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Mediatopia @ ISEA 2008

I just got an invite to contribute work or media of sorts to Carlos Rosas, Leanna Rosas, and Robert Dansby’s project Mediatopia,that will be presented at this years International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA).  Here’s just a quick blurb on what Mediatopia is:

Mediatopia seeks to expand upon the concepts of production and distribution as participants contribute discrete media from a variety of readily available sources, recognizing advances in technology, software and social networking strategies that have arisen in recent years. The Mediatopia project will be able to function as an international mashup/remix of broadcast media and simultaneously as a database and interface of freely accessible sound/video materials that transcends time, location, cultural and geographical borders without emphasis on market driven outcome.

The final piece will result in a 24 hour long remix at the Gallery Theatre at the National Museum of Singapore.  I am not sure if I will have time to produce new work to contribute to the project.  However, I have been tossing around a few ideas lately so it is a possibility.  Either way Mediatopia look out for it.

The Neighborhood Network Watch @ 2008 ITP Spring Show

Once again I was able to perform as the Neighborhood Network Watch’s Emissary to the Department of Homeland Security at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program’s biannual show. This time I was presenting on a specific component of The Neighborhood Network Watch, that being the Home Network Awareness Program (HNAP).

I got a chance to talk to a lot of people, have some lengthy discussions as well scare a few people off. There were a few highlights throughout the show. One was getting a chance to talk with the main person at NYU’s International Students office that was urging that I begin pitching the software, the NNWKAA, to smaller universities that don’t have stringent cross checking methods. Specifically methods for checking whether a student maybe associated with terrorist organizations. Another was an individual from the NYC housing department who was so delighted that such a program was currently operating, a tad scary. We had a great group of children drop by who were really interested and signed up for the email list as well as being able to ask some pretty sophisticated questions. A reporter from Wired also came by who had experienced last year’s performance. He told me he was left wondering whether it was real or not and it prompted him to research the group and eventually was able to find out that it was indeed a simulation. However, his editor did not want to write an article after it was found out not to be real. Oh well.

We also had some new items for people to take with this time, new pamphlets and stickers. The documentation from the show is in the process of being assembled so look out for a new PSA that should be coming in a month or two. You can view some pictures from the show here. All in all the two days at the show went well.

Thesis Presentation: The Neighborhood Network Watch

On May 9, 2008, I presented The Neighborhood Network Watch as my thesis publicly in front of ITP faculty, guests from the public, my peers and those who were watching the web stream.

Just prior to presenting my thesis I was informed by Red Burns, the chair of my department, that there had been complaints coming in from the public about my project. In fact many of which were demanding that NYU step in to shut it down and that they were severely compromising their reputation by allowing such a thesis to be undertaken. The ITP department collectively responded to these emails, backing me completely.

In reality after it was a bit flattering to have caused a stir all the way up to the dean and provost at Tisch. As well as that it has engaged people and has taken them out of their comfort zones to respond.

The thesis presentation went by very fast even though it was a full twenty minutes. I did not present in character as many people were wondering if I would or not. I opted not to so I could talk in more depth about the theoretical background, my influences and to really layout the full scope of what The Neighborhood Network Watch is. The presentation went well it seems overall. You can view it in its entirety here.