AstroDime Transit Authority

AstroDime is doing some work with ideas around Invasive Species in Provincetown, and we will have an exhibit at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies in June 0f 2013. Part of the work that I (sam smiley) am doing is identifying aquatic invasive species in Provincetown.

The Aquatic Invasive Species group (based in Massachusetts) has provided ID cards for Aquatic Invasive Species.

Here’s a link to the main site:

http://www.mass.gov/czm/invasives/index.htm

and to the ID cards:

http://www.mass.gov/czm/invasives/monitor/id.htm

I decided to share an ID card and also my underwater version of the Invader! It is also known as Codium fragile, Dead Man’s Fingers,  green fleece, green sea fingers, oyster thief, and Sputnik weed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codium_fragile

Dead Man's Fingers

Here’s my version, which I would like to call “Space Invaders”

asteroids from AstroDime Transit on Vimeo.

Here are the inventions of the various “startup groups” who are working on iCAN apps and accessories in Mexico City. AstroDime members are carefully considering these proposals, and we will post the winning proposals on our research page. At the bottom of the page is our “request for proposals”

“No Name Inc.”

Don’t know who is in this group.

1) sticker for any map of a subway in the world (app)
2) app with pen and post-it (app)
3) A little bell attached to the iCAN to show you the new calls (app)
4) Interchangable cans with different colors and designs (accessory)
——————————————
Another group with no name
(Don’t know who is in this group)
1) ReciclArte (con Lupa, GPS, Agenda, y T.P.)
“Sobreviviendo con tu iCAN”
[Ilana what does that mean?]
——————————————
Another group with no name:

1) iCAN study (APP)
-repeat ALOUD an interesting sentence of your homework
-repeat what you listen
-repeat what you listen
-repeat what you listen

2) iSOLO:
-Just hum your favorite song
-make sure your voice is sweet
-if your ear hurts, you are making it bad. If you just fall in love with yourself, record your song and be famous.
——————————————
“Wissard Company”
(don’t know who is in it)
the iORACULO
tells your fortune
(APP)
——————————————
“Gato Ruso”
Tania X. Enriquez Jiménez
Norma Briseño Urbina
Paola E. Nieto Paredes
Eugenia B. Sánchez N. Rubalcaba

1)iStalk (you can spy on your friends)
2) iCanMusic (amplify your music through your iCAN!)
3) iBolsa (make your iCAN portable with all of your apps. (Accessory)
——————————————

“Can Trap Software Development: Making everyday life more practical”
Andrea Nuñez
Valeria Vasquez
Ana Mirales
1) App Retro Calculator: it is an abacus you can incorporate into your iCAN
2) App Radio Can: you can listen to all your favorite music, FM radio, etc. just turn one end of the iCAN and approach it to the speaker
3) App Earthquake alert: if you need to be protected from natural disasters. This app can help you detect earthquakes on time. You just fill your iCAN with water and if you see the surface shaking you know you have to protect yourself.
——————————————
“Chungas”
(Don’t know who is in this group)
1) Two people can speak together with their iCANs right next to each other. So that these two people seem like they talk to each other but they talk alone. The objective is to demonstrate that people don’t listen to each other, only to themselves. [Note: We suggested a magnet so that both iCANS would stick together)

2) iFondo
“Soul of the Party”. People can drink a “fondo” of beer in one can.

3) iSleep or iDuermo
If you want to sleep on the Metro, with iCAN you can. You stretch it out, put one end on your knees, and rest your chin on the other side, and then you can fall into a deep dream.

——————————————
“iKit Store”
Daniella Castro R.
Laura Castellanos

Note: this is primarily accessories

-iChain: keep your iCAN wherever you go
-iMirror: if you always want to look pretty buy this accessory (note, i think it is software -sam)
-iSpeaker: Say aloud your thoughts
-iWatch: straps on to the iCAN. For being on time.
-iDrinking Barrel: use it as a straw!
-iSpy: get noticed of the recent gossip
-iHelium: use helium balloons and listen to your amazing words and then listen to your mouse voice
-iCaps: transform your iCAN into a thermos of your favorite beverage

“Loser Corp”
Introducing the iSmoke. Weed and smoke on one side, infinite happiness on the other.

HERE IS ASTRODIME’S ORIGINAL RFP (request for proposals)

Well, it has been a tough decision, but AstroDime Transit Authority is getting into wireless. Our tin can phone systems are durable and really quite well designed, but our iCAN system has finally outsold our tin can phones.

