reinvention

This originally appeared in http://www.frontlinemedia.org.au/node/5.

I was reminded of “intercreativity” twice today: first, during a talk with a multimedia artist in Darwin about how he could potentially contribute to Frontline; second, when I visited the web site of a Philippine-based artist to listen to her compositions, including excerpts from her sound installation work.

Frontline will have multimedia and sound installations. But how will we make multimedia and sound installations, and other “locative media” in the coming months and years? I believe our locative media should be guided by the principle of intercreativity.

I learned of “intercreativity” from Tim Berners-Lee’s book, Weaving the Web, where he recounts (among other things) why he invented the World Wide Web. He contrasted interactivity with intercreativity on the Web: with interactivity, a Web user is given options (buttons to push, links to click) that are predetermined by the author/producer; with intercreativity, Web users make things together as prosumers (producer-consumers). His original specification for the Web client was thus a browser that was also an editor.

I have long ago taken on intercreativity as a first principle for the work I wish to do on the Web and in my practice as a community artist. The principle of “making things together” seems such an obvious framework for a project such as Frontline.

Reminding myself of intercreativity as first principle and framework is useful in a personal context. I have looked forward to making things myself as a participant in Frontline; I wish to work on sound and multimedia installations in particular. But after listening to the sound installation excerpts (and other compositions) on the web site I visited last night, and on reflecting some more on mmy talk with the Darwin multimedia artist today, I reminded myself that it will not be enough — and possibly not even appropriate — for me to concentrate on making things myself. I should think and work intercreatively and concentrate on making things with others.

Now, there are many ways of “making things together”. It is not enough to have the desire to make things together and to put people together somewhere then ask them to make things together (or “collaborate”); people who want to make things together should discuss and decide on how they will accomplish this; the environment and tools and resources for making things together must also be secured. In this regard, I think I can contribute to fostering intercreativity in Frontline by helping develop the dialogue about how to make things together, and also contribute to developing the environment that will make intercreativity possible.

I should be thinking not only of composing music and designing sound installations. I should think also of composing and designing the environment that will allow people to compose music and design installations together. And I should be thinking of how I compose and design environments collaboratively. I have done similar things in my previous work with the Theatre of the Oppressed and Cultural Action (in a previous life) in the 1980s and early 1990s. My challenge is to explore how to do so with locative media, how to be intercreative with Frontline.

I think it has been ten years since I’ve been to Alice Springs (excepting the brief flight stop-overs on the way to and from Darwin). The last time I was here may have been when I worked on the Alice Springs Multicultural Festival in 1995 — I’m not sure about this date (especially as that festival was a disaster, and one that I’d rather forget about).

(more…)

The Guitar Festival’s on again; this is the sixth one, the previous one being two years ago (I think). Last Festival I volunteered to stage-manage their outdoor performance at the Territory Wildlife Park — that was hard work but I enjoyed contributing to the Festival and watching the performances. This year, I am just watching.

from blogger:reinvention

Here I am again, after so long. My excuse is that I’m running a workshop on Weblogs and Wikis on 29 November 2003 for the Northern Territory Writers Centre. So I thought I’d dust off this blog (I have others) to use for that workshop. My main blog is bramilo.weblogs.com but I haven’t updated that for so long either. Its mainly about what I did during my Australia Council Fellowship (2000-2002) so its not really a personal blog (but I do have personal bits in there too). The Fellowship’s done so maybe I need to do more personal blogging (need to try and do it but its hard — more about why its hard later).

from bramilo.weblogs.com

Its been two months since I launched intercreate.net. There are twenty members so far, and a few postings. It has been, therefore, quiet. Cath Styles from Adult Learning Australia, the most active member thus far, has asked why it has been quiet and what could be done to liven it up a bit.

Some of Cath’s questions:

“Maybe there’s not a critical mass of people in Australia who will use it? … Do you think people are intimidated? … Is its purpose as clear as it could be?”

I had replied to Cath that while sites take up to six months to pick up, I would like more traffic at intercreate. I suggested that more activity on it can be encourage by initiating some projects (such as a newspoetry forum) and by promoting it a bit more. With focused activity and a bit of marketing, we may get a few more members, and more activity happening.

