On a lighter note, while I was searching for some inspiration on the web I came across a list on smashingmagazine.com. Here is one of the websites that was posted. I was immediately drawn to it.  Minimalism at its best!

http://www.deep.co.uk/

Portfolio

Thanks everyone.  Happy holidays!

A dérive is usually defined as an aimless walk through an urban environment.  The idea of the dérive was developed by the Situationists, a group of European artistic and political avant-gardes.  Guy Debord, famous Situationist, stated that during a dérive one should be fully aware of his or her surroundings, but manage the trip based on emotion.  Often times a dérive was used as a tool of rebellion by the Situationists. 

I wanted to stay true to the definition of a dérive, but still be VERY creative.  I decided to walk the same general path to school, but with one change.  No sidewalk allowed.  Instead, I journeyed between the two flows of vehicle traffic.  I noticed how quickly my environment changed.  I definitely become more aware of my surroundings.  My senses were heightened.  I was curious to see what social interaction would occur.  I was pushed farther than my normal limits and it was then that I realized the importance of the dérive.  Urban development and society’s traditional rules had molded and pushed me into a corner creating monotony in everyday life.

Dérive project for Arts Technology class at Illinois State University completed September 23, 2008.  Please do not attempt to recreate this video.      

This article talks about the illusion that a photograph presents.  A photograph is simply a photograph, only a representation of an object or event.  It does not compare to the actual three dimensional object.  A person cannot have the same sensations with a photo as he or she can with the actual object.  The object can be held for example, to determine more about the object whereas the photo is only a grouping of pigments or pixels that are a representation.  Often times, objects can be transformed into symbols.  When symbols or icons are formed, it is called semiotics.  Semiotics deals with how things are processed and grouped in sign systems. 

In this article, the pipe is presented in many different cases.  Different scenarios and environments tend to differentiate the pipe by use.  Sometimes it’s a toy pipe, sometimes a tobacco pipe, sometimes an intellectual pipe. 

Electricity and photography both changed the world.  Photography allowing one to replicate an object in the 2d over and over, while electricity allows for many possibilities such as destroying communication distance barriers. 

Furthermore, ubiquitous computing is a way of integrating computers into everyday life.  The same way electricity and photography revolutionized the world, so will this concept.  Ubiquitous computing will allow for simple objects to complete very complicated tasks.  Referring back to the pipe, it is suggested that a pipe will contain a speaking and listening device.  This “Ubi-pipe” will integrate old use and new use into one seamless object.      

Ubiquitous computing presents many new ideas to the table.  We shall see how the future will change as technology grows, “regular” objects become subjects of communication throughout society, and our environment can adapt to our preferences with no direct instruction.    

First of all, she mentions how architecture is key to this type of game.  Whether it be virtual reality, a video game, or an ARG architecture always serves as an obstacle or interest to the player.  A derive is an excellent example displaying how psycho geography comes into play.

Another very important factor for a Situationist game is breaking down the barriers.  Situationist games seek freedom.  They want to destroy common place and bend or break the rules.  Hacker of Second Life, avatar Gazira Babeli, made self replicating objects in the game.  Other hackers have made it possible for huge avatars to be created, allowing for unexpected glitches.  In all reality, its a way of pushing back.  Fighting and resisted a ”higher power” which can be in the form of the government at times.  These games can be illegal or legal, and can come in a number of ways.  Interventions in the urban environment is another example.  Situationists firmly believe in shattering the “Magic Circle.” 

To conclude, this summary of Guy Debord’s work written by Schleiner took an interesting path to explain the concept.  She used old writing and fused it with new ideas.  Either way one looks at it, Situationists pathed the way for the present day gamer.  One who doesn’t want to follow the rules.  One who doesn’t want to listen to big brother.  One who thrives on the unfamiliarity of tomorrow.

I see some ideas from an article I recently read relate to this article…urbanism vs. green space, self liberation by nature, and the notion that many things (very, very broad term) are taken for granted.

Our group used cold/hot media and violent/non-violent experience for Chart 1.  We picked MXC(Most Extreme Elimination Challenge), Guess Who, Grand Theft Auto, and Human Tetris.  Cold and hot media are always in relation to one another, at one point in time an item might be cold but when compared to a different item(s) it could be hot.  Marshall McLuhan coined the term hot and cold media.  Hot media takes less interaction and is highly defined.  On the other hand, cold media is the exact opposite.  For this reason, we have placed MXC, Human tetris, and Guess Who in the cold media range, leaving GTA on the hot media side.  Violence vs. non violent is rather self explanatory, although its interesting to point out that we have two polar opposites considering hot and cold media, yet both are very high in terms of violence.  One being realistic, while GTA is video game portraying violence.

For Chart 2, our variables were the amount of player (less or greater) and strong odor/minty fresh.  Art, cup stacking, spelling bees, and frisbee golf are the games we decided upon for our second chart.  Since art and spelling bees are located at the same area, we made two charts.