In honor of our wireless technological achievements, we would like to write a tribute to Guglielmo Marconi,, one of the inventors of wireless communications.

For people on the east coast of the United States, the National Park Service is celebrating an International Marconi Day (as well as a National Junior Ranger Day) on April 25th. This will take place on Marconi Beach on Cape Cod. For more information go to http://www.nps.gov/caco/parknews/cape-cod-national-seashore-to-celebrate-international-marconi-day-and-national-junior-ranger-day-on-april-25.htm

Check out upcoming U.S. legislation concerning internet censorship based on copyright. For more info go to http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa/.

sam smiley reporting from AstroDime..
I went Monday October 10..around 4pm to the base camp..it’s really well organized. It reminds me a little of the way Burning Man is set up..less art, but very clear where to go. It has a library, “spirituality tent”, postermaking tent, logistics tent, and more. I brought stencils and chalk and left them at the library tent. I wasn’t there later in the evening for the protests and ensuing arrests.

trusty bike basket with stencils and chalk

I thought a lot of the impact of social media on this gathering..lots of hand held signs but very few flyers. A media tent. And despite what the mainstream media says, a pretty coherent message..i really don’t think “anarchy” is a good way to describe this, although it is the word that mainstream media and “spinners” of the story are saying. Not everyone is holding the same sign but they generally seem to be there for the same reason..the effect of the economy problems of the U.S. on the largest groups of people, while the ruling class emerges unscathed from any financial disasters.

Here is where I am getting my information:
Twitter is most up to date:
#OccupyBoston

A great news site, I love how they “occupied” the Globe concept.
http://occupybostonglobe.com/

And the Occupy Boston web site proper
http://occupyboston.com/

various posters on a tent

I saw lots of these posters

Dewey Square Oct 11 4pm

AstroDime correspondant sam smiley just came back from a trip to Buenos Aires..and in the process was lucky to be invited to a grafiti party and jam in an area neighborhood. All and all, she shot an hour of video. The final version will be on vimeo, and will also be included in INtransit V.7: Ecology/Ecología, as part of “ecología de callejero” or street ecologies.
Here’s an interview with Ariel (Scratch) one of the organizers. He is a DJ, and his cousin, Nelson (Next Graf) is a grafiti artist. Included are photos of the final works.

AstroDime Transit Authority is pleased to present:

INtransit V.6: “scientfic american”/La America Científica

This will screen as part of the Cambridge Science Festival.

This 1-hour 10 minute video compilation is a remix of the concept: What is a ‘scientific american’? The INtransit series of videos looks at science and art within the continental Americas. This specific issue will be focusing on the U.S. and Colombia.

The location is here:

• Take the MBTA Red Line or Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line to the Porter Square stop.
• Exit the station on the left and turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue. University Hall is be one-half block down on your left at 1815 Massachusetts Avenue. Student Services is located on the third floor.
• To reach the Doble Campus, walk south on Massachusetts Avenue approximately seven blocks. Turn left onto Mellen Street.

From here, go up the stairs to the 2nd floor, do a U-turn toward the Atrium. Signs will guide ou to room 2-078 where the screening will take place at 7pm.

Opening Sci Am Ciencia from AstroDime Transit on Vimeo.

The Future is NOW!

smartCANS in the 21st century.
TRADE SHOW and Conference
5-8PM
Bannister Gallery
Rhode Island College
Providence Rhode Island

Keynote Speech by Mitchell K. Ahern,
Chairman of the International iCAN Developer’s Association
His speech will take place via SKYPE at 6PM EST

AstroDime Telecommunications Company is sponsoring a TRADE SHOW and demonstration of cutting edge TIN CAN technology.
Based on consumer response, we will premiere our iCAN version 2.2.2.2, with new improved performance and optional interactivity. In addition, using only the most intelligent of our smartCANS and the faster than sound speed of our 2G network, consumers will be able to beta test ENHANCED ™ tin can phone calls via our Party Line, for the latest in social networking.