I also raised other possible issues:

“I don’t expect too many members or too much interest, however, as I think the CCD field may still be grappling with the relevance and usefulness of internet technologies to its work. I know this from my direct experience in advocating the use of internet tools — and actually setting up these tools — among community arts practitioners and organisations (and other organisations) in Darwin and elsewhere.

“There is still much resistance from the CCD/community arts people up here to adopting new technologies, because it appears to add more work, or its not obviously useful to ongoing work (particularly to work up here which is so performance and production centred). It is also hard sometimes to convince people that internet technologies can actually assist work, if work routines are adjusted to accommodate advantages provided by new technologies. There are thus cultural as well as technical barriers (e.g. attitude to adopting and maximising new technologies), and these barriers are more difficult to overcome than technical ones.

“Maybe it is simply that target users for the site are just too busy doing many other things (including participating in dozens of mailing lists, or web sites, etc.).”

Cath’s response was:

Re. the critical mass question. Seems like there are plenty of people who might potentially use Intercreate who currently spend a lot of time using overseas-based news and discussion facilities, and who might ultimately prefer and benefit from participating in something closer to home. It must partly be a question, as you say, of promoting it as a useful tool.

She also agreed that initiating projects will help liven up intercreate.

So, some of the things I intend to do to help grow intercreate a bit more quickly are:

* redesigning the default theme (look and feel) so its cleaner and meaner;
* initiating some online projects;
* repromoting the site to ccd practitioners; and,
* getting more direct feedback from critical users.

Cath’s feedback and suggestions have been invaluable. I hope to get more feedback from her and eventually from other users.

As for the other issues that concern me, particularly cultural barriers to maximising new technologies, I need to do more research and work on that.

from bramilo.weblogs.com
Posted by Christian Ramilo, 3/9/02 at 9:39:36 AM.

Bong at ccd.net launch

The national community cultural development web site, ccd.net, was launched on 4 March 2002 at the Ngapartji Theatre, Adelaide. I attended the launch virtually, using Netmeeting. I had suggested to the content subcommittee and steering committee (both of which I sit on) that the launch be webcast and that more people attend it virtually but due to various technical and other limitations, it was decided that a bigger virtual launch be organised later.

I was able to see the proceedings from Darwin but had trouble hearing the formal parts of the launch as the mic level at the Ngapartji end was too low for that part of the launch. After the speeches, however, I chatted with people who were at the launch. The sound from Adelaide improved a lot as the speakers were fairly near to the computer. I had, however, problems transmitting good sound — I was using a plain 56K dial-up connection — due probably to net congestion; my video was good, on the other hand. So I had a number of chats with me typing in my stuff and people at the other end typing and/or speaking. The transcript of the text chat is below.

The chats, and my image on Netmeeting was — unknown to me for the most part of my session — being projected on the big screen at Ngapartji. Had I known, I probably would have been more prudent in some of my responses (but then again, probably not).

As a “gimmick” (as Julia Tymukas and I described my part in the launch), I think it went reasonably well. At the minimum proved that we can try a virtual launch later on using Netmeeting (or a similar technology such as iVisit that will allow Mac users to participate too). More important, the “gimmick” may have demonstrated that videoconferencing can be used by ccd organisations and practitioners relatively easily for general purposes — maybe videoconferencing can complement teleconferencing later on, saving community arts networks and practitioners some money.

