Layar's weaknesses

There are a few problems that I can see with Augmented Reality programs like Layar so far. The biggest problem for me is the amount of time it takes for images to load on the phone and the amount of battery power one viewing takes. Another big issue I experienced was the inconsistency of the gps from phone to phone. Images were found in places far from where they were placed and each phone viewed them in different locations. I can see this being a big problem if you are doing a locative piece and are relying on information or sound to be experienced in a specific space. The project I was thinking about doing for my final project is reliant on sound and information being viewed in specific locations and at this point it seems this technology is not quite there. Despite its failings, it shows incredible potential. I'm hoping that in the next few years we will see improvement.

Hamlet's Blackberry

William Power's also wrote a book and was interviewed on NPR, it's about how to lead a balanced life in the age of technology, here is a link to the podcast: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128364111

The Shallows

I just started, The Shallows:What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains  by Nicholas Carr. He takes a look at how the internet is affecting our brains by using Neuroscience. So far it's interesting. I'll keep you posted.

There is also an interview with him discussing the book on a podcast: http://blog.thephoenix.com/blogs/phlog/archive/2011/02/25/podcast-william-powers-amp-nicholas-carr-on-the-internet-and-the-state-of-our-braaains.aspx

He also wrote an article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/6868/

Tiffany Schlain

Tiffany Schlain's: “Yelp With Apologies to Allen Ginsberg's Howl”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UowVsL3dXjM

This is amazing! It's a cry to our current generation to “unplug”.

There is a podcast on KQED's Forum that is an interview with her about her new film “Connected”, which just opened in theaters. Her view about technology and the future seems much less dystopian than so many other artists'. Here is the link for that: http://www.podfeed.net/episode/Tiffany+Shlains+Connected/3147269

Locative Art Project

I am interested in oral histories. The greatest things I have collected from traveling has been sounds and people's stories. I decided to create a family history page for my aunt and uncles. They were raised in the Central Valley; they spent their youths picking cotton and working on dairy farms. There were 5 kids in the family and they moved many times (this collection is only a few places they lived). 

We went to Chowchilla and Gustine to the houses and spots they haunted as youths. I took gps waypoints at each location and documented information as well as took pictures and recorded them telling stories. I created a digital tour in google earth but was frustrated with it's limitations, so I created a webpage with all of the information so I could have more aesthetic control. I also created a postcard with a QR code, which connects the recipient with my link. The QR code postcard is being mailed to my family members to request them to participate in the project. I created a blog as well on the website so they can add their stories.