Talking about storage spaces, I find this article The essence of a digital lifestyle pretty interesting; posted on UX matters… It obviously relates to packing habits.

Thinking about “surface real estate” for 2D codes, I came to envisage printing 2D codes on post-its… You know already how much I like post-its, as ubiquitous in our environment as 2D codes… so why not combining both… like that:

Let’s have them printed; let’s people pick the information about ourselves or rooms for rent… though YES!… once I see a 2D code I can scan it with my cellphone… so no need for carrying it you may say… yet… I or others can distribute the 2D-code-post-it, place it, re-place it, dis-place it as wish (and as long as the glue stands :) The post-it is certainly a good advertising tool, as the MIT Advertising Lab, blog on the future of advertising technology posts (And I will try to develop upon this post).

In fact the post-it enables both the posting and the un-posting of notes. Maybe you remember my un-post-it calendar? Having experienced using it, I have noticed:
1. It is slightly fatiguing for the arm to write on post-its, especially when standing
2. One gets an amazing sense of achievement when all the items on the list of the day “disappear”
3. It augments stress when there is a deadline coming up… but some, like me, may work better under a little of good stress!

So I have read that not so long ago, some celebrated the 25 years anniversary of this incredible invention. As the article by Greg Beato emphasizes, this minuscule idea, soon to be big, was the invention of a man who had a vision… that an outdated management couldn’t see.

Anyway, the original post-it, mainly because of its “pixel” shape has inspired many art works based on digital pictures! The pictures of the Post-it Note Video Games Characters are good examples of PIXEL ART, of which, I think, some Post-it art pieces belong. But have a look at the Post-it Note Elvis images!

The article “The Girls Guide to Elvis” by the New Observer newspaper gives us some data: “We’re talking about a mosaic of the King, Elvis Presley himself, made from Post-it Notes. A total of 2,646 sticky notes, to be exact, on a 14-by-9-foot wall.” Tedious though to calculate how many post-it per color scheme one would need, so to calculate how many pack to get… Anyway, would you want to convert a flat image into a post-it art piece, please follow the post-it mosaic howto [updated]!

I (as well) like very much the post by the insurgent muse, “The Under-Appreciated Art of the Post-it”! The art work by Rebecca (picture below comes from the same posting) makes me think of many of the customizable-environments-and-hotel-rooms inquiries that I have been sharing with you.

But I still think that the dimension of the PACK of post-it, which gives a depth to the post-it surface, has unfortunately not been taken into close consideration. After all there might be as much jubilation to post a note as that to un-post it; and to keep un-posting it until the pack ends (Actually, I shall now revise my un-post-it calendar ;)

Hence, one of the most beautiful Post-it work of art is that of the artist VASSEVA, who I have met when drifting in the streets of Budapest (I went to Budapest for the SASE2005 conference and to give a presentation about neo-nomads). Here is a picture downloaded from her website… For me it is more about “effeuiller” (defoliate, denudate…) than “leaving a message.”

Yet I also recall the power of Post-its (mute messages) in the movie by Elia Suleiman, Divine Intervention, 2002. Poignant. On another note, the interview of the movie director in VACARME is particularly interesting, as he also “compares himself to a Bedouin, and claims his experience of nomadism…” The article is in French.

I CAN print my 2D code tattoo!!! (via smooth planet via semapedia) you just need to purchase the Laser Temporary Tattoo Paper and VOILA! (and funny note the brand is called HYAZ ;) I will need to write longer about this. In fact it is not the first time I am exploring the collapsing of boundaries. Here is below a picture of a project I had done at MIT (2000) with the Center for Advanced Visual Studies: in short it is… place mirror TV camera hinge filmed space across a window…

Also I was thinking about my earlier idea, tagging to advertize rooms for rent: it is easy, you make your 2D code print based on the craigslist url of your ad, and you paste it on a special “real estate surface” on the building facade. Proposed designs of the “real estate surface” to come super soon!

Yes… I could get a signal on my cellphone instead… But I’d like to go beyond SPAMSPACE…

I guess you should also subscribe to the mailing list of the technology & culture forum at MIT
“The Technology and Culture Forum at MIT sponsors lectures and symposia that address critical issues of our time. The programs explore the role of science and technology in promoting positive social, ecological, and economic change. In addition, they stimulate discussion about the ethical implications of scientific discovery and technological innovation.” … “Technology shapes the modern world and MIT is a world leader in shaping technology. It is imperative that MIT students, faculty, and staff, not only engage in, but lead the dialogue about the potential change. For forty years, the Technology and Culture Forum has provided the only on-going, Institute-wide arena for such issues to be discussed.”