==================================

Transcript of Chat at ccd.net launch

Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:06:13 PM Hello all.
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:06:26 PM welcome to (virtual) adelaide bong
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:06:32 PM thank you
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:06:58 PM you need to talk closer to the mic, please
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:07:24 PM of course
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:07:43 PM hang around bong - will swith back to you soon
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:07:58 PM okay. will hang around. bring the mic level up, please
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:10:20 PM how’s my audio?
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:10:41 PM breaking up qauite a bit
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:11:06 PM is that any better?
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:11:32 PM getting lots of feedback
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:11:44 PM okay. will stick to chat for now
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:12:04 PM i’ll se who i can send over to chat
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:12:13 PM okay
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:12:27 PM your video is paused, i think
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:15:59 PM hi Bong its BB here
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:16:10 PM hello BB, can’t see you
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:16:42 PM I turn off th evid, mhh a bit not good in front of camera
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:17:08 PM i’m not too good in front of a camera either
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:17:30 PM nice crowd you have there
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:17:37 PM Well, many people here and they’re so ecited to see you on the screen
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:17:59 PM thanks. there are, however, more exciting things to see on screen
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:18:26 PM yeah right. This is quite awesome isn’t it?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:18:51 PM yes, it is. a lot of hard work was put into it.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:19:34 PM BB, you can talk if you want. i can hear audio from there
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:19:38 PM I just talk to Mark , Lockie is here he like to say hello to you
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:19:47 PM okay. hello Lockie
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:19:52 PM Hi Bong
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:20:04 PM maybe that camera should be pointed at you
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:20:24 PM Have been living in Murray Bridge for the last five weeks working on a show. Same old same old.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:20:35 PM hello dee
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:20:44 PM De Martin has just rocked up.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:20:49 PM i can even hear your nice laugh
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:21:02 PM Great stuff mate.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:21:08 PM get lockie beside you so i can see him too, please
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:21:26 PM good looking bloke that one
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:21:49 PM my audio is a bit patchy as i’m using a normal phone line
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:21:59 PM you mob are using high tech shit over there
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:22:18 PM Right so have these mob here got an isd line or what.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:22:35 PM they have a 1M line, on isdn i think
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:22:44 PM Right
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:22:50 PM us poor ccd sods can’t afford that (yet)
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:22:59 PM Seems odd this stuff but great to see you.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:23:18 PM good to see you to. are you going to the albury wodonga conference?
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:24:11 PM Maybe, I don’t have much idea what I will be doing then. I might be in Katherine mid year if so I will get up to Darwin
for a live chat.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:24:25 PM yes, that will be good. maybe we can even fish
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:24:50 PM Nothing like a good fish killing workshop.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:24:57 PM i’m inot that
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:25:02 PM hello, baby
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:25:09 PM Oops I’ve lost weight,
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:25:33 PM what’s a nice baby doing witha bunch of community arts types?
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:25:44 PM Great to see the facials while we chat.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:26:11 PM yes. at some other times in the day, audio is better — less people/traffic on the net
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:26:28 PM Interesting!
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:26:38 PM but hey, this is cheap — just the normal rates you pay for internet access
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:26:39 PM Bong I will head off now.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:26:55 PM okay, lockie,. will see you up here when you get here
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:27:23 PM I would howver like to find out more about this stuff so will email when I get back to Albany, Cheers Mate.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:27:37 PM no probs. ciao. take care
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:30:33 PM Hi bong it’s andy here
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:30:37 PM hello andy
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:30:48 PM How’s things up there?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:30:58 PM had my video paused for a smoke. its raining up here
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:31:15 PM Sun is shining and the launch has gone very well
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:31:32 PM yes, as i saw. are you happy, jan?
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:31:48 PM yes, it’s looking good
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:32:07 PM i was browsing the site while the speeches were happening — trying ot follow the tour
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:32:26 PM i’ve registered already, by the way
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:32:26 PM and did you get the tour?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:32:49 PM sort of — audio was a bit faint while the speeaches were on but caught some of julia’s stuff
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:32:55 PM hey can you see me?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:33:17 PM yes, i can see you (with the sunglasses on your head — too sunny is it?)
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:33:36 PM no, I just don’t want to lose them!
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:33:54 PM you can wear them and pretend to be an ASIO type
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:34:14 PM have you got a beer up there? I could send the caterers up
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:34:31 PM yes, please — except send cartons of coke or tequilla instead
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:34:42 PM i have the lime ready
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:34:43 PM I’ll do my best
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:34:51 PM waiting …
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:35:05 PM okay, speaking of beer, I think I’d better get one myself!
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:35:25 PM okay. see you later. are you at the art of dissent thing too?
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:35:46 PM no, I’m going back on Thursday morn. Hope it all goes well
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:36:03 PM hope so too. see yopu at some stage anyway. ciao
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:36:23 PM cheers, thanks for everything on this project. I’ve enjoyed working with you
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:36:38 PM me too. more work to come i’m sure
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:37:37 PM hello
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:37:51 PM hello bong, Neal price from Brisbane -friend of ferals
