This workshop explored the possibilities of creating interactive installations and new media environments using DIY electronics, Open Source Software and Ubiquitous Technology. It was led by artist and new-media practitioner Matthew Kenyon.

Workshop Concept: Creating Agency through Telepresence

In this project, user-movement about the city controlled the illumination of lightboxes at a remote location. These light boxes were attached to an Arduino microcontroller running Processing software: users were able to send their GPS coordinates to this micro-controller via a smartphone device as they moved about the city. The data being processed by the software switched the appropriate light boxes on and off again, and the light boxes displayed images of the city remotely controlled by user movements. This workshop looked at 4 technologies, which would combine to create a distributed tele-presence based artwork.

The 4 technologies:

1. Digital Photography.
2. Rapid Prototyping and Digital Fabrication.
3. Programming and Physical Computing.
4. Ubiquitous Computing.

Participants were involved in all stages of the construction of the project in a hands-on process led by the mentor.