November 30, 2006
Retired
sLop (the blog you are reading) is retiring..
The archives should stay up indefinitely though so feel free to continue linking in if you like..
In the coming weeks, I should have something new up. Please stay tuned.
Posted by vanevery at 11:49 AM | TrackBack
June 14, 2006
wallco jr. opening at Serimony
events at serimony
wallco jr. opening at Serimony:
Posted by vanevery at 07:50 PM | TrackBack
May 23, 2006
Big Games Festival in NYC
Come Out
From the site:
The Come Out & Play Festival is a street games fesitval dedicated to exploring new styles of games and play.
Will be held in New York City September 22-24.
Cool.. Can't wait to play the games!
Posted by vanevery at 12:21 PM | TrackBack
May 19, 2006
Cool Hunting at the ITP Show
Cool Hunting Video: ITP Spring Show 2006
For those of you wondering what I do all day every day, check out this video of the ITP Spring Show from Cool Hunting. Very nicely produced!
Posted by vanevery at 11:16 AM | TrackBack
May 16, 2006
Quick Beyond Broadcast write-up in Wired
Wired News: Brave New World for Public Media
Posted by vanevery at 12:28 PM | TrackBack
April 19, 2006
Vloggercon 2006
Vloggercon
VLOGGERCON 2006 is the intersection between media-makers and technology. A space for dialog and interaction. Of creation and collaboration. A media village born on the internet, and making camp for one weekend in San Francisco.
Coming up quick!
Posted by vanevery at 02:46 AM | TrackBack
ITP End of Year Events - Thesis Presentations and End of Semester Show
ITP Spring Show 2006
A two day exhibition of interactive sight, sound and physical objects from the student artists of ITP.
This event is free and open to the public. No need to RSVP.
ITP Thesis Presentations 2006
ITP's graduating students will be presenting a wide variety of highly creative and interactive projects that they have constructed over the course of their final project seminars.
Students have been encouraged to undertake projects that bring together the conceptual and design issues that they have engaged in during their two years of study at ITP.
Projects will include installation based work, digital video and audio pieces, interactive 3D, games and educational applications, to name only a few.
ITP will be providing a live webcast of all the thesis presentations.
Posted by vanevery at 02:41 AM | TrackBack
April 07, 2006
Beyond Broadcast: Reinventing Public Media in a Participatory Culture
Beyond Broadcast, May 12-13 2006 — Beyond Broadcast 2006: Reinventing Public Media in a Participatory Culture Archive
Beyond Broadcast, a conference being put on at the Berkman Center is coming up in a bit more than a month. The conference second day will be a second convening of the Open Media Developers Summit and is shaping up nicely.
Please feel free to visit the blog and wiki, attend and participate.
From the blog:
You are invited to an open convening at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. We will explore the thesis that traditional public media — public broadcasting, cable access television, etc — face a unique opportunity to embrace new participatory web-based media models — podcasting, video blogs, social software, etc — and create a stronger and more vital public service.
Posted by vanevery at 10:13 AM | TrackBack
March 23, 2006
'The Fourth Screen' Mobile Media Festival
The4thScreen.com :: global mobile media festival
This festival looks very interesting. They are pushing people to think about the phone in a different way, not just as a television that is carried in your pocket as it seems the providers are pushing for:
'The Fourth Screen' Global Mobile Media Festival will focus on the mobile phone as an emerging social, cultural and technological phenomenon.
We invite artists, technologists, and other creative thinkers to submit creations, inventions and concepts in two categories:
1/ moving images: videos made with mobile phone, movies, animation and games intended for mobile delivery
2/ wise technologies: software art, software and hardware that proposes new uses for mobile multimedia communication, applications that have positive cultural, social and economic impact in diverse cultures
Posted by vanevery at 01:17 PM | TrackBack
January 30, 2006
Tech Art January Roundup
artnet Magazine - Technical Knock-outs
Dorkbot, "Superlowrez" at vertexList and "Dewanatron" at Pierogi.