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:38:08 PM hi, neal. how are the ferals and brisbane?
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:38:43 PM Sara and norm are coming in to Adelaide on Thursday I think. Its nice to meet you, how is the fellowship going.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:39:03 PM you can talk, by the way — i can get sound from there okay, i just a problem sending sound.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:39:24 PM yes, i can, clearly
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:39:53 PM not much fun, having that at a launch
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:40:02 PM The guy is ok
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:40:08 PM that’s good.
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:40:37 PM in not very good at technology.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:40:53 PM who is? too much to learn these days
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:40:57 PM okay, bye neal
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:41:39 PM yes
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:41:51 PM hi
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:42:11 PM you can talk, by the way — i can get sound from there okay, i just a problem sending sound.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:43:09 PM i can hear you clearly
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:43:16 PM i’m not send sound anyway
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:43:35 PM yes, i can see you — no need to speak too close to the mic
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:43:57 PM raining today. how’s alice?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:44:16 PM flies everywhere?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:44:49 PM haven’t been there in ages
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:44:55 PM must visit sometime
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:45:21 PM what new government? just joking …
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:45:37 PM we should talk about this soemtime
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:45:54 PM still a lot ofproblems with arts and culture, even with clare atthe helm
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:46:39 PM they’ve had the 100 days honeymoon, what next?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:47:06 PM i shouldn’t talk this way as I’m an ALP member — i’m trying ot get info to them through various channel
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:47:27 PM maybe in another 100 days things will move
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:47:53 PM too slow for me but i’m really just an impatient anarchist
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:48:23 PM maybe …
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:48:32 PM i’ll ask them one of these days
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:48:41 PM i’ll send the question in morse code
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:48:51 PM … — … —
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:49:22 PM nice seeing you again. we’ll catch up when back in the territory or over the phone or email. ciao
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:50:51 PM it’s john harvey, from ccdb.can i talk with you through the mic??can i listen to your response, with headphones
somewhere.can ….. ;….. ——.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:50:53 PM hello. you can talk — i can get sound from there okay, i just have a problem sending sound.
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:51:01 PM Hi Bong this is Jane
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:51:02 PM how are you jane?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:51:08 PM yes, i can see you
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:51:11 PM yes
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:51:18 PM yes i can hear you
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:51:23 PM i’m not send sound
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:51:36 PM nice milestone
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:51:47 PM relax now
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:51:56 PM i saw a lot but didn’t hear too many things
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:52:03 PM problem with the mic level there
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:52:10 PM no didn’t hear any speeches
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:52:28 PM hope they put their $ where his mouth is
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:52:47 PM yes, i was browsing it while julia was talking
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:53:07 PM always, always. never ends. yes, a good start
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:53:16 PM web sites never get done
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:53:54 PM yes, that’s how it should be. otherwise, why have a dynamic site?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:54:02 PM sorry my fingers aren;t as quick as they were
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:54:20 PM okay, will see you thursday or friday maybe when i’m there
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:54:34 PM yes, for art of dissent (to express my dissent)
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:54:51 PM bye
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:57:14 PM yes
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:57:25 PM hello
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:57:32 PM i think so
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:57:36 PM Im weare you awake
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:57:50 PM how are you?
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:57:54 PM is ben strout
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:58:05 PM yes, ben i recognise you even thourgh the haze of cyberspace
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:58:10 PM didn’
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:58:13 PM sorry
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:58:19 PM didn’t know the camera worked
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:58:27 PM you can talk, by the way — i can get sound from there okay, i just have a problem sending sound.
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:58:46 PM oh I see. I asked “are you awake” got no answer so I thought TYPE
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:58:57 PM yes i can hear you clearly
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:59:07 PM busy busy busy
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:59:10 PM hw’s things? waht
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:59:29 PM with too many projects (ccd fellowship stuff) and raising a 7-month old baby
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 6:59:38 PM the sevn month that’s great
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 6:59:53 PM greta, sometimes … he’s a handful
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:00:11 PM I saw a little baby on the plane …. my two are 15 and 12 , so it’s been a long time
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:00:17 PM lucky you
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:00:28 PM trouble coming up with the teenage years
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:00:34 PM lucky I am taking my daughter to Nick Cave… lucky is right
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:00:44 PM nick cave is fine
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:00:47 PM you bet
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:01:08 PM she’s into new music … pretty good. and into art / some drama
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:01:16 PM can’t stop her
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:01:34 PM like all sensible kids should be. my daughter (she’s 7) is into singing, ballet and swimming
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:01:42 PM full time taxi driving for me, though
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:01:47 PM really
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:01:52 PM can’t wait for her to get her P plates
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:01:59 PM absolytely.
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:02:04 PM there goes the weekend
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:02:09 PM what weekend?
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:02:15 PM her weekend, not yours
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:02:30 PM yes. father must have its merits, though. i need toi find out
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:02:45 PM sorry, meant fatherhood
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:02:48 PM you have the new baby…. that will be great
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:03:00 PM yes. can;t wait for him to get his P plates too
