Midterm Review

Notes from my review and thoughts from our guest critics: “Dumb objects” are objects in and of themselves Connected vs. plugged in Started of my presentation was about the poetry of objects but ended up in a place about gadgetry Answering machines idea is not as emotional as the alarm clock I ended up in ...

Neomaterialism talk with Noam Yuran

This week I attended a lecture given by Noam Yuran, a research fellow at Tel Aviv University and professor of political economy at Ben-Gurion University. The talk was moderated by Joshua Simon, who is a curator, filmmakers, and writer.   Event description from the invitation: “Over the last four decades we have witnessed processes of ...

Howard Odum’s Ecological Modeling

Howard Odum's Ecological Modeling
Adam Curtis’ documentary series “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace” mentioned the work of Howard Odum.  Odum was an ecologist who is known for making analogies between ecosystems and electrical, mechanical, acoustical, magnetic and electronic systems.   I’m interested in the analogy Odum made between ecosystems and Ohm’s law. Odum set up analogies between ...

Carnivorous Domestic Entertainment Robots

Carnivorous Domestic Entertainment Robots
These five objects are common domestic furniture or machines. They are designed to be powered by microbial fuel cells. They trap insects or small rodents that are found in the house and convert them into energy that can be used to run the device. Mouse Trap Coffee Table (fueled by mice that go after crumbs) ...

Answering Machine Hack

I’m brainstorming ways to alter a digital answering machine so that it can either be used to engage with more modern technologies, or perform some new function that is valuable/interesting/relevant. Ideas so far: Integrate Siri Make it reply to my voicemail for me Make it alert me when I have a voicemail on my cell ...

Troika– “Electroprobe”

Troika–
Interesting project by Troika that allows visitors to listen to the electromagnetic noises that come from common household electronics. Items are organized into groups based on their electromagnetic audio output. Viewers use a magnetic microphone/headphone set to listen to the “music.” More details on the Troika website ›

Flow

This is a project that embodies a lot of the things I’ve been researching: mechanical energy, low-tech materials, environmental sensing, and online data aggregation. Here’s a description from the website: “~Flow, by Owl Project and Ed Carter, was a tidemill – a floating building on the River Tyne that generated its own power using a ...

Cassette Tape Adapter Hack

Cassette Tape Adapter Hack
A cassette tape adapter is a way to retrofit new(er) technology such as CDs and MP3s to work with old technology (a tape deck). Simply plug the headphone jack of the adapter into any device that accepts it and one can play music through the tape deck stereo. I’ve been thinking about the way that ...

Subway Grate Bike Pump

This project idea is inspired by Jean Tiguely’s Homage to New York.   I will integrate an element of New York City’s environment into a machine that informs or adds value in a way that cannot be done by digital means. I have chosen the subway grate as my New York City element–there’s something mysterious ...

Old/New Tech “Combines”

I’m brainstorming ways to allow people to use new technology with old technology: Bold = old, obsolete thing Italic = new technology/method (parentheses) = combine idea wallets – credit cards, google wallet (google wallet wallet) glasses/contacts –  lasik surgery pagers – cell phones (pager that dials phone numbers) carrier pigeons – email printing press – ...

All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace (2/3)

I’ve been watching these Adam Curtis documentaries for inspiration. They’ve been really thought provoking and given me an interesting perspective on the relationship between humans an machines throughout history. I didn’t take notes during the first episode, but I started jotting things down during the second one. See below: Adam Curtis – All Watched Over ...

Smell-o-Meter

Smell-o-Meter
How stinky is too stinky? There’s a machine to measure that, apparently. It’s called the Nasal Ranger.  

Mouth as Pinhole Camera

Mouth as Pinhole Camera
Really awesome work by Ann Hamilton Images via article on PetaPixel

Leonardo da Vinci’s Inventions

Leonardo da Vinci's Inventions
via http://www.leonardodavincisinventions.com

Brainstorm – Homage to New York

timesquare lullaby machine: light sensors trigger music box or alarm clock (city that never sleeps?)   bridges connecting boroughs…   coney island freak show, board walk   turn-over of stores/restaurants every time turnover happens, change something in sculpture (track address/phone number changes?)   future-proof NY: city gentrification flooding? (global warming) terrorism?   future-proof NY: citizens ...