From the article:
For the show, vertexList brought aboard eight artists, among them the stalwarts of the Brooklyn art scene: Joe Amrhein, Brian Conley, Matt Freedman, Kristin Lucas, Jillian Mcdonald, Joe McKay, Akiko Sakaizumi and Jude Tallichet. All of them agreed to work with the same gadget for the project, a custom-built box of 12 x 14 electronic light-up "pixels." Since this dimension is calculated to be just under the pixel-content of the normal computer cursor, the format is extremely constraining (additionally, each box has a chip that can hold just 1,984 "frames" of information.)
Posted by vanevery at 11:03 AM | TrackBack
January 17, 2006
CES Wrap-up
Two weeks ago, I attended the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. Here is a quick write-up regarding it:
CES, the Consumer Electronics Show was a very interesting and overwhelming event. First of all, it is by far the largest event that I have ever been to. The numbers were 150,000 plus attendees and 2500 plus vendors (booths).
As the show title indicates, it is very consumer electronics orientated. This means, home theater audio and video, in car systems, mobile phones, portable music players and video players, digital cameras and video cameras and video game systems were there in a big way. While my interests and technology applicable to my work cross all of these areas, the sheer size and number of similar items makes it very difficult to find the best of the best. Fortunately, CES in general and these areas are well covered by the media and in reviews by other bloggers as well as by awards given out at the show. Therefore, I decided that it wasn't worth my time at this type of event to focus on them. If you are interested, CNet has good coverage online at: http://www.cnet.com/4520-11405_1-6398208-1.html and from CES itself lists the award winners: http://www.cesweb.org/attendees/awards/innovations/default.asp
I, on the other hand was determined to find devices that enable the types of things that my research focuses on. Specifically, I went with the intention of looking at video capture devices that enable streaming as well as remote control capabilities, set top boxes that have open interfaces to allow for the development of software that runs on them, tablet computers, remote controls and phones that fit the bill to be used as a prototype platform for development of my various projects.
With these tasks in mind I shied away from the areas of the conference that dealt with in car and home theater systems (mostly audio and large screens) and started off by going to the small out of the way booths. Fortunately, this tactic paid off almost immediately. I discovered (actually I think I may have rediscovered) a device called the Pepper Pad: http://www.pepper.com/ which is essentially a tablet PC running linux crossed with a universal remote control. It fits all of the requirements for developing a prototype for one of my projects and exceeds the capabilities (and suitability to the task at hand) of the devices that I have been using. The Pepper Pad does have a couple of drawbacks. First of all is the cost; it is in excess of $800.00, far too much for wide adoption. Second is the size; it is just a bit too large for my prototype purposes.
These drawbacks are more than made up by the devices capabilities. Also promising is the fact that I made contact with and had a good conversation with the lead technical individual at the company that makes it.
Finding the Pepper Pad was the most useful thing to happen for me at CES but a couple thoughts and notes are worth putting down as well.
1: Convergence, that nasty word from the mid 90's has finally arrived. Fortunately, it is being done better this time. No more are the dreams of a super device that does everything. Rather, the CE industry is starting to make devices that can talk to each other and share content. Handheld devices that can get content from set top boxes and media centers that can pull up photos and music from PCs are everywhere.
Unfortunately the CE people don't quite know what the internet is good for yet. They have realized the potential of the internet as a distribution medium but have not realized that it needs to be open. In my opinion, there is no reason to use the internet for distribution unless it is open (both on the consumption side and publishing side). They are still treating the internet as a cable network when they should just be using a cable network.
2: Yahoo, Google and Microsoft were at the show in a big way (I don't mean sq. feet). This is interesting because they are not CE companies and don't really have CE products yet they hold the mind share and rightfully so. They get with the CE companies don't get (about the internet).
Microsoft's Media Center platform is actually pretty nice and does offer the things that I would like everyone to offer (an open platform with API's).
Google understands standards and wants interoperability. See the Google Keynote.
Yahoo is the only company there that really showed an aptitude for mixing social behavior and media. I saw prototypes of Yahoo content on a TV platform that almost encouraged social behavior (in the standard Yahoo way).