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:03:04 PM just joking
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:03:26 PM When my wife was in Korea, we did MSN … you can just hang on with it, can’t you?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:03:50 PM sorry, hang on meaning keep using it?
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:04:06 PM sorry.. yes. “hang on” like keep the conversation (and relationship) going.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:04:26 PM yes. msn is okay. it can do videochats too, i believe
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:04:38 PM I didn’t have the video. would have helped!!
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:04:47 PM yes, but is she in korea still?
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:05:01 PM No. Home. Away most of last year, but home now. Very good
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:05:17 PM yes, very good. long distance relationships are hard
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:05:38 PM tried it for a few weeks and gave up — ran back to the missus
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:05:38 PM I just realised this conversation is on a big screen here in Adelaide….. Olympics of MSN
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:05:55 PM sorry, didn;t know that. i should quit now, i think
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:06:02 PM Me too before I weep.
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:06:05 PM Good to see you
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:06:15 PM no weeping allowed. enough beer there to cheer you up i gather
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:06:34 PM I’m going with T Crea and Whitney now…. try the local beer.
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:06:37 PM see you, Bong
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:06:46 PM andy donovan was going ot send me some tequilla via the caterers. i’ll drink to you when it gets here
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:06:54 PM ciao
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:06:55 PM do that!
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:06:59 PM ciap
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:07:03 PM ciao
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:07:07 PM bye
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:07:37 PM hello
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:07:39 PM hi bong its bev
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:07:44 PM hi, bev
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:07:50 PM you can talk, by the way — i can get sound from there okay, i just have a problem sending sound.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:08:11 PM i can hear you so no need ot type
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:08:26 PM well, just because you can
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:08:39 PM save the hands — fight RSI
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:09:00 PM well you can type while you talk if you want
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:09:19 PM still humid, and raining today
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:09:37 PM no, you don’t. i still hate it
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:09:45 PM yes i can hear the noise
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:09:58 PM julia, the noisy lithuanian?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:10:02 PM yes, relax now
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:10:15 PM chickens?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:10:34 PM i must take a photo when i see her on thursday
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:10:46 PM yes, for the art of dissent stuff
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:11:41 PM the art of wellbeing seems more productive than art of dissent — you can get sick of dissenting too much.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:11:51 PM well, there’s wank everywhere
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:13:37 PM don’t know scott but that approach is a worry. good luck with digesting all that.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:13:58 PM great. let us dissent together
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:14:25 PM well, time for me to say bye too.
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:14:36 PM okay
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:15:21 PM Darling its me
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:15:23 PM hello rainbow hair
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:15:30 PM yes i can hear you
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:15:36 PM you can talk, by the way — i can get sound from there okay, i just have a problem sending sound.
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:15:41 PM I think it is time to sign off
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:15:48 PM the night has gone really well
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:15:52 PM yes, it is. thanks for that. will see you thursday night
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:15:56 PM It was great having you as a gimmic
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:16:07 PM How did you feel being a gimmic?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:16:10 PM i’ll put that in my resume (”gimmick”)
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:16:20 PM i liked being a gimmic
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:16:29 PM your turn next time
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:16:35 PM I will work wonders with the next fellowship geek gimick
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:16:39 PM we’ll beam you to other continents
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:16:58 PM i have a few geek gimmicks up my sleeve
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:17:04 PM But seriously how did it go did you get a sense of the night
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:18:08 PM are you capturing me?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:18:21 PM i’ve been captured too many times (on screen and of)
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:18:36 PM coming to where?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:18:52 PM roger that
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:19:29 PM geeky anough?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:19:33 PM enough?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:19:53 PM what are you doing?
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:20:22 PM i will try to be irreverent
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:20:48 PM email me the drinks, pelase
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:21:00 PM have a coke or a tequilla for me
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:21:02 PM What is the mix
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:21:12 PM tequilla, straight ahead
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:21:27 PM That is exactly what Mark thought
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:21:35 PM yes. but it must be Cuervo
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:21:49 PM yes, only Cuervo
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:21:55 PM snon snob snob
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:21:58 PM snob
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:22:02 PM Mark wants to know does it have the worm
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:22:08 PM we don’t have it up here
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:22:15 PM Tragic
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:22:22 PM no worms; just the usual poison
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:22:22 PM My love we are being kicked out
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:22:29 PM have fun being kicked out
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:22:33 PM will see you soon
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:22:37 PM Thanks for making this event very geek like
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:22:45 PM Love you and signing off for now
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:22:47 PM no probs.
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:22:54 PM Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:22:56 PM bye
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:23:18 PM bye
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:23:33 PM see you soon mark
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:24:07 PM no, sory
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:24:16 PM hello cath’
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:24:30 PM thanks bong - see you soonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:24:30 PM bye
Ngapartji Theatre 3/4/2002 7:24:39 PM singing off………..
Bong Ramilo 3/4/2002 7:24:43 PM ok

