[Nettime-nl] Scrapyard Challenge workshop

[Asta Kat <asta@virtueelplatform.nl>]

(English version below)
(apologies for cross posting)


SCRAPYARD CHALLENGE


Datum: 22 juni 2006

Tijdstip: 9.30 - 17.30

Lokatie: Steim, Achtergracht 19, Amsterdam 
(http://www.steim.org/steim/contact.html)

Kosten: 100 euro / 25 euro (studenten)


Aanmelden: stuur een e-mail met je CV en korte bio naar 
info@virtueelplatform.nl


Een kussen als afstandsbediening voor je home cinema set, of je 
knuffelbeest als light switch, of een jurk die muziek maakt….


Meer en meer tools zijn op het internet beschikbaar voor een grote groep 
mensen om hun eigen media te maken en te publiceren. Iedereen heeft 
tegenwoordig zijn eigen blog, en het uploaden van video’s is in een 
handomdraai gedaan. Binnen het domein van de fysieke objecten, producten 
en electronische apparaten liggen tal van mogelijkheden om consumenten 
zelf hun aapassingen te laten maken. De Scrapyard Challenge laat het 
gemak zien waarop technologie kan worden hergebruikt en toegeeigend. In 
deze workshop gaat het niet alleen om aan den lijfe te ondervinden wat 
het zelf sleutelen aan electronica betekent, maar ook om na te denken 
over het ontwerpen van open systemen, platforms en tools die de 
gebruiker in staat stellen het gebruik ervan naar hun hand te zetten. 
Hacken en de DIY cultuur vormen daarvoor belangrijke inspiratie bronnen.


De workshop

De Scrapyard Challenge Workshop is een intensieve workshop van een dag 
waarbij deelnemers simpele controllers maken van gevonden en weggegooide 
materialen, zoals oude electronica, meubels, gedateerde computer 
componenten, electrische apparaten, draaitafels, monitoren, gadgets en 
kleding. Ieder ontworpen en gebouwd object wordt verbonden aan een MIDI 
output device dat ofwel visuals, ofwel audio genereert, afhankelijk van 
de bedoeling van de maker. Als vingeroefening wordt de wordshop gestart 
met het bouwen van simpele ‘drawbots’, ofwel tekenrobots. Aan het einde 
van de dag geven de deelnemers een kleine performance of demonstratie 
waarin zij hun creaties bespelen.


Gezamelijke open werkruimte

Tijdens de Scrapyard Challenge Workshop wordt een gezamenlijke open 
ruimte gecreëerd waar creatieve ideëen ontstaan en hands-on prototyping 
plaatsvindt. Deelnemers worden uitgedaagd om in één dag simpele 
controllers te bouwen van gevonden en afgekeurde materialen.

Met hands-on prototyping wordt een idee of concept omgezet in een 
werkend model waarmee scenario’s voor mogelijk gebruik getest kunnen 
worden. Het is een methode die meer en meer ingezet wordt in ontwerp 
processen om feedback van de gebruikers in het ontwikkelingsproces te 
integreren, maar het kan ook gebruikt worden als instrument om creatieve 
processen in gang te zetten.


De deelnemers

We zijn op zoek naar een interdisciplinaire mix van vormgevers, 
productontwerpers, musici, performers, ontwikkelaars en mensen op andere 
manieren betrokken bij creatieve processen. De workshop brengt 
deelnemers van verschillende achtergronden en verschillende kennis 
niveaus samen. Voor deze workshop is geen uitgebreide kennis of ervaring 
van/met electronica of technologie vereist.


Voor meer info over de Scrapyard Challenge:

_http://www.scrapyardchallenge.com/media_


De begeleiders

Katherine Moriwaki is an artist and researcher investigating clothing 
and accessories as the active conduit through which people create 
network relationships in public space. After receiving her Masters 
degree from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York 
University's Tisch School of the Arts, Katherine co-developed and taught 
the ground-breaking collaboration studio "Fashionable Technology" at 
Parson's School of Design. Currently she is a Ph.D. Candidate in the 
Networks and Telecommunications Research Group at Trinity College Dublin.

