One possible script for the presentation

It's long-winded and overly emotional. But that's just how I write. P:
Perhaps our audience would be motivated if there were free drinks in a little cooler, just next to our bench? Just sayin'.
———————————————————————————————————
Ladies and Gentlemen, could you please join us by the lawn.

Thank you all for coming with us. We've worked very hard all semester to present you this: *remove covers*

What you see before you appears to be a simple bench and box with an interface. In brief… it is. And these are the bench and box that will alter how people interact with Saint James Park in a fundamental way. By combining elements familiar with the park with those that are of a more unique nature to it, we stir up a compulsion within members of the community to confront and interface with the park in ways that are relevant to both themselves and the park.

Let's start with the box, shall we? This box is meant to represent the interface members of the community will use to interact with the park. By leaving what they have to say in text, audio or video form, they will be adding to Saint James Park's immense and important history by contributing the MOST important history— theirs. In fact, anyone who would like to experience how this will go, we have a partially functional version of the system on the box itself, which any one of you are free to experience for yourselves. These shared experiences can be perused and browsed either through this box or on our website, ___________. Several of these will also be experienced on our benches.

…which brings me to the bench. You see here our, er… SUBTLY modified bench, with an LED ticker and speakers. This is the prototype of our bench that will have scrolling text experiences along the front AND back of the bench, with buttons that can be used to start and stop audio experiences at the armrests. This way, simply by sitting in the bench, members of the community are able to experience the park in ways unlike ever before. And, of course, if they simply want to relax without taking in ALL there is to the park, they may simply choose to do so as well.

And, as you can see, it's still perfectly useful for sleeping in. :)

But these are worthless, ladies and gentlemen, without a cause. Why bother modifying benches or constructing computer-like boxes, after all, if they won't serve a purpose? This is something our group has discussed for quite some time, and we can provide this. Our box and bench experiences provide a means of connecting with the park… because it is a park worthy of lively communication with its community.

Saint James Park is one-of-a-kind. For being so rich in political history, it suffers such an immense amount of neglect. It has played host for the raising of political spirits and the rising of lynch mobs. It has simultaneously hosted the movers and shakers of the Silicon Valley and those who are shaking from a drug high or for lack of a blanket for decades, no, centuries. The area, whether taken in as a collection of experiences or as one interdependent whole, is drowning in historical relevance!

But with its wealth of history comes a price— people simply don't care. A site that once hosted a presidential speech is now more of an unofficial public lavatory. A statue of our 25th president with a formerly working cannon now stands as a hangout for hoodlums. A once-flowing and beautiful fountain that has represented the park for much of its life is now as dead and desolate as the rest of the park. So few people care. It's not that they don't want to— many of the citizens we spoke to had high opinions of the park— it's just that there's such an immense DISCONNECT. There's so much historical importance that it's hard to see how it matters TODAY, in the here-and-now. "Who are we to care of this place's history?"

That is precisely how we addressed it. These members of the community, like most of us, don't realize that we are connected to such a place's history because we ARE the history! Our collections of experiences are exactly what shape the areas in which we interact! By walking our dogs, by going for a stroll, simply by BEING THERE, we shape the future of Saint James Park every time we set foot in it! This idea is why we decided to create the interface— it presents members of the community with the fact that they ARE the movers and shapers of that park, and it wants to know HOW. And everyone has a HOW. They just don't know it, until they realize that it's the little things that they very often brush off— being propositioned for marijuana or sex by a passer-by, playing frisbee, being late for the bus— it's these little things that are precisely what make the park what it is!

You may notice that I've used the word "Experience" a lot. It sounds like a cheap tactic to sell you something, right? And, yes, perhaps the nature of this presentation IS to sell you on the idea of how these work. But to merely get you enthusiastic about the idea isn't the point I'm trying to make. The point is, history is made up of experiences. Not of events, like many would suggest. Events happen all the time. When you blink, that's an event. When you take a bath or shower or otherwise groom yourself, that's an event. When I MOVE my ARMS in a WAY of EMPHASIZING each WORD, that's an event. (Or maybe a collection of them?) But that's not what makes history. A collision of events, usually about two of them, or one shared event, is what makes an experience happen. The interactions that happen, the feelings that are aroused in these events, THESE are the experiences I refer to so often! And by collecting these experiences and re-expressing them across the park, we display to its members the wealth and importance of their simply being there, how it makes sun an impact on St. James Park, and, in turn, the rest of San Jose!