3: Still, nobody understands that the TV is not the place for interactive content. People are still trying to shoehorn the internet onto TV. It will have some limited success but in the end, it will never live up to what can be done on a PC.
Last here is a list of things that I saw with quick notes that I thought interesting enough to take a further look at. I haven't had the time to dig yet but I wanted to get them down.
DX5 Digital Camera - Clone of Xacti ?
Microsoft TV IPTV Edition
Playstation 3 - Blueray - Interactive Java Games supported by Blueray spec
SCH-B360 Samsung compact satellite mobile tv phone - dmb - evdo - tv out
DLNA - nokia support
GE Solar Cam
Panasonic 3CCD SD Camcorder SDR S190 or S100
Excercise by playing video games = very itp like - game runner
Ant - iptv platform - not really sure what level - javascript interactivity
Philips remote control honoree 2006 innovations - TSU3500 or SRU9600
ACE LHD Professional Media Server http://www.acedigitalhome.com/
Lifetouch by exceptional innovation
JVC G Series HDD camera http://www.jvc.com/presentations/everio_g/
SD PDA Camera SDC-001A (for palm and pocket pc)
Lego mindstorms nxt
VEX Robotics Design System
Akimbo = not open
Creative Webcam Live Wireless
Yahoo mirror display - in bathroom computing
Yahoo mobile
Walkview handsfree = sports dv camera
Opcom chipcam camera modules
Viiv = upnp = dlna?
Universal remotes with breakout box for devices (basically IR blaster)
Samsung sports camcorder - mpeg4 asp (dumb)
Samsung cameras ptz - see data sheets
Wisecomm wireless camera
Dlink wireless g optical zoom ptz camera
Xavix baseball golf and so on (physical interaction)
Creative Zencast = serious magic = vision
Nokia modeo
Leadtek H.264 based Triple-Play Set-Top Box
Other news:
Google video launched a pay download service
Tivo series 3 - HD and Digital broadcast tuners coming soon.
TiVo Desktop 2.3 Beta: featuring automatic transfers and support for Apple® video iPod™ and Sony PSP™ (Playstation® Portable).
Posted by vanevery at 01:01 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 15, 2006
NYC Grassroots Media Coalition Conference - February 11
Posted by vanevery at 06:13 PM | TrackBack
stay free, article roundup
Stay Free! Daily: This Month in New York City Critical Mass OR How Much Does It Cost the City to Run One of Those Police Copters All Night? - Story of what Critical Mass has become. Bikers vs. Police. Messed up!
Stay Free! Daily: Sucking on the tit of McDonald's - McD's, marketing to kids? I wouldn't say that this image is evidence but there is no doubt.
Stay Free! Daily: Hiking through Manhattan - The highline!
Stay Free! Daily: Radio Free Clear Channel - Clear Channel doing pirate radio. Quick someone get the FCC on them.
Stay Free! Daily: How did Mad Hot Ballroom survive the copyright cartel? - I have always had issue with this. You can video tape a public space with visual private property in that space, but you can not have the sounds of that space if it includes music. Documentaries are greatly suffering because of this.
Posted by vanevery at 01:58 PM | TrackBack
December 09, 2005
Future of Television Conference
Beyond TV: TVSpy.com Next Generation TV
So, I went to the Future of Television conference a couple of weeks ago and was somewhat suprised. Last year, I poked my head in to see what was being discussed and it was a big snooze. After checking out the website, I figured it was worth my time this year so I went.
Wow.. I was surprised. You wouldn't know it but there are people in TV who really "get it"... Larry Kramer from CBS most notably get's it.
Here is what I had to say on the day of:
I am writing from Future of Television Conference at NYU's Stern School of Business today. I am here for several reasons, first of all I would like to know what the networks and traditional media concerns think of the scrappy interactive folks. Second, I am here doing recon. Specifically, I would like to know how long video bloggers and other decentralized media creators have before traditional media begins to offer enough of what they are doing to satiate "consumers". (Perhaps that is not exactly my fear but close enough for now.)
