Spectropolis projects: UMBRELLA.net by Jonah Brucker-Cohen and Katherine Moriwaki
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About UMBRELLA.net: UMBRELLA.net is an experimental platform for developing ad-hoc networks based around coincidence or chance occurrences. The project utilizes the haphazard and unpredictable patterns of weather and crowd formation as a catalyst for network formation. This approach is meant to challenge traditional conceptions of how networks form and function by correlating their existence to circumstances beyond people's direct control. The system consists of a set of umbrellas as nodes that can spontaneously form based on weather conditions. UMBRELLA.net establishes a visual footprint of a network in public space and creates a framework for sharing localized information among connected nodes.
The project consists of 10 Bluetooth-equipped umbrellas each with an accompanying Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) that is running the networking software. When opened, the hardware on the umbrellas, communicate to the PDAs to initiate a network connection to a nearby umbrella. The umbrellas illuminate their states with bright LEDs. There are 3 states: 1) Pulsing red if searching for nodes, 2) Pulsing blue if connected to other umbrellas, 3) Flashing blue if transmitting data between umbrellas. These visual cues allow the general public to engage with the project. Those holding the umbrellas will be able to use the built-in chat program on the PDAs to communicate with other participants. There is also a visualization of the network displayed on the iPaq screens to show each person where they are in relation to others in the network and illustrate the multi-hop routing structure of the project. |
| About Jonah Brucker-Cohen and Katherine Moriwaki: Jonah Brucker-Cohen is an artist, researcher, and Ph.D. candidate in the Disruptive Design Team of the Networks and Telecommunications Research Group (NTRG) at Trinity College Dublin. He is currently an HEA researcher in the Human Connectedness Group at Media Lab Europe in Dublin, Ireland. His writing has appeared in numerous international publications including Wired Magazine and Rhizome.org and he the co-founder of the Dublin Art and Technology Association (DATA Group).His work has been shown at events such as DEAF (03,04), UBICOMP (02,03,04), CHI (04) Transmediale (02,04), ISEA (02,04), Institute of Contemporary Art in London (04), Whitney Museum of American Art's ArtPort (03), Ars Electronica (02,04) and others. Katherine Moriwaki is an artist and researcher investigating clothing and accessories as the active conduit through which people create network relationships in public space. Currently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Disruptive Design Team of the Networks and Telecommunications Research Group at Trinity College Dublin, her work has appeared in IEEE Spectrum Magazine, and numerous festivals and conferences including numer.02 at Centre Georges Pompidou (02), Break 2.2 (03), Ubicomp (03,04), eculture fair (03), Transmediale (04), CHI (04), ISEA (04), and DEAF (04). She is a 2004 recipient of the Araneum prize from the Spanish Ministry for Science and Technology and Fundación ARCO. |
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For more information about Spectropolis, please contact dana@nycwireless.net.
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
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