…awfully fiery words for a box and a bench. But the point holds true; without presenting the park to its participants in a way that is relevant to them— and, in turn, giving THEM a chance to interact with it— nobody will care. Because the park, as it stands, does not appeal to its citizens on a personal, unhindered level, they will not care for it on a personal level. And that's why our little duo here is important. These two are what will reacquaint the park with its world-changing audience.

Interface for Box

I'm currently uploading the SWF and HTML of the Flash-based interface for the box. Not everything on it works, but I did manage to get:

• Updating text/comments for sharing text in the "Share // Text" section
• Several audio clips being selected at random in the "Experience // Audio" section
• Microphone presence in the "Share // Audio" section
• Navigation across the entire interface

At this point it's just a matter of picking the aesthetics for the interface itself. I'll post the link to the existing interface shortly.

UPDATE: http://dma.sjsu.edu/art101a/t_stebbins/interface/interface_design.html
It takes a while to load (LARGE piece 'a Flash— 62.8 MB!! That's for all the audio and features to work though).

St. James Park "Talk to Me"

Current Cost of Materials

Most of which I have receipts to back up... I'm not counting tax, I can eat that:

• One King-Size Black sheet: $15
• One Bench: $88
• One Ticker: $65
• One pair of mini-speakers: $15

Thus far: $173. Let me know if there's anything for which I've forgotten to account.

St.James animation

About the Ticker

The ticker we just got is called the MediaBrite Classic 213C-1. It requires "programming" in a simple WYSIWYG editor that, in the exclusive case of this particular ticker, can only run on Windows 2000 or ME. As in, anything XP and beyond won't work (or so they claim, I imagine if it runs in DOS it'll run for XP just fine). As of yet there is no programming resource for Mac that I can find.

EDIT: I stand gladly corrected! "MacBrite" will do the trick nicely. :3 I need a different cable than the Ethernet that goes between our modern-day laptops and a wired connection (it appears to need a phone cable of sorts!) but ultimately... WE CAN PROGRAM IT. WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.

EDIT 2: So we'll need to use Macbrite on a computer that has a SERIAL PORT. Tomorrow I'll check to see if such a resource exists in the CADRE lab or the IRC (USB to Serial adapters exist and are quite cheap, if a bit hard to find) ; if not, we'll have to use a Windows computer running XP (at the earliest) to run it.

SJP sketch

Here are the Google SketchUp design if u want me to change anything jst holla back.

Our Last To-Do

• Make Bench
°Gather/buy and assemble Bench, LED Ticker
°Design Larger-scale idea of bench (incorporating other media?)
°Estimated Time of Completion (ETC) : One (full) day (Saturday May 7th, I propose)
•Make Box
°Materials
°Design larger-scale idea
°Complete small-scale prototype
• Document our entire project
°Collect 'important bits' for website
°Create basic website (DreamWeaver? Flash? CONSIDER THE AESTHETIC OF THE FINAL VERSION)
°Provide link to THIS blog
°ETC: 2-3 (non-full) days as a full group (These next two days), One (full) day with entire group, 5 (non-full) days individually.

ETC OF PROJECT: Two days (full-efficiency, no regard for other courses), 3-4 days (including time for other courses), 6 days (lowest efficiency)

OUR ALLOTTED TIMESPAN BEFORE JOEL LEAVES: 7 days

GET FIRED UP! If we act now we will have a project that can activate the park!

UPDATE: Here are the sketches of the non-touchscreen and touchscreen versions of "the Box" and the interface workflow. Click on the image for a larger, higher-resolution version of it:

WORKFLOW

BUTTON VARIETIES:

NON-TOUCHSCREEN:

TOUCHSCREEN:

Sketches and Interfaces

By tomorrow I should have the sound effects on the art101a server, sketches of the boxes, and a sense of the on-screen workflow (for the larger project).

UPDATE: Sounds are now on the server. Will upload scans of my designs tomorrow. Currently working on interface design. I would also encourage all of you to come up with some designs of your own, be it through Google Sketchup or pencil and paper or anything in between.

