Spectropolis projects: Urballoon by Carlos J. Gómez de Llarena

About Urballoon: Urballoon is an urban media space: a balloon equipped with a projector and wireless connection to the web that enables people to submit content online and broadcast it in public spaces. The balloon is located in open urban spaces frequented by pedestrians at sunset and night (e.g. plazas, parks). The ball is tethered, floating at a height of 4 stories aproximately (12 meters) and projects images right underneath it. By accessing www.urballoon.com people can send texts or images which will be queued and shown by the balloon in the order received onto the street. On the website, an archive of all submissions can also be browsed.

The project aims to create a parallel experience between urban and information spaces. Balloons filled with air are also filled with data: the body of air inside Urballoon becomes a metaphor of the content in the website. The globe displays the project's URL, becoming site in physical and digital contexts. A political underpinning of the project is established by the commitment to excercise free uncensored speech, empowering citizens to seize it as an urban broadcasting channel.

About Carlos J. Gómez de Llarena: Carlos J. Gómez de Llarena is engaged in exploring models in which digital media shape our social relationships and our perception of spaces. He works with a diverse palette of tools including space, video, sound, wireless networks and programming. His work has been shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Caracas, Ars Electronica, Eyebeam, ZKM, ResFest and the Seoul Net Festival, among others. His background is in Architecture and Interactive Media. He currently lives in New York and works for the leading interactive agency, R/GA, as an Interaction Designer on the award-winning nikelab.com project, which obtained 13 prizes including a Gold Cyber Lion award at the 2003 Cannes International Advertising Festival. In September 2003, the Ars Electronica Prix honored Node Runner, a wireless game he co-created, with the prestigious Golden Nica for Net Vision. He also performs as a VJ on several venues in NY like Void, The Roxy and Arc.

For more information about Spectropolis, please contact dana@nycwireless.net.

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council   NYCwireless   The Alliance for Downtown New York

Spectropolis thanks these organizations for their help: Bway.net, Wiselephant, Justin T. Molloy and jtmdsgn, B Squared Design, Starworks, and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

© 2004 NYCwireless, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), and The Alliance for Downtown New York (DTA). All rights reserved.