PROCESSOS INVESTIGATIVOS NA ARTE CONTEMPORÂNEA - Locative Media 4

Style Story

October 13, 2005 - Volume XIII, Issue 41
IT documentary

IN one of the largest mass arrests in New York's history, 264 people were taken into custody at a monthly bicycle demonstrations on August 27, 2004. Although the participants on the Critical Mass ride did not, they say, commit an illegal act, clashes between police and the participants were featured on news broadcasts of the mainstream media.

Still We Ride, an action-packed documentary about the August 27 ride, is being shown at the Central European University as part of a two-day conference on how universal access to digital technology and global communications networks changes the spread of information. The potential of "hypertagging" is another project shown in the framework of the conference. Hypertagging means that, with the help of a mobile phone, people can retrieve information about objects which emit built-in infrared signals. A commercial use of the technology is already in place in 20 London cinemas, with billboards telling moviegoers where to download music, trailers or stills from the movie, find the nearest cinema or call up the online box office. The third exhibited project raises questions about self-imposed peer-topeer surveillance called Locative Media (Loca).

Loca observes people's movements by tracking the position of the Bluetooth enabled devices they carry. How people respond to being observed by others, and how they observe others are some of the issues raised by Drew Hemment, the man responsible for the project. In addition to the exhibitions, the conference, which is open to all, will examine how easy access to information will affect society: will it make society more open and democratic, or will it lead to commercialization, digital surveillance and a growing degree of state regulation? The English language conference discusses these issues in eight intriguing topics, including: how cultural protest groups can deliver their message through global networks and what is the critical mass they need to reach; how the physical structure of cities will be shaped by invisible mobile and WiFi networks; how a democratic political system can make use of new media; how peer-to-peer networks will effect the economy, with special regards to free downloading; and, finally, the state's say in regulation.



INFORMATION

RE: Activism

October 14-15

CEU

Pest, District V, Nádor u. 9.

www.re-activism.net