First of all, I have to say that Larry Kramer gets it. He really does. He is open to experimentation. At CBS he has launched many interactive initiatives from a broadband news channel to podcasts of daytime soaps to fantasy sports sites to deep entertainment content add-ons to viewer/user photo posting to writer and producer blogs to actual audience participation through SMS. Phew..
CBS isn't the only media company doing this type of experimentation. The other networks, cable and broadcast are doing the same or similar. Notable is ABC News Now, ESPN, Playboy and the like.
The question is, whether or not this is enough. Will this engage and empower viewers enough to keep them despite the ever growing number of alternative content channels. The networks certainly know how to deliver programming to a passive audience. They are just beginning to support a more engaged and digitally connected viewer.
A later speaker in the day, IBM's Saul Berman described the audience by categorizing them in 3 camps. "Massive passives", the folks that CBS has always served, lean back, over 35, want to be entertained but don't feel compelled to buy the latest gadget or create their own media.
The next camp, arguably the focus of most of these efforts he described as "Gadgetiers". He describes this group as heavily involved in content, they are fans, will seek out other individuals who are interested in the same content they are. They will purchase the latest devices, use time shifting (TiVo) and will space shift (TiVo To Go). They are also the heavy buyers, the early adopters, in short, the people that the advertizers (and therefore the networks) covet.
It remains to be seen whether what the networks are starting to do will appeal to this group in the long run. In the short term, it is clear, if you put it out there they will come. How long they stay is another matter.
The last camp, the "Kool kids", the ones really getting all of the attention, are the hardest to understand. He suggests that this is the group that rejects DRM and "walled gardens", in short, the group that wants media on their own terms. This is the group that uses P2P software and is heavily social. They have dream devices that aren't out in the market as of yet.
I know that the kks (short for "Kool kids") are what have network executives up at night. They are the hackers and inventors who are really driving the internet. TV and media in general will fit into their game or be disregarded.
Ok.. So the big question at the end of the day? Will the cable and TV networks run scared and do everything possible to protect their business models or will they embrace the new like they must. My feeling after this conference is that they have learned something from the music industry and will try to embrace but there will still be a major shakeup and Yahoo! and Google just might become the "new" networks. Good or bad.
Posted by vanevery at 09:31 PM | TrackBack
November 04, 2005
OMDS Article
TECTONIC: How will you consume your open media?
Michael Sharon has written a nice article summarizing the Open Media Developers Summit.
From the article:
Two weeks ago, on a rainy Friday and Saturday in October, 65 programmers and developers debated these and many other questions at the first Open Media Developer's Summit held at New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) in down-town Manhattan.
Posted by vanevery at 12:41 PM | TrackBack
April 24, 2005
NYU ITP Spring Show, Thesis Week, Performances and Screenings
ITP Spring Show 2005
All of the events are worthwhile but be sure not to miss the show:
Tuesday, May 10th, 5 - 9pm
Wednesday, May 11th, 5 - 9pm
ITP - 721 Broadway, 4th Floor
An exhibition of innovative student work including multimedia installations, physical computing and interaction design, sound and video design projects. All projects on display at ITP.
Posted by vanevery at 11:01 PM | TrackBack
January 07, 2005
VLOGGERCON IS ON
Posted by vanevery at 07:22 PM | TrackBack
December 08, 2004
Art Mobs
Art Mobs
Opens tonight.. Cool, I thought I missed it already. They are pulling together some fun social and emerging technologies, Text Messaging, PodCasting and more.
From the site:
Guests are invited to share their experience of student artworks by text messaging on their mobile phones. View the work while reading the most recent 4 text messages left by others—then leave your own message for the next guests. Guests may also download podcasts of interviews with several of the artists about their works. View the work while listening to the podcast on your iPod or other mp3 player
Posted by vanevery at 03:24 AM | TrackBack
December 06, 2004
ITP Winter Show 2004
ITP Winter Show 2004
Sunday, December 19 from 2 to 6pm
Monday, December 20 from 5 to 9pm
A two-day explosion of interactive sight, sound and technology from the student artists and innovators at ITP.
