TechnoActivism
Artist continues to be prosecuted as a “bioterrorist”
By cdharris at January 17, 2006 | 3:08 pm | 0 Comment
Federal Judge Kenneth Schroeder Jr. refused recently to dismiss charges against Steven J. Kurtz, a University at Buffalo art professor who was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2004. He was arrested after a search of his home produced laboratory equipment and some bacteria that agents thought might be used in a "terrorist act."? The case is being continued despite more...
More doomsday planning
By cdharris at January 16, 2006 | 3:38 pm | 0 Comment
Thankfully there are people planning ahead for the survival of the species... and not just our own.? According to the BBC, Norway is planning to? build a Seed Bank in the Artic Permafrost to protect all known?variations of seeds in case of worldwide disaster.? There are currently about 1,400 seed banks around the world, but a large number of these were located in more...
Is It A Hijacking If No One Notices?
By cdharris at January 13, 2006 | 2:19 pm | 0 Comment
A group of Danish artists last month attempted to "culturally hijack" the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. ?"The artists hoped a blast of Beethoven?s Eroica Symphony from a boat moored offshore would send the American forces fleeing in terror and that they and their crew could occupy the military base and 'have a great party'." Shockingly enough, soldiers more...
Use of Laser Projection for Political Protest
By cdharris at January 4, 2006 | 6:25 pm | 0 Comment
During the World Economic Forum's annual conference in Davos, Switzerland in 2001, public gatherings that might be protests or political activism were prohibited.? The site Guerrilla Innovation notes that a Swiss media artist Johannes Gees came up with the concept of projecting digitally relayed messages by laser on to the snowy mountain slopes overlooking Davos. The more...
How To Disappear Kit
By cdharris at January 4, 2006 | 6:20 pm | 0 Comment
As a response to the increasing amount of private information stored on individuals, and the rise of sophisticated database marketing, students at the Danish School for Design have developed a 'How to Disappear' kit. The DIY kit is enclosed in a video cassette case that can only be purchased from a vending machine. The case contains instructions and materials more...
Blog , TechnoActivism , Technology and Art , Technology and Privacy
Guerrilla Wi-Fi ?
By cdharris at January 4, 2006 | 4:04 pm | 0 Comment
Although "guerrilla" wi-fi solutions -- mostly low-powered and tough to setup -- have been around for some time now,? they are now going commercial.? A company called Raysat is introducing a new product at this week's Consumer Electronics Show which turns any vehicle into a personal wi-fi zone. The SpeedRay 3000 by RaySat is a round and relatively thin antenna designed more...
Blog , Emerging Science and Technology , Geolocation and Psychogeography , Media and Markets , TechnoActivism , Technology and Art , Technology and Privacy
Blogging without getting burned….
By cdharris at January 4, 2006 | 2:10 pm | 0 Comment
See advice by the Electronic Frontier Foundation on blogging anonymously, in order to avoid some of the perils (and reprisals) experienced by some bloggers,? especially those who have used their blogs to share information about their workplace or profession that was considered by employers to be privileged or confidential information:?? Electronic Frontier Foundation more...
Blog , TechnoActivism , Technology and Art , Technology and Privacy
Anti-spyware software may be spyware after all — DRATS — just as we suspected!
By cdharris at January 3, 2006 | 11:15 pm | 0 Comment
Be careful whenever you download software -- even if it promises to be the good guys and solve all your problems.?? As it turns out,? some opportunistic companies are disguising themselves as "anit-spyware solutions" but are really spyware in disguise.? Your basic Trojan horse.?? Not the fun kind, either. Mark Russinovich recently noted that:? "Last week when I was more...
Blog , Datamining , Emerging Science and Technology , Media and Markets , TechnoActivism , Technology and Privacy
Ultramini Projectors and Guerrilla Art
By cdharris at December 24, 2005 | 10:59 am | 0 Comment
In most major cities, there are now quite a few "viral marketing" companies as well as major ad agencies using high-powered projection techniques to place marketing messages on buildings, vacant billboards, and other streetscape locations after dark. The theory is that the unusual medium and locale may make a more memorable impression on the target audience(s) and more...
Blog , Emerging Science and Technology , TechnoActivism , Technology and Art