_http://www.kakirine.com_ <http://www.kakirine.com/>


Jonah Brucker-Cohen is a researcher, artist, Ph.D. candidate, and HEA 
MMRP fellow in the Disruptive Design Team of the Networking and 
Telecommunications Research Group <http://ntrg.cs.tcd.ie/> (NTRG), 
Trinity College Dublin. He was also a Research Fellow in the Human 
Connectedness Group <http://www.medialabeurope.org/hc> at Media Lab 
Europe. He received a Masters from the Interactive Telecommunications 
Program <http://www.itp.nyu.edu/> at NYU and was an Interval Research 
Fellow there creating interactive networked projects. His work and 
thesis focuses on the theme of "Deconstructing Networks" which includes 
projects that attempt to critically challenge and subvert accepted 
perceptions of network interaction and experience.

_http://www.coin-operated.com/_


www.virtueelplatform.nl/scrapyardchallenge 
<http://www.leonardo.nl/components/com_leonardo/FCKeditor/editor/LEONARDO_LINK_START1OX90b97lyaOAjOlg1140Guw8bjMNv773fYSdyydp7w3A4n8c26aysusCIpiLEONARDO_LINK_END>

www.virtueelplatform.nl/scrapyardresearch 
<http://www.leonardo.nl/components/com_leonardo/FCKeditor/editor/LEONARDO_LINK_STARTc59BbT4oiT4HauY41g48SO31LrksTVq7fxGdidVG2gXbMj180y42vLSyq6EeLEONARDO_LINK_END>


SCRAPYARD RESEARCH


An evening with Jonah Brucker-Cohen and Katherine Moriwaki.

Date: 21 juni 2006

Time: 20:30 uur

Location: Dutch Media Art Institute (Nederlands Instituut voor 
Mediakunst) Keizersgracht 264, Amsterdam 
(http://www.montevideo.nl/en/index.html)


Virtueel Platform has invited New York-based artists Jonah Brucker-Cohen 
and Katherine Moriwaki to perform one of their famous Scrapyard 
Challenge workshops in Amsterdam. Both will be finishing their PhD 
research this year at the Networking and Telecommunications Research 
Group (NTRG), Trinity College Dublin. On the eve of the workshop there 
will be an opportunity to hear about the projects that have played a key 
role in their research.


Deconstructing Networks

Jonah Brucker-Cohen will discuss his work on the theme of 
‘Deconstructing Networks’ in both physical and online instantiations. He 
will present projects that attempt to critically challenge and subvert 
accepted perceptions of network interaction and experience, from 
software manipulation and rule-based systems to translating virtual 
processes and conventions into the physical world. These projects 
include BumpList, an email community for the determined, Alerting 
Infrastructure!, a website hit counter that destroys a building, 
PoliceState a fleet of radio controlled police cars whose movements are 
dictated by keywords sniffed on a local network, and SimpleTEXT a 
performance that is controlled by participants through texting messages 
from their mobile phones.

Projects and work: http://www.coin-operated.com/projects

Blog: http://www.coin-operated.com <http://www.coin-operated.com/>


Socially Fashioned Networks

Katherine Moriwaki will discuss her work on "socially fashioned" 
networks, utilizing a combination of wearable technologies, varying 
degrees of network infrastructure, and social behaviour for deployment 
and propagation. Unlike fixed networks, spontaneous ad-hoc networks rely 
upon mobile and flexible infrastructure that can dynamically reconfigure 
based on necessity and circumstance. As these communication devices are 
integrated into intimate personal objects, such as accessories and 
clothing, the statement that "the people are the network" becomes 
increasingly resonant. This presentation focuses on the projects 
"RECOIL", "Inside/Outside", "Oscillating Windows" and "Umbrella.net." 
These serve as examples of "socially fashioned" networks.

Projects and Work: http://www.kakirine.com



SCRAPYARD CHALLENGE


Date: 22 June 2006

Time: 9.30 am - 5.30 pm

Location, STEIM, Achtergracht 19, Amsterdam (www.steim.org)

Fee: 100 Euro, student discount fee 25 Euro


How to apply: send an email with your CV and short bio to: 
_info@virtueelplatform.nl_ <mailto:info@virtueelplatform.nl>


Create a remote control cushion for your home cinema set, a cuddly toy 
light switch, or a dress that plays music….