An oversized Greenwich Village loft houses the computer labs, rotating exhibitions, and production workshops that are ITP -- the Interactive Telecommunications Program. Founded in 1979 as the first graduate education program in alternative media, ITP has grown into a living community of technologists, theorists, engineers, designers, and artists uniquely dedicated to pushing the boundaries of interactivity in the real and digital worlds. A hands-on approach to experimentation, production and risk-taking make this hi-tech fun house a creative home not only to its 230 students, but also to an extended network of the technology industry's most daring and prolific practitioners.
Interactive Telecommunications Program
Tisch School of the Arts
New York University
721 Broadway, 4th Floor South
New York NY 10003
Take the left elevators to the 4th Floor
This event is free and open to the public
No need to RSVP
For questions: 212-998-1880
email: itp.inquiries@nyu.edu
http://itp.nyu.edu/show
Posted by vanevery at 06:29 PM | TrackBack
October 21, 2004
Cell phone film fest
Posted by vanevery at 09:36 AM | TrackBack
September 10, 2004
Ask The Robot: RNC (Robot Nautical Convention)
Robot Nautical Convention
On Monday, Pursue the Pulse is putting on another Ask The Robot! I will be there showing mGen and Alan will be there too. Come check it out.
Posted by vanevery at 04:19 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 31, 2004
Wearables conference
ISWC '04
Colocated with IEEE and ACM International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality
From the site:
ISWC 2004, the eighth annual IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers, will bring together researchers, product vendors, fashion designers, textile manufacturers, users, and all other interested parties to share information and advances in wearable computing. We invite you to attend ISWC 2004 and submit to one or more of the following categories: papers, posters, demonstrations, tutorials, and exhibits.
Posted by vanevery at 06:53 PM | TrackBack
Engadget reviews some ITP work
Engadget visits NYU's ITP Spring Show - Engadget - www.engadget.com
Posted by vanevery at 06:25 PM | TrackBack
future physical
Future Physical
Looks to be a British art group that commissions performances, research and events that stretch the boundaries between the physical and real.
Posted by vanevery at 11:24 AM | TrackBack
April 01, 2004
The Experimental Gameplay Workshop
The Experimental Gameplay Workshop
From the site:
The Experimental Gameplay Workshop is a forum for the demonstration and discussion of innovative game designs. It provides a place for designers to showcase challenging, unproven work, and discuss it with peers.
By explicitly acknowledging the existence of a community of experimental game designers, the workshop helps legitimize gameplay-oriented research and development.
A related festival is The Independent Games Festival at http://www.igf.com/
Thanks Josh
Posted by vanevery at 01:07 AM | TrackBack
February 05, 2004
New York Event Listings
Posted by vanevery at 03:08 AM
February 04, 2004
A festival bringing together media, art and politics
next 5 minutes :: festival of tactical media
Next 5 Minutes is a festival that brings together media, art and politics.
Next 5 Minutes revolves around the notion of tactical media, the fusion of art, politics and media. The festival is organised irregularly, when the urgency is felt to bring a new edition of the festival together.
Posted by vanevery at 09:13 AM
NYC Grassroots Media Conference
Autonomedia
From the listing:
New York City will become the epicenter of the media democracy movement this February, when hundreds of journalists, scholars, artists, and organizers gather to discuss how to strengthen and expand the city's vibrant network of independent media.
The NYC Grassroots Media Conference, which will be held February 27-29 at New School University, will feature over 40 workshops and panels conducted by more than 40 local organizations on topics ranging from video production to puppet-making; from how to start your own record label to practical ways that community media can help fight environmental racism. The goals of the weekend-long event are to promote awareness of the independent media in the city, to strengthen and unify the cityís independent media community, and to create strong bonds among community groups and local media makers.
Posted by vanevery at 07:09 AM
February 03, 2004
Flea at MIT
http://mit.edu/w1gsl/Public/flyer
I hear it is THE place to find all kindsa crazy hardware and electronics from bygone days..
Posted by vanevery at 01:03 AM
The Expo is coming, the expo is coming!
