public tech art

I'm finding this a bit late but i really like some of the projects and their potential for further exploration. "Spectropolis Mobile Media, Art and the City is a three-day event (October 1-3, 2004) in Lower Manhattan that highlights the diverse ways artists, technical innovators and activists are using communication technologies to generate urban experiences and public voice. The increasing presence of mobile communication technologies is transforming the ways we live, construct and move through our built environment. The participants of Spectropolis make obvious or play with this shift, creating new urban perceptions and social interactions with cell phones, laptops, wireless internet, PDAs and radio."



The end result produced some interesting experiments with sound as well as combining web-based content / uploading with a physical presence. These included the "umbrella.net" which seeks to capture random moments in time; the "Urballoon" which projects images from on-line information and; the "Bikes Against Bush" which links a laptop, bike and chalkwriter to facilitate non-violent and creative resistance. Sorry if the last image is overtly political for some but i love the idea of combining the growing bicycle movement with politcal angst.