bitadmin on Tue, 12 Feb 2002 21:16:04 +0100 (CET) |
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[Nettime-bold] BIT [bureau of inverse technology]: for immediate release |
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ limited release advisory. bureau of inverse technology [BIT] new york, new york feb 12 2002 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bureau has developed the following information products, recently deployed to provide accurate information for the World Economic Forum meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York City, Feb 01-04 2002. These projects manifest technical strategies for inserting local information into global debates. NB this document has been released post hoc for assessment of BIT product performance under actual field conditions. ITEM: BIT RADIO SERVICE DESCRIPTION: Radio break-in service for local area news. PRODUCT PREVIEW: BIT RADIO broadcasts event-triggered, intermittent news on local radio. Special OVERCAST service for the World Economic Forum is deployed to break in over NPR member station WNYC FM 93.9. With BIT AUTOPIRATE transmission equipment installed on rooftop location in Waldorf vicinity, this system will transmit realtime air quality data for lower Manhattan, obtained from WTC fallout monitoring. A one-second alert will break in clearly over normal station programming when either asbestos, dioxins or particulates fluctuate over the EPA set level. http://www.nyc.gov/html/em/air.html REVIEW: Bureau engineers report successful broadcast from 13:00h to 20:00h daily Feb 02-03. Failure analysis: estimated percentage of WEF delegate tuning to NPR radio at any time over the 4-day summit approximated at 4%. Although chance of delegate encountering information from direct street action protesters is estimated as even lower, less than 2%, due to drastic police street isolation tactics around the conference venue. KITIFICATION: pending. http://bureauit.org/data/radio.html ITEM: BITrocket DESCRIPTION: bureau-issue rocket display; toy crowd invigilator. PRODUCT OVERVIEW: This system adapts commercially available hobby rocket with wireless microvideo, to accurately image crowd and police formations and occupations at critical public gatherings. Launching from the midst of a street demonstration, rocket is able to reach a height of over 300 ft before parachuting lightly back to the crowd, transmitting video live to ground station and streamable to website. Documenting actual crowd attendance, BITrocket will provide accurate and uncontestable participation figures. Co-ordinated with march, rocket launch can supply demonstrators with active strategic data, eg. location and containment strategies of opponent forces, along with a family aero-portrait. REVIEW: WEF launch postponed for technical reasons. Media crowd estimates of the protests varied widely by a factor of about 10, BITrocket could provide a decisive resolution. SAFETY ADVISORY: The BITrockets are adapted from kits recommended for children 8+. Rocket launches are legal and safety guidelines from the National Association of Rocketry can found at http://www.nar.org/NARmrsc.html KITIFICATION: pending ITEM: BITCAB service DESCRIPTION: A mobile interface for fast news dispersion; inserts BIT information directly into NY taxi display units. STATUS: development. PROJECT OVERVIEW: A new advertising infrastructure is deploying wireless programmable signs, GPS oriented, on taxi cab roofs in Manhattan. Current programme of neighbourhood-based corporate advertising is supplemented with sports, weather and financial data: the system has under exploited spatial potential. This narrowcast opportunity is being reformatted by the Bureau for insertion of critical location-based data, such as strategic news alerts for street actions, or ambient location data detailing site toxic residues. Some of the GIS- based data will update as the taxi moves through geographic location. While SMS can also carry geo-specific information service, bitcab signage will relieve the alert citizen of the weight, expense, health and tracking implications of carrying own cellular phone. http://bureauit.org http://bureauit.org/release http://www.world-economic-forum.com _______________________________________________ Nettime-bold mailing list Nettime-bold@nettime.org http://amsterdam.nettime.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nettime-bold