from bramilo.weblogs.com

I launched Intercreate (http://www.intercreate.net) on 10 January 2002.

Intercreate is a web portal about community cultural development and new technologies. It provides spaces and facilities for online sharing of information, discussion of issues, and for hosting online CCD events. Intercreate hopes to assist artists, technologists, and others interested in community cultural development to make things and solve problems together online.

As specified in my Fellowship plan, a “community arts portal will be set up as a venue to explore and foster CCD online, particularly through facilitating the sharing of information and discussion of issues related to CCD and new technologies, and through hosting online CCD events. Intercreate is that community arts portal.

The portal is basic and does not have much content at the moment. I announced the setting up of Intercreate on several mailing lists (including ccd_debate, ccd_interns, o18) and emailed some contacts, inviting contirbutions. Intercreate, I explained, is a community-driven site and as such depends on content input from users.

I’m hoping many users sign up and use the space, although I am not expecting this to happen in a month or two.

Intercreate also seeks to complement the National CCD Web Site, www.ccd.net. That site, scheduled for launching in March 2002, has broader coverage of CCD matters while Intercreate focuses on the CCD and new technologies issues. To maintain the complementation between the two sites, Intercreate will seek to focus on its own areas of interest through the selection of topics and activities it hosts and facilitates; broader CCD matters will be referred to www.ccd.net.

I’m a member of the Steering Committee of the National CCD Web Site. The development of Intercreate was informed by discussions about the nature of the National CCD Web Site. The Steering Committee is aware of the plan to set up Intercreate and lines of communication are open for coordination between the two sites.

For more information on Intercreate, visit www.intercreate.net.

from bramilo.weblogs.com

In discussions about the development of a national CCD web site, I’ve advocated for using open source software as the preferred development platform. There are several reasons why I believe open source is the appropriate model for developing a CCD web site, including cost-effectivity — open source software is usually free.