We are honored to have Mitchel K. Ahern
Chairman of the International iCAN Developer’s Association
as our Keynote speaker.
his Keynote Speech:  “iCAN is the Platform on Which We Will Build the Future”
6PM via SKYPE

bio:
Mitchel K Ahern, Chairman of the International iCAN Developers Association

Mitchel has been in digital marketing and communications for a very long time with titles like SYSOP, Webmaster, Digital Media Producer, Product Manager and Director of Communications for companies such as One to One Interactive, Eastern Acoustic Works, and currently Cantina. He’s worked with clients such as Aegon, Royal Caribbean and UPS to develop apps for both consumers and in the B2B space. He writes for industry publications such as iMedia Connection and speaks at various industry events, most recently leading a panel at the Direct Marketing Associations DMA2010. Mitchel also has extensive experience with non-profit trade organizations as Vice President of the Webmasters Guild and chairman of the Association of Internet Professionals with over 33 international chapters. In his current role as Chairman of the International iCAN App Developers Association Mitchel is responsible for coordinating the efforts towards establishing a coherent and consistent iCAN user experience, promoting accessibility, and establishing professional development opportunities for the larger iCAN technical community.

On Friday, April 8, I was at a conference at Harvard University called

STS: the next 20: conversations within and beyond the field
There were many issues raised but it seems that on this day of the conference, the conversation was what STS should theoretically embrace in the future. Saturday, April 10, this conference focussed on jobs and what can people do with an STS degree. Sadly I wasn’t there for that.
Right at the start of Friday, there was an interesting speaker who addressed postcolonial science studies, Kaushik Sunder Ramon. He described that technologies have colonial histories and talked about the concept of epistemic coproduction. (rather than just the”giving” of colonial knowledge)
Fellow panelist Javier Lezaun talked about translations, saying “there is no translation without a degree of betrayal” which I found intriguing.

In the second session Sherine Hamdy spoke about religion and science specifically Muslim and Egyption responses to the concept of donating organs.
Nelly Oudshoorn brought up the importance of having students from multiple disciplines who may not write articles but will take ideas into the fields they work.
I feel strongly
this is really only a snippet of the scope of the conference but I imagine that the work on postcolonial STS will continue to influence us at Astrodime.

Focus Group Survey Results

On Friday, February 25, astrodimer sam smiley gave a presentation on the iCAN (TM) and also handed out surveys. The panel/presentation was called “An Afternoon of Dialogue, Debate, and Discourse” and included art historian Cher Knight and AIB faculty member and artist Nathan Felde. Stuart Steck was the organizer and moderator of this panel.

On behalf of Astrodime, sam sam smiley created a survey, which would help AstroDime in the creation of “apps” for the iCAN (TM). Here are the results of the survey.

1. If you had an iCAN, how often would you use it and what would you use it for?

Meetings, talking to myself in public
I would keep one half and give the other to a friend.
To recycle my thoughts, to prevent my thoughts from escaping to others, to prevent word pollution, to communicate with my head.
Every thought I had that I wanted to transmit to myself
Holding Soup, Talk Soup
Once a month
I’d use it for silly fun
I would poke, various noises, ring tones
I would pretend I was talking to my therapist
I’d use this every day in class. I think this would be a pretty amazing way to conduct crits.
The first thing I would do would be hack it.
Then I’d post my hack on the instructables under my hacker alias.

2. What would be your preferred network?

T riders
deep, dark secrets
None
Neural
People
Verizon
Party Line
huh
Just my close hacker community friends

3. What accessories do you suggest would be useful for the iCAN? What are your favorite colors?

Naples Yellow
“Phone covers”, bedazzled iCANs! Personalize your own!
An iCAN “sock” for a) modesty, b) cold weather use
Economy-can sized unit for family chat
Stylish label-cases: chunky and Campbell’s preferred
Jolly green giant, Cotton candy blue, Warhol soup can red
I love the blue
Funnel attachment
Those little cell phone charms. That would be way cute, like Hello Kitty or something.
Orange
A hands free head/neck holder brace thing so you can text at the same time (multitasking)
I like the natural colors of the materials
A hands free version would be nice

4. Can you suggest any apps you would like to see developed for the iCAN?

Music, Political rants
Thought whirling, circular thinking (like circular breathing), If you get thoughts whirling fast enough, they may puff up like beaten egg whites. Think what we might discern!?!
The eye-can camera phone
Pee-redirector
Recycling-yard filler
CAMP Bells- bang cans together to ward off bears
CANdid camera- easily changed into a pinhole camera
Puddle jumpers or step-ups to see over crowds
Pictionary
Poetry app
Inside joke app
Peaceful protesting “megaphone” app
Voice modifier
Some app that tracked my metrics and posted my usage data to twitter