Blast Theory

Hey guys i know weve talked about it but this was very inspiring to me. They used this software called Asterisk which turns your computer into a communication server. In the project A Machine To See With, it is a film where you play the lead. There are screening every 15 minutes and you sign up on line and give up your number. Then on the day, they will text you to be at a location and lead you through the city. I really like this idea of playing with fiction and reality

System for one of the inspiration

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE

Inspiration of a system

The Spaghetti Tower

Time Allowed: 30 min

Objective: To construct a tower as high as possible using spaghetti and marshmallows. Limited supplies of material are available. Pieces of spaghetti may be broke into desire lengths.

Material: spaghetti (c. 50g/team)

Team size: Suggested team size is three

Rules:

1. Only the material provided may be used the highest tower at the end of the day will be the winner.

2. The judge’s decision in all matter is final.

This is the system that inspired me because it has a simple concept with a difficult task. It seems easy but it’s not. When I attempted this challenge it was a fail. When you see the video of who constructs the tower the best, and its children because they don’t think of failing. It’s not an artist but it’s the idea of the system.

a spectacle?

One thing that St James may be lacking is the aspect of the "SPECTACLE."
As we have already discovered...the history has been swept under the rug-- so how do we create a new sense of wonderment in the park? and still include the history........

What if there were integrated elements of the park that re-produced the feedback of our stations?
Things that would mostly come alive at night...
A drear and dark place...becomes a "spectacle" to passerbys, transit users, and downtown hoppers in the night!

Illuminated park benches....that rehearse the vlogs...and texts of people from the past....this could be where the "historical" emphasis can come to life! The park benches could have an animated, pre-programmed methodology of remixing the information in the data-base. This information being the real-time, current "knowledge" contributed by park goers, and also the historical pre-programmed information.
Imagine text and imagery running along these benches like in a ticker-tape fashion....
A healthy foliage of trees could be the perfect "surface" for projection....illuminating the mundane darkness of the night with new life. There could even be a "whispering tree" that becomes illuminated at night...and "whispers" or basically replays audio from the feedback captured at our stations! Can't help but think of the large elm by adjacent to the fountain.
The Church of Christ Science is a perfect "canvas" begging for projection...It is not being used for anything...what if we could use it as a projection surface!Keep in mind the active hours of some of the buildings. The Post Office and Court House do not likely function after 6. Perfect time to project something....light up the space! Imagine projecting this onto the courthouse! (possibly reworked with a modern twist?)


This could be a way to juxtapose the "textbook" history, and the history being made today...a live rendition of a facebook or twitter....as people online document their lives...and introduce events...the people of San Jose can do the same! and contribute to the spectacle of the park.

The presence of light in the park brings the "spectacle" aspect, and also brings a sense of security...people feel safe in the presence of light. This may encourage the park to be more attended at night...and possibly change the attitude associated with the park.
The day becomes primarily as a time for contribution to the knowledge being collected, which would still be housed on a website.

our "goal"

Lets simplify this a bit.....
-reach out to people in the physical place
-engage participants in the park by incorporating their own personal history/story
-gain interest in the park through personal experience contributing to a knowledge economy
-archive history

-----------simplify this?

St James

This is so we get a feel of the environment of the park
when were not there. I like the linking idea....but we should
do it in a interesting and fun way. The history does not have to be accurate
for example...(cannon on McKinley statue was activated by some teenagers to blow up the court house, and they were hired by the Freemasons).
I believe we should play off some conspiracy theories of the Freemasons.
Or have fun with church of science i belive we could bring these things to life by streching the truth because i feel people dont give a fudge of accurate history so we have to give what the people want something funny, odd, or evil. Ill try to come up wit some more ideas.

A Flash in the Pan

I understand the hypocrisy of saying we should "sleep on it" and suddenly posting an idea, but I fear if I don't post this now I may lose it to the æther.

I understand that recently I may have come across as a great bit demanding and as something of an asshole. While I do hope that I may be forgiven the latter trespass, I will not allow myself to apologize for incessantly striving for the optimal result for this project. In less floral language, I'm not going to let my sense of etiquette deny this project becoming the best thing it can be. We can safely assume that, with further work and development, we will all be able to leave the class with satisfactory A's and/or B's and the fact that we endured something of great scale together. This is minor in comparison to what could be accomplished by going beyond what is merely required to leave the class with high marks, and I am glad to be amongst company that agrees.

