Tried hunting down the Waking Heart application for this again - but they’ve taken it offline. I might try getting it back on my phone via the computer - but I’m not sure if that is going to work.

While the app was live though, I had heaps of fun with it - users interacted with a life art installation via the application on their iPhone, by the use of sounds and movement to reflect their mood. These “heartworks” were then sent to the machine in a remote location - and the machine scribbles on a large sheet of paper based on the “waves” produced.

What the user sees on their phone is a piece of “heartwork” generated via preset images and algorithms, which they can then upload and share with their friends.

This could be something that could be incorporated in the project to promote interactions with the artworks and the space.

The Lady Hawke Virtual Reality app promoting the launch of her new album “Anxiety” allows users to experience an alternate reality, interacting with other traditional print and digital medias in hyper-reality.

The use of augmented reality applications and technology in the project could potentially create a more interactive and immersive experience for cafe goers to interact with the works displayed, as well as other users, introducing a interactive hyperspace presence to the Collector’s Cafe.

Meet Claire

Meet Claire. She loves cafes. She’s your classic hipster - Plastic-frame glasses, side-parted bob, flouncy shorts, ankle-high boots - the works. She’s also a little bit of an Apple Fangirl (as most hipsters are) - and owns the newest iPhone and iPad.

She’s always plugged into Spotify - giving her full access to all the music she likes. And she’s always taking pictures of her surroundings using Hipstamatic and posting them to Facebook and Instagram.

Claire’s also a self-proclaimed “Location Reviewer” - she’d blog about her experiences at the cafes she visits, from the quality of the food and drinks to the ambiance. Her tumblr has quite a decent following - mostly fellow hipsters.

So, my aim for the project would be create something that would engage 20-year old Claire in a way that would entice her to blog positively about her experience. In fact, I would probably BUILD the blogging aspect - as well as all the other social media bits - into the application portion of the project.

“Posters aren’t simply meant to be read anymore. First QR codes took us one step further, giving our mobile devices a link to extra content on the web, and now a new technology is set to bring music right to the words before our eyes. A prototype called the “Listening Post,” demoed at this year’s SXSW in Austin, Texas, is a guide to local bands–with the ability to sample their music built right into the poster’s ink. Developed by British research firm Novalia in cooperation with scientists and musicians, the Listening Post incorporates mini-circuit boards equipped with speakers and a small amount of memory into conductive ink, letting those who interact with the poster activate song clips when they touch the appropriate spot on the paper.” Laptop Magazine I’m definitely looking more into this technology - might attempt to appropriate it for the project somehow. Yes, I know this is only a prototype, but it IS definitely feasible. Will have to figure out how it will fit into the overall outcome of the project though.
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“Posters aren’t simply meant to be read anymore. First QR codes took us one step further, giving our mobile devices a link to extra content on the web, and now a new technology is set to bring music right to the words before our eyes. A prototype called the “Listening Post,” demoed at this year’s SXSW in Austin, Texas, is a guide to local bands–with the ability to sample their music built right into the poster’s ink. Developed by British research firm Novalia in cooperation with scientists and musicians, the Listening Post incorporates mini-circuit boards equipped with speakers and a small amount of memory into conductive ink, letting those who interact with the poster activate song clips when they touch the appropriate spot on the paper.”

Laptop Magazine

I’m definitely looking more into this technology - might attempt to appropriate it for the project somehow. Yes, I know this is only a prototype, but it IS definitely feasible.

Will have to figure out how it will fit into the overall outcome of the project though.

My main idea is not so much creating an application for an exhibition - I’m veering more towards creating an application for the exhibition space itself; Kind of like creating a little exhibit that would go with the rest of the exhibits in that space.

The Collector’s Cafe curates works by local artists that are crafted from reclaimed or sustainable material - which is a movement that I am very interested in as well, being a sort of crafts person (somewhat - it’s my excuse for raiding Reverse Garbage every other week).

So I thought - what better way to get everyone ELSE interested then to somehow engage them on a slightly more interactive level - seeing that you can’t climb on tables to interact with light fixtures (well, you could try, but you might get asked to leave the cafe).

With the myriad of various technologies available to smartphone and tablet users (especially those using Apple products - not that I’m an Apple Fanboy/girl/humanoid/whatever) - I figured I could attempt to create a sort of hyper-reality that cafe goers could experience on top of just being in the same space as the exhibits. Maybe they could speak directly to the artists? Hear the artist’s thoughts while creating the piece? Maybe, even WATCH the piece being crafted, time-lapsed style?

Well, as to what is actually going to happen - I think I need to get the brain calmed down a little more before I start spewing gibberish.

Went to the Collector’s Cafe for a little recce in preparation for my little project for Design for Interactive Media.

I’ll own up right her and now - I’m a massive coffee addict, and will get my coffee fix wherever I find it. I am also, however, a little bit of a cafe snob - if I don’t like the environment, no matter how good the coffee, you won’t find me coming back for seconds. (I might, however, start hunting down better cafes with the same blend).

I’ve been to the Collector’s Cafe a few times - and the main thing that made me remember the place (and come back) is the amount of space that cafe has! Just so so much open space - coupled with the ever changing displays from local artists - I could just sit in the at space all day! (And trust me, I have).

So what I figured was - since I have to do a little interactive project around the museum - I’d like to attempt a little proposal to turn the Collectors Cafe into not just a simple display space, but an immersive and interactive environment, where cafe goers and coffee addicts could come in for a cuppa, and interact with the artists and their works in an interesting new way.

What that interesting new way is though - I’ve yet to decide. *Too many cool things I want to try*

Bespoke

I’ve always been a fan of cafes that carry works by local artists - especially if I could interact with the works. I don’t really care how that interaction happens - if it was tactile, tangible or even imagined. As long as I got something out of it, I’d be happy.

So I thought - why not make this the basis of my project? I could create an exhibit of sorts, that allows people to interact with works displayed at the Collector’s Cafe as part of the Bespoke exhibits.

Bespoke is a rotating exhibit that is refreshed monthly with works by local artists - works made from reclaimed or sustainable materials. For August 2012, furnishings from the Reverse Emporium as well as works by Alan James will be curated in the Collector’s Cafe, with the launch on the 25th of August.