There are more and more tools widely available that allow us to make and 
publish our own media. These days all kinds of people have their own 
blog, and upload videos at the push of a button. The next step is that 
consumers modify physical objects, products and electronic devices. 
Scrapyard Challenge opens up this world and shows how easy it is to 
re-use technology and make it serve a new purpose. Participants in the 
workshop will not only experience what it’s like to tinker with 
electronics, but be encouraged to think about the design of open 
systems, platforms and tools that allow the user to put these to a new 
use. Hacking and DIY culture are two of the key sources of inspiration.


The workshop

The Scrapyard Challenge Workshop is an intensive, one-day workshop in 
which the participants will make simple controllers using reclaimed, 
defunct materials such as old electronic equipment, furniture, old 
computer components, electric appliances, turntables, monitors, gadgets 
and clothing. Each of the objects designed during the workshop will be 
linked to a MIDI output device that is able to generate audio or visual 
material, depending on what the participant would like to build. As a 
warm-up exercise the workshop will kick off with everyone building 
simple ‘drawbots’. At the end of the day the participants will give a 
short performance or demonstration, playing their new creations to the 
rest of the group.


Open and collaborative workspace

The Scrapyard Challenge Workshops are built on the premise of 
encouraging an open and collaborative space for creative ideas and 
hands-on prototyping. Workshop attendees learn how to build simple 
instruments from found and/or discarded objects. We encourage attendance 
from visitors from multiple backgrounds and all skill levels.

Hands-on prototyping involves taking an idea or concept and turning it 
into a working model, using it to test scenarios for its possible use. 
This method is increasingly being employed in design processes to 
integrate user feedback in the development process, but it can also be 
used as a tool for supporting creative processes.


Participants

We are looking for an interdisciplinary mix of designers, product 
designers, musicians, performers, developers and people involved in 
various other ways in creative processes. The workshop brings together 
participants from a variety of backgrounds and fields of knowledge. 
Participants do not need to have a wide knowledge of or experience with 
electronics or technology.

For more info on the Scrapyard Challenge:

_http://www.scrapyardchallenge.com/media_


Speakers/support team

Katherine Moriwaki is an artist and researcher investigating clothing 
and accessories as the active conduit through which people create 
network relationships in public space. After receiving her Masters 
degree from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York 
University's Tisch School of the Arts, Katherine co-developed and taught 
the ground-breaking collaboration studio "Fashionable Technology" at 
Parson's School of Design. Currently she is a Ph.D. Candidate in the 
Networks and Telecommunications Research Group at Trinity College Dublin.

_http://www.kakirine.com_ <http://www.kakirine.com/>


Jonah Brucker-Cohen is a researcher, artist, Ph.D. candidate, and HEA 
MMRP fellow in the Disruptive Design Team of the Networking and 
Telecommunications Research Group <http://ntrg.cs.tcd.ie/> (NTRG), 
Trinity College Dublin. He was also a Research Fellow in the Human 
Connectedness Group <http://www.medialabeurope.org/hc> at Media Lab 
Europe. He received a Masters from the Interactive Telecommunications 
Program <http://www.itp.nyu.edu/> at NYU and was an Interval Research 
Fellow there creating interactive networked projects. His work and 
thesis focuses on the theme of "Deconstructing Networks" which includes 
projects that attempt to critically challenge and subvert accepted 
perceptions of network interaction and experience.

_http://www.coin-operated.com/_


www.virtueelplatform.nl/scrapyardchallenge 
<http://www.leonardo.nl/components/com_leonardo/FCKeditor/editor/LEONARDO_LINK_START1OX90b97lyaOAjOlg1140Guw8bjMNv773fYSdyydp7w3A4n8c26aysusCIpiLEONARDO_LINK_END>

<http://www.leonardo.nl/components/com_leonardo/FCKeditor/editor/LEONARDO_LINK_START1OX90b97lyaOAjOlg1140Guw8bjMNv773fYSdyydp7w3A4n8c26aysusCIpiLEONARDO_LINK_END>www.virtueelplatform.nl/scrapyardresearch 
<http://www.leonardo.nl/components/com_leonardo/FCKeditor/editor/LEONARDO_LINK_STARTc59BbT4oiT4HauY41g48SO31LrksTVq7fxGdidVG2gXbMj180y42vLSyq6EeLEONARDO_LINK_END>

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