Tag Archives: Communication

Project Hyperessay

Project Hyperessay #2

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Thus, the project is centered around navigating the physical world using the virtual world. The theory that both worlds cannot be present with any individual simultaneously is evident here. So there needs to be a constant flow that links the physical world to the 3rd space to illustrate this theory and the dependency on virtual tools by individuals like ourselves.

Hence, the technical realization has been constructed based on the past experiments, consultations with Randal Parker and of course, brainstorming. For the past 2 weeks, I have been trying out different recording techniques to capture the process of my navigation. The first being the voice recording of my process and my feeling, verbally, in one phone while navigating with Google Maps using the other.

The limitations were the visuals and the noise of the surroundings. Hence for the 2nd experimentation, I will be explored the navigation in an unknown route at night. The reason was to reduce noise that would be a form of distraction to me. The overall experience was more focused and there were less disruptions to my path.

However, after showing Randal, we realized that there is no connection or link to the physical world. It was so glued to the Google Maps that we are not able to relate to the surroundings or a see the difference. I had to re-focus on the core objective. The objective of the project in short, was initially to weigh the dependency of virtual tools in our own physical world; to illustrate how the virtual world has taken over the role of the physical world. Hence with comparison to my objective, the direction of my experiments only covered the virtual aspect.

Slide1

After brainstorming with Randal, we decided since this had a psychological issue tagged that makes it impossible for any individual to be present in both worlds simultaneously, I needed to show the physical world’s disconnection to the present when I am emerged in the physical world. With the advice of Randal, I decided to metaphorize this using the direction and the angle of the camera angle.

Slide2

Thus, the main component is Google Map and Skype. Hence, I will be using two phones; one for Google Maps and the other for streaming the recording of the Google Map navigation via Skype. I will be Skype to Randal who will then webcast it via Wirecast Pro. The camera angles will not be fixated to the Google Maps app. There will be constant view of my feet and through body transitional views, re-route back to Google Maps in intervals. Hence, this will be live streamed via Skype and to WireCast Pro for youtube uploading. The location will be somewhere far enough for me to reach back to school in 10 mins. However, to spice things up, I decided that I would add a narrative element to this final project. I would put myself in a situation where I am late and I have to reach class in 10 minutes time. This adds the narrative position where the natural panic mode no longer trusts the self but rather trusts the technology. I will strike an analogy, through the documentation of myself navigating, of how individuals in the panic state and urgency will be dependent on the Google Map app to get them to their location in the fastest route. This will further link back back on our disconnection with the physical world once we are emerged in the virtual world. The only factor that I have not considered is the interaction of the viewers in my project. Perhaps, there might be a way, where people could interact with me to help me route the fastest path or to feedback to me.

 

 

Internet Art & Culture, Micro-Project

Micro-Project: Pirate Broadcasting II

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My second broadcast for this week. Its still about Singapore and I think I will continue to broadcast Singapore for the weeks to come.

I think the overall experience minus the stares and smiles at times, was smooth. The idea of having to speak whatever you want and to telecast it live wherever and whenever, makes me feel like a reporter – the person who scans her or his grounds to feed their audiences with juicy information.

I think it has transformed how we view television cause its no longer vetted along the line. Its our freedom of expression and we don’t have to be biased based on government’s goal or objective but just on our own. I think narrating a perspective on my own creates self confidence for myself and perhaps for my viewer, especially when we have the common interest.

But only wish I had more views!

Periscope

Internet Art & Culture, Research

Research Critique: Bold3RRR by Jon Cates

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So after pestering my friend to watch this render by Jon Cates with me, she came up with a conclusion just past 15 minutes. The conclusion was simple: it was were weird and she couldn’t understand how this was art. She had more questions to laid out to me about this video in the next 5 minutes than a SAT exam. She was clueless and I could understand why.

Basically, this video is about Jon Cates who decides to sit infront of his desktop and do what he does, perhaps, everyday. But the difference is that he would be be doing in in front of a audience and it would have effects of  what we call ‘white noise’ in between. To some, it would be painful experience if you are not used to hearing it over 5 minutes. The remixing and blending would sound gross and mucky. It definitely is far from the conventional methods of what we would interpret as a well documented everyday life perspective.

However, let’s not underestimate what is being done here. Sitting in front of his desktop and showing us glimpses of what he is doing on his computer is definitely not the main content. The content is the linkage to it being live. If we think about this, how many of us are able to do live remixing, blending or any one of the techniques that he is doing as we stream it live? Live streaming with different techniques is not easy when we start to do it ourselves. On one hand, we need to make the techniques work while on the other hand we need to make sense of these techniques.

So I have explained what makes it different. There’s more to this that makes it notable. Today when we Skype with someone on the computer, we see the picture and sound clearly yet we are complaining about the delay ( because of speed) and the resolution blah blah blah. Actually we are seeing the perfect image yet its not perfect for us. But if we really dig into the process behind this, we realize that through the networks that we are connected and linked, we are actually getting good images and are even secured. In actual fact, the structure of the network is so complex that every bit of an image gets spilt and travels to different points around the world and gets back its destination in one piece. That is so complex yet it seems like with technological advancement, we don’t seem to appreciate this.

So when I look at Cate’s live project, it reminds me of the completeness and greed of technology. The people who tend to complain for more are mostly the people who have never experienced less. Remember loading a picture with dial up?  More over, we used to have lots of glitches and life was still fine and I think that’s what Cates is trying to mainly bring out.

The white noise is one of the factors that we constantly hear together with the distortion of image. To us, these glitches are problems but they will constantly be present – just in a different form. And that form is something that Cates uses to his advantage to make it an art and convey what I supposedly think is his motive – imperfection creates the perfection in you ( the reflection ).

“Chicago has been a hub for the glitch art movement for years, even before glitch art became a term. Electronic and noise music, the punk rock scene, as well as improv jazz circles, all helped influence the artistic subgenre. The spirit of sharing digital media and the network of DIY art galleries in Chicago also played a part… Influential glitch artists have emerged from Chicago and onto the international scene. One of them, Jon Cates, coined the term Chicago Dirty New Media, a catch-all term that describes how digital tech can elevate an experience. Even if a glitch artist doesn’t physically hail from the Windy City, she might attribute her style to Chicago’s Dirty New Media.” – Inside The Bizarre Phenomenon Known As “Glitch Art” – Tina Amirtha (2014)

This piece reminds of another art installation that I came across 2 semesters back while doing a communication module at NTU. IT was called Memoir by Andrea Kleine and collaborated with Bobby Previte.

The difference is that this is a live performance to re-enact an old performance the actors did that was recorded on tape 10 years back( it was quite old scenes that were re-enacted) but the re-enactment was scripted but was done by recalling their memories from that performance.

Both these performances ( Jon Cates and Andrea Kleine) touch on the topic of communication through isolation. Nothing is constant and things are also changing ( the beauty of live networked streaming). Remote communication here is the essence towards networked live streaming.

Hence, to sum up my long review, this installation has so many elements to explore. Communication through isolation, glitch art etc. So much so that I had to rumble at times to make my point seem comprehensive ( Sorry about that) . I didn’t like it at first but when it started having loops, I realized that there was more to it than what we see. Perhaps, when I have time, I will be able to write a more structured and well organized essay on this. Its worth my time!