“Intimate Transactions is an exciting new form of interactive installation that allows two people in separate spaces to interact simultaneously using their bodies. Each participant uses a physical interface called a ‘Bodyshelf’. By gently moving their bodies on this ‘smart furniture’ they instigate ‘Intimate Transactions’, which influence an evolving ‘world’ created from digital imagery, multichannel sound and tactile feedback.”

In the world of mobilities, people are more likely to be physically separated (and no matter for how long)!

This project recalls the RemoteHome project by Tobi Schneidler and the Relational Pillow project of Pattie Maes, Sajid Sadi and Amir Mikhak from the Ambient Intelligence Group at the MIT Media Lab: “With the Relational Pillow project, we are trying to provide a simple, intimate, and personable communication medium between loved ones. The pillows are capable of sensing touch information, and displaying incoming touch data as a pattern of lights that show the outline “drawn” upon the remote pillow. Pillows can connect to each other over the network so that this sense of touch can be shared across long distances. The physical sensation of holding a pillow and interacting with it builds upon the idea of using the natural features of the object in order to acheive a deeper connection between the users, without interfering in the communication process itself.”

cyborgs, here we are! I couldn’t miss that could I?

… is there… even after 7 years spent in Cambridge, MA, that is all I have gathered… well, I have trashed a lot of things too, bought and sold books:

If I had all my papers in pdf forms, and if I had digitized my data (movies, pictures)… If I were to move further away (still in Cambridge… I am moving again in a month though), I would obviously not take with me the mirror, the laundry detergent, the hangers, the sheets and pillows (actually, I am thinking of going to the camping store… to check on light gears… to camp indoor ;), the papers/books I have to give back, all my painting and papers, my printer, fewer pairs of shoes (is that possible?)… You might tell me… with all these “if” we could put Paris in a bottle, as the French say (I could argue that Duchamp did put Paris in a bottle… Air de Paris (Ready Made); YSL captured its essence)… Anyway, here is what my load would be:

I have so many of these “important” papers to keep (medical, taxes…). I had read somewhere that we had to keep bank statements for 10 years (well I get them electronically!). Too much for me to carry… In case of long distance travel, I would have sent my books through UPS.

I find the plastic boxes very useful to organize and store. I’d love it if Muji (it means “no brand” in Japanese) was here in Boston; they have the best storage boxes ever! Next time, I’ll have a wall of storage boxes… maybe no suitcases anymore: everything ready and organized to take away and put in another place. It just reminds me what KB told me last time: “I have reduced my moving time—packing, moving, and unpacking— [same urban area] to 4 hours.” He uses beverage crates (what is the name for it?) as standardized storage units. He also uses these as book shelves.

In few days I will leave Peabody Terrace… I will miss the modernist Harvard housing. This is how I lived for three weeks now the sofa-bed (my roommate’s in fact) that used to be open in the middle of the room is gone. I love it like that: my aloe and orchid + the light mat (from ems) with the perfect spot for my iPod nano…

Also because of a friend’s enthusiasm, I am going to watch An Inconvenient Truth… As I was looking at the Climate Crisis website, I have found few advices to REDUCE YOUR IMPACT WHILE ON THE MOVE!

A break from the city? $3 fee… at the prehistoric self-service pay station:

(With my friend Jie-Eun) The view at the top: PRICELESS!

Quotes of the day: “I have GPS on my cellphone. I haven’t paid for the service.” “I have reception! I am e-mailing you the pix.”

Sweet surprise: my friend naree, a friend and a Doctor of Design candidate is also a Chef! petit moment of celebration time while I am finishing editing, printing… Mmmh, Naree… I will miss your patisseries! Next step? vacation time and surprise, surpriiiiiise… 8o)
There will be more neo-nomadic stuff… no worries ;)

I have been singularly silent… for I am defending my Doctor of Design thesis May 15, 2006 :) Be there, in person or remotely by clicking here: http://sorcerer.design.harvard.edu/live.sdp

A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S … hyperlinked!

