of our class, this event was born. We could not have made it happen without the support of the REMAP team, especially Vids Samanta and Jeff Burke. Vids was the key programmer who developed the Python software for the Nokia Devices. They were loaded with a “GPS medal detector” application. When you came in proximity of a defined GPS location, your device would be fed a “hidden treasure” in the form of historical information and images about the location you were at.
The event was a huge success with a turnout of over 1000 people of various sub-cultures from across Los Angeles. It took place a Chiperaki and the adjacent historical park just north of Chinatown. The event include various music artists performing in the park, a mixed media art show, taco truck, and the interactive devices.