International Artexpo 2004
International Artexpo is an art show like no other. It offers unmatched opportunities to network, discover new talent and close deals. Whether you’re an art dealer or retail gallery owner interested in new editions, an art publisher looking to discover new artists or an architect, corporate art buyer or interior designer, International Artexpo promises to deliver unsurpassed opportunities to buy and sell art. Consumers are welcome to explore and buy artwork on the final three days of the show.
Posted by vanevery at 12:36 AM
February 01, 2004
Sideshow - Todd
Todd Robbins Carnival Knowledge
From the site:
Todd Robbins, whom New York Magazine calls "a performer of dazzling skill," parts the curtains of the secret world of the carnival sideshow in his amazing new stage production, "Carnival Knowledge."
One of the last practitioners of a quintessentially American art form, Todd Robbins brings us face to face with an oddly beautiful mixture of real-life human marvels and classic carnival magic. TheaterMania.com calls the spectacle "infectious, informative and colorful." The New York Post promises, "this is theater at its most visceral!"
Posted by vanevery at 04:36 PM
January 03, 2004
Nice Panoramic Photo of Time Square on New Years Eve
Posted by vanevery at 12:14 AM
November 05, 2003
SEAL's Burning Man Decompression Party
New York Burning Man Decompression 2003 | BOUNDLESS
Posted by vanevery at 11:16 AM
November 04, 2003
Interesting NYC based arts organization supporting emerging technologies
Eyebeam is a not-for-profit new media arts organization established to provide access, education, and support for students, artists, and the general public in the field of art and technology.
Posted by vanevery at 01:35 AM
October 24, 2003
Progressive Magazine, Events, Video and Art
Posted by vanevery at 07:33 PM
October 18, 2003
The institute for craziness, right here in Brooklyn
The Madagascar Institute (Fear Is Never Boring)
The institute does all kindsa crazy things from giving stilting workshop, holding condiment wars in DUMBO (which was insane) to who knows what else..
Posted by vanevery at 12:02 AM
October 15, 2003
Wired News
News and articles concerning just about everything I care about.. Hard to imagine the world without Wired.
Posted by vanevery at 12:40 PM
October 11, 2003
Great Art/Technology/Media Space/Gallery
From the site:
MANIFESTO :: Our Artistic Mission
Location One: Catalyst for Content and Convergence
This is our credo:
1. First, the Internet will be about content,
not just serve as a conduit for it. The nature of the technology changes content%u2014not just access and distribution%u2014with implications across the full range of artistic expression and subject matter.
2. Second, Location One is about convergence.
We are bringing together creativity along the two standards that have governed the history of human expression: the axis of expressive discipline and the axis of available technology.
3. Third, Location One is a catalyst.
We select talent, stimulate interaction, supply resources, and provide real and virtual forums. We enable things both cool and consequential to happen. New media transform artistic expression. Conventional barriers of time and distance are erased. With them depart a myriad of social, political and cultural distinctions. Access, distribution, participation become universal (and affordable).
4. Creative alternatives proliferate.
Posted by vanevery at 02:28 PM
Remote Lounge
Controllable Video Cameras, VJ's and Booze.. What a combination!
Posted by vanevery at 02:24 PM
Can NYC make sense?
From the site:
What is Nonsense NYC?
Nonsense NYC is a discriminating resource for independent art, weird events, strange happenings, unique parties, and senseless culture in New York City.
What does that mean?
We send out an email every Thursday night about unique events occurring the following week.
Posted by vanevery at 01:04 AM
September 22, 2003
Sonic Vision at Hayden Planetarium..
Posted by vanevery at 01:19 AM
September 21, 2003
Cell Phone Walking Tour of LES
Talking Street‚Ñ¢ - Discover Where You Are
Posted by vanevery at 01:05 AM
September 19, 2003
NYCLU Event
New York City Bill of Rights Defense Campaign : : WELCOME
Posted by vanevery at 10:58 AM
Wearable's Conference (White Plains)
Posted by vanevery at 10:58 AM