Antoine Picon, my thesis advisor and mentor for his support throughout! Edith Ackermann, mentor and friend, who has been strongly encouraging me since my Master of Science in Architecture Studies at MIT. Kostas Terzidis for his inspiring and candid opinions; and Karen Stephenson for letting me observe the neo-nomad she is | Thank you strangers and “familiar strangers” for your involuntary testimonies | Thank you to Karen Stephenson, Kenzo Yoneno, Mikael Powel, Mikel Murga, Robin Chase, Pierre-Loic Assayag, and Sue Zielinsky for your interviews | Jeffrey Huang for being part of my thesis committee for a year and a half, Hashim Sarkis for your support throughout, the Teaching Fellowship and for introducing me to Zombie Categories, and Muriel Waldvogel for lending me your books of George Perec and Michel de Certeau; Michael Hays and Elysse Newman for the inspiring Teaching Fellowship | François Ascher, Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, Jean Baudrillard, Paul Virilio, Sophie Calle, whom I wish I had met | Adam Greenfield, Ava Fatah gen. Schieck, Bruno Marzloff, Daniel Kaplan, Eric Paulos from Urban Atmosphere, John Urry, Nigel Thrift, Yoshito Tobe for facilitating my travel to Tokyo, William J. Mitchell, all of whom I have met and with whom I’ve debated; Nicolas Nova, Gernot Grabher, Laura Forlano | CiNum organizers, La FING, INVIVIA , La Ville En Mouvement, FRAC Centre | Merci Jérôme for the blog real estate: http://neo-nomad.kaywa.com proved to be an essential research tool | Merci Michèle, Ghazi, Rayane Abbas, Resline and Eric Brousier, Marie-Louise Schoenauer, my family; Sanaa, my friend for 16 years, toujours présente since + Erik; Hassan and Mehdi, my friends for 20 years; Erico, sweet Eva, Ivan, Jan, Jeng, Jie-Eun, Luis, Naree, Neyran, Stephanie and Stephen for their respect and support; Adriana for being a beautiful roommate; Julia, Thomas Watkin (and the BAC teaching ;) Valerie C. of Anomos; Cati, David C. + Becca; my MIT friends Franco, Miranda + Oliver, Peter… especially for the Irish say: “It is a blessing in disguise”, and Saeed; the Party Organizers of 12 Lawrence Street; the Alsatians in Cambridge, MA; Kostis for the incredible conversations on mobility and the dreams that will come true! Scott and Carlos for your appeasing presence | Thank you Leighton for the precious help correcting my franglish ;) | Thanks to Barbara, swift like an Elf dealing with administrative hassles; to my friends at the HGSD and the DDes folks for the incredible memories, the Beer and Dogs, the gatherings… and the DDes revolution that went forth! Go DDes!

V2_ institute for the unstable media_info> Electromagnetic Bodies: Aether, Desire and Resonance in Art and Technology | May 4th - June 4th, Rotterdam
“V2_Institute for the Unstable Media in collaboration with TENT. Center for Contemporary Art Rotterdam present Electromagnetic Bodies: Aether, Desire and Resonance in Art and Technology. Referring to the pioneering work of Nikola Tesla (1856 – 1943), the exhibition explores the notions of being and desire in a society determined by our bodily immersion within an ubiquitous and omnipresent electromagnetic realm. This is the zone where the physical boundaries between what may be called “organic”, or bodily sensors, and technological constructs intermingle. Considering the now lengthy history of the cyborg, the electron beam and the warp engine as a cultural concepts, one may wonder whether the distinctions between the natural world and globalised technologies are still valid. These issues were topics of Tesla’s investigations a century ago as he sought to create a new utopian ‘World Society’ fueled by free energy created by the earth’s own natural electromagnetic sphere. The contemporary implications of these observations and predictions in today’s world of wireless detachment and unlimited mobility still present enigmatic research material to both scientists and artists alike.”

A total new way of thinking about property! read the NYTimes Article: A place to park your RV (Golf privileges included)… with a picture showing the “Outdoor Resorts Motorcoach Country Club in Indio, Calif., offers golf, private docks, a spa, tennis, a restaurant and room service”

Extracts of the article by JENNIFER ALSEVER, April 16, 2006:
“The Mosers bought two R.V. properties in Breckenridge, Colo., one in Palm Springs, Calif., and one in Newport, Ore., but they are far from just investments. Rather, the couple wanted to buy what Mr. Moser called “the R.V. lifestyle,” and the convenience of having several home sites where they know other people. “It’s the friendships, the camaraderie,” said Mr. Moser, 70, a retired real estate developer. “There is always someone to visit and chat with.”"
“Ten years ago, most of the biggest R.V.’s were around 30 feet long; today they are 45 feet. Some of these rigs, which have quieter diesel engines, have high-speed Internet, satellite television, washing machines, gas fireplaces, hardwood floors and built-in garages for canoes and motorcycles.”
“That company, Outdoor Resorts of America, is selling spots for $82,000 to $275,000 at its own park, called Outdoor Resort Indio. Buyers, screened to ensure that their R.V.’s are no shorter than 45 feet, get unlimited golf privileges and access to full-time tennis and golf instructors; water aerobics classes; a health spa with body wraps and hair and nails services; and a lodge for bingo and dances.”
“It offers more traditional R.V. activities like fishing and hiking, but it also is building a 9,000-square-foot lodge with a spa, Internet room, pools, hot tubs and a nine-hole putting green.”
“Individual owners must pay property taxes, some utilities and homeowner association fees that may range from $100 to $400 a month and cover water and sewer services, trash pickup and maintenance of the common areas.”