Some have asked me… and what is KAYWA? Only a KAYWA GURU could answer that in a comprehensimple manner (sorry in French… but you’ll understand that KAYWA is a platform of blogs that has the specificity to be able to publish and consult the blog while on the move):

“c’est quoi KAYWA ?
KAYWA est une petite entreprise basée à Zürich (CH) qui développe des outils web/mobiles (pour les nomades ;-)
Son, ou plutôt notre, produit principal est pour le moment une plateforme de blogs comme il en existe maintenant beaucoup d’autres mais qui a la spécificité de permettre la publication ET la consultation en situation de mobilité.
Le blog “mobile” est donc notre produit principal mais nous développons d’autres outils/applications puisque par exemple nous avons mis récemment sur le marché un lecteur de code barre 2D pour mobile: Le KAYWA Reader, que vous pouvez télécharger gratuitement: http://reader.kaywa.com (la liste des devices supportés est encore restreinte mais s’aggrandira dans les prochains jours).
Vous pouvez également générer vos propre QR Code là: http://qrcode.kaywa.com.”

Yes… still looking for the dream environment to live in… I recently came across MyApartmentMap, which is rather pleasing to the eyes… As the creator notes that “MyApartmentMap finds its listing on Craigslist and then plots the locations using Google Maps. If you would like to find out more about how to use Google Maps API please look here [FYI, as says Google, “The Maps API is a free beta service, available for any web site that is free to consumers. Please see the terms of use for more information].”

A look at the Boston Apartment Map (the first one generated) and I can tell if it is a lie or not when someone claims “my apartment is 15 minutes from the GSD.” 15min walk? or 15 min Drive?? The thing is I know the area well enough now for having studied here long enough :) But imagine what it is for someone coming from abroad?! Which is cool with the map, is that you know where subways and groceries are… would be cool if the thing could do the distance math between the place of work and the place of living (though it does not matter if you work from home), and in terms of car or pedestrian, cyclist… Just a thought…

Would be nice if I could walk around the neighborhood and receive on my portable device signals of where rooms for rent are… another thought… I will work on that one ;)

(NDLR: example above not in my price range + I like people)

Another “threat level change for the aviation sector” (’cause some can’t coexist!)!!! Now, according to the Transportation Security Administration, “NO LIQUIDS OR GELS OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED IN CARRY-ON BAGGAGE. ITEMS MUST BE IN CHECKED BAGGAGE. This includes all beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, tooth paste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency.” exception: “Baby formula, breast milk, or juice if a baby or small child is traveling; prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket; and insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines.” (got the first news from Wired online).

I am just wondering, if the liquid is in the luggage (in the cargo) and not in the carry-on, what difference does it make?

Does it mean that we better travel digitally and immerse ourselves in “safer” worlds (less business for the suntan lotion industry)?

I am always amazed, in our techy/bio~techy time (which pushes us to question the notion of territory) by the insistence to keep physical borders through the “use of advanced targeting tools, special response teams including baggage and aircraft search teams, baggage x-ray equipment, specially-trained canine units, and explosive detection technology.”

Just confirming that the pseudo neo-nomadic slogan, traveling anywhere, has much deeper implications than we usually think…

Edith tells me that “media artist toshio iwai gave the most amazing talk / performance yesterday at the medialab.” I particularly like the “toshio 3 - (7mn) mobile device / hand-held: translate lights into sound” piece. Check also Toshio Iwai’s blog!

Lol

There certainly hasn’t been much studies I know about being lonely in the digital world and the relationship with screens/gadgets… especially when always on the move (physically, mentally or digitally…) except maybe the legendary Life on the Screen by Sherry Turkle who talks about introverted teenages…

Think also about women travelers having to juggle with taking their pills on time despite the jetlag and time zones change… well now you can have a shot of hormones regulation for few months in a row eliminating the hassle of remembering when to take it (… I guess neo-nomads could use that too; though too dangerous to my taste :).

The following deserves our attention… look at the new gadget (via the Wired blog Gear Factor)… OhMiBod (isn’t it so sleek that you want to have it just for the sake of a conversation?):

I particularly like the comment by “mythster34″ who says that “Somebody needs to create an iMix for this thing. Like: “I’m gonna take you higher” “Move to the Music” “Don’t Go out Much Anymore” “Shake That Thing” (Do what you’re gonna do) etc.”

Lol again…

ok… it is not that sleek at all… but I really like the idea, half digital, half Swiss knife, all in one, totally use~ful/less, totally neo-nomadic in its paradox: look at the icon of the online Wired magazine blog, Gear Factor :)