Someth;ng

The SOMETH;NG seven, all from different countries, converged in Ravensbourne College. All are from a creative, arts installation or academic backgrounds. SOMETH;NG pool ideas that share a common legacy from their Ravensbourne education – to challenge uses of existing technology to make experiences more interesting. All projects currently being worked on explore the point where art and design converge with computing and technology.

The group is familiar with the spectrum of powerful digital platforms currently available. They work on that extra spark of creativity to produce alternative applications that enhance our environment by stressing the humanising elements. Applications extend to creating new products or devices for business and education as well as leisure.

SOMETH;NG work has been shown at Ars Electronica (Austria), BAFTA Interactive, Web3D Art, DMZ Festival, Digital Sparks (Germany), 2 x Cybersonica (DeLuxe Gallery, Hoxton & The Science Museum’s Dana Centre), LONO Film Festival, Dorkbot, Plug 58, Ogaki Biennale (Japan), Busan International Graphics Festival (Korea), File Symposium 2002 (Brasil), Saledo Gallery of Contemporary Arts (Austin, Texas).

Jee Hyun Oh

GORI.Node Garden

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GORI.Node Garden is physical & ambient data visualization as a network garden in which each plant grows up fed by communication data. It has plants with blossoms and roots which retrieve data to feed the garden during 'watering time' when each plant vibrates, similar to how plants move when the breeze blows on them.

GORI.Node Garden approaches a different aspect of Information Aesthetics. It visualizes a node within social network using visual metaphors in order to explain the concept of 'Information Ecosystem'. The project also aims to be presented in a living environment, getting out of screens and sharing space in which we are living that people feel more familiar with the idea of 'Environment follows data'.

*GORI means 'an open hook' in Korean and it is often used to represent human relationships. Here it is used to express the image of 'fastening or loosening the relationship at your will'. Here, GORI is presented as individual mobile number which identify person.

Jee Hyun Oh

Studied music and product design before her MA studies in Networked Media Environments at Ravensbourne College. She has a particular interest in networked culture and currently working on GORI.Node Garden exploring the relationship between network and nature.

Hwa Young Jung

MPAA (Mobile Phone Abusers Anonymous)

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Mobile phones are integrated into our lives like no object since the wristwatch. The convenience and/or burden of being constantly in touch have an interesting effect on peopleÕs psychology and social behaviour. Mobile phones have been by and large taken for granted without critical reflection on their impact, the dominant message being what is presented by the mobile phone industry itself. Many negative issues are arising, but have not been fully discussed; MPAA wants to bring a discourse to the surface of mobile phone culture and examine its role in todayÕs social structure. This is an on-going social/artists project, which wishes to reach the general public.

What is MPAA?

MPAA is a fellowship of men and women who bring together their hope, strength and experience to solve their common problem: addiction to the mobile phone. The only requirement for membership is a desire to take control of oneÕs communication habit. There are no dues or fees for MPAA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. MPAA is not allied with any sect, denomination, political organization or institution; it does not wish to engage in any controversy, and neither endorses nor opposes any cause.

What do we do?

Our primary purpose is to foster awareness of the mobile phone - the devastation it can cause, and the salvation it can offer. We do this by offering meetings, mobile phone discussions, replacement products, activities and much more.

Hwa Young Jung

Hwa Young Jung illustrated and designed several books, cards, and educational websites in her native Korea. Rent was paid by designing UI/GUI interfaces, most notably for Samsung mobile phones. After a brief return to higher education earning her MA, she took her experiences of mobile phones, and their usage, out to the general public, leading to the creation of the MPAA, her latest project. She is currently interested in mobile communications and their normative social functions.

Kalle Kormann

Clique.Musique

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clique.musique is an outcome of our cliqueservice developments. It is a new definition of the ringtone as it connects multiple devices and letÕs them play music synchronously. As soon as two devices get near to each other they will communicate over the piece to play and agree on a common beat and start time. They will alert each other of their presence by playing in tune different tracks of the same melody, sharing the underlying rhythm. Thus proximity will make the ownerÕs aware of each other and "help" them to get into into contact "in person".

cliqueservice is an open Bluetooth platform to aid creative developments of networked mobile applications. In its core cliqueservice let's mobile phones connect to each other without the ownerÕs direct influence. Mobiles with our service will form their own community and can exchange every conceivable type of information.The user will however decide what he is interested in and configure his mobile accordingly.

Our aim is to provide a modular framework whose parts can be reused as building blocks for different applications around this type of ad-hoc networking, ranging from profile exchange over networking tools, multiplayer games, proximity applications, remote control setups and artistic usage in every kind of mobile supported media.

Kalle Kormann

Creative Digital Designer who focuses on developing and exploring the possibilities of networked Information- Systems and their potential regarding social, commercial, and artistic aspects.