Now, then, to my recent (if reluctant!) brainstorming.

Upon returning to my room on the 8th floor I could not shake from my mind the ideas Mr. Slayton had presented regarding our project. With those in mind and our current established elements, I began to map them out, and included Joel's input:

• Repository of History, both distant past and immediate present
• Presented by fictional ghosts who have a first-person view of the past and therefore a more passionate and immersive connection with participants/players than mere presentation (as well as distancing ourselves from straight plagiarism of Joel's idea with mere information alone)
• SMS/Text-related interface (Possibly multi-media— if people have a photo or video of their exploits, should we account for that? Possibilities for abuse also remain, such as people posting genitalia or shock/terror images)
• Prioritized Event/History Choices (meaning, we pick from a select few important sites, i.e, the MOST important ones)

...and, yes, I struggled to put these into the context of a game. I understand that we have considered straying from this point, but I am firm in the notion that there is absolutely no equally immersive and stimulating form for this to exist. However, the project need not be strictly in the form of a game alone... this, I kept in mind as I explored the elements of this project out loud.

Then it hit me.

Joel had presented the idea of, by streamlining our history options, creating these 'essential networks' which would stem from those few events. By selecting a few elements that represent many more, we would create a large 'net' that would span the entire park without needing to spread ourselves too thin. These networks would consist, in our case, of the histories presented by these ghosts, differing by location/event.

...what if these ghosts had never met? What would they want to know from each other, with each being from a different time? Wouldn't these relationships be unique networks in and of themselves, representing what the two 'ghosts' have in common? What if the game were ABOUT these networks?

By visiting these spots and connecting them to each other, the network expands by that much more. Certain 'hot-item' networks/"chains" could be seen as an achievement or victory condition for something. Perhaps this is where we could reignite the flames for potential links with local businesses and bring back the game-specific coupon idea?

With this network idea, those familiar with the area's history may have a small incentive to make the connections if only for a mere couple bucks off food. Those who know it moderately have an interest to learn more (and leave their own history) as well as the monetary incentive. Those new to the area may be interested in discovering the area in which they're about to make their own history, and while a coupon may not be of immediate interest, it does nothing to reverse their intrigue.

In this, we retain a game mechanism without making it the 'point' of the project, we generate interest in what makes St. James Park what it is, we create an artistically compelling work, drive local business and ultimately have a system of concepts that I think would ignite a spark under St. James Park. By allowing for the personalized touch of leaving one's own history (which could be accessed on some sort of online database), we also tap into the ever-growing (and Silicon-Valley nurtured) world of user-driven material, placing the participant immediately in the work itself and therefore increasing their interest/investment in the park.

...I personally see little wrong with it, which has historically meant that there's a flaw in the mix SOMEWHERE. I welcome and encourage your critiques.

Two inspirations

Images "roam" and "mingle" through people's cellular telephones.

-> Shona Kitchen's "FLIRT" &
"Datanature"

-> NYU Interactive Telecommunication's "Pac-Manhattan"

Inspiration

Improv Everywhere's Cellphone Symphony is one of the inspirations for my "Texts from Ghosts Past"

IE's project is disrupting the library with cellphone ringtones.

http://improveverywhere.com/2006/02/18/cell-phone-symphony/

Elements

Place- historical
People- many different kinds of people
Virtual
struggle....how do we get people involved in the space besides the city. what about the common person?
text messaging....
how did people in the 1930s organize groups so quickly- such as the lynching
a reenactment in Second Life

possible inspirations
-Brody Condon
-Blast Theory
-Glow Lab
-Park Whore

Disconnect

So.

In my fervor of having a rounded product I failed to consider the strength of the idea, and it has visibly crumbled upon first tap of the chisel. Joel is absolutely right to ask us what the driving force would be to bring people to St. James Park. How do we capture the disconnect in such a way that will cause the average person to consider the space more than once?

My deflation provides an opening for meditation on the subject, as mere thought proves once again to be insufficient. We have the shell of the game, with the Augmented Reality/QR code bullspunk. But I have neglected to find a driving force, something that will make people WANT to play. And without a drive, we have only a playground of great information, and nobody to play in it.

A Machine To See With, Banff