The main reason I advocate open source, however, is that I recognise an affinity between the philosophies — and some practices — between CCD and the open source movement. The following quotation provides a good explanation of what open source is; while it talks about Linux (which is probably the premiere open source “killer application”), it applies broadly to the open source movement:

Linux has evolved, and continues to evolve, under the open source philosophy of the free sharing of ideas. If not for this massive, shared, open community environment, Linux — and much of the open source software that runs the Internet — wouldn’t be here. It’s a testament to this community and its philosophy that the creation of a powerful operating system such as Linux could have come about through the interaction and cooperation of thousands of people worldwide.

Linux is a symbol of what’s possible when we work together as a whole, sharing each other’s ideas and building upon each other’s work. It’s built by everybody, for everybody, and it’s free.

…

The quintessential guide to working within an open source project … is Eric S. Raymond’s “The Cathedral and the Bazaar.” It is available both as a hardcover book and free online from www.tuxedo.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar .

- from “The Advanced Linux Pocketbook,” edited by Ashton Mills, published by ACP Tech, Sydney, 2001.

The significance of open source to CCD goes beyond the building of the national CCD web site. Open source software has been used by many community-based organisations (as well as government and commercial organisations) over the years. Many open source applications perform as well, if not better, than proprietary and non-free applications — community-based organisations or movements (like CCD) can obviously benefit from using free and stable applications.

Using free applications also increases the chance of getting more individuals and communities online/switched on cheaply and legally — like it or not, software piracy is rampant in all sectors, and as much open source software is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL) scheme, users need not use pirated or expensive commercial applications. Under the GNU GPL scheme, apllications can be freely installed and distributed (with some conditions). More information on the GNU GPL is at www.gnu.org .

There is also the benefit of world-wide, community-driven support for open source software. Many of these applications where developed collaboratively by programmers, testers, documentors, and other supporters, sometimes involving dozens (or thousands, in the case of Linux) of volunteers working to solve problems and improve performance. There is, therefore, wider support from developers for many popular applications, often at no cost to users.

Using open source software, or being part of the open source movement, is a crucial way of contributing to the bridging of the “Digital Divide,” of democratising new technologies. For an excellent article on the Digital Divide, see Bridging the Organizational Divide: Toward a Comprehensive Approach to the Digital Divide, PolicyLink, September 2001 and other articles at Policy Link: Digital Divide (many thanks to Gareth Wreford at Australia Council for putting me onto this mob).

There are more advantages to open source that I’ll discuss in a future article. There are also, of course, like with anything else, disadvantages to using open source software and I will discuss those too in a future article.

from blogger:reinvention

We are at Angela’s right now looking at blogging possibilities.

from bramilo.weblogs.com

Thirteen Pentium 100s decommissioned by the Australia Council arrived at Brown’s Mart in Darwin on 14 June 2001. These computers were allocated by Australia Council, through Scott O’Hara and the Community Cultural Development Board, to the Community-based Multimedia Program in Darwin that I’m overseeing as part of my Fellowship.

Current State of the Machines

Not all the Pentiums are functional; Scott said he’d send us a baker’s dozen so we can get about ten working. I’ve done a preliminary check on some of them but I’ll need to check each one to see what needs to be done to get as much of them working as possible. So far, I’ve determined that they came with the wrong keyboards (Scott warned me about this), so we’ll need to get PS/2 to DIN adapters (I’ve tried one and it works). We will probably need adapters for the mice as well. None of them have working operating systems, and none came with floppy drives and CD-ROM drives (which Scott also warned me about).

As at 27 June, I have managed to get one system running under Linux (Red Hat 6). I’ve had to scavenge a floppy drive from a dead Brown’s Mart PC and wire in my own spare CD-ROM drive to install the system but its running. I can do the same (that is, put in the floppy and CD-ROM drives) for each machine that I need to set up. I however plan to look at other distributions (versions) of Linux that I’ve found that supposedly need less RAM and hard drive space — these distributions may be better suited to the Ozco Pentiums than Red Hat 6.

By mid-July I intend to know the exact status of these machines and will know how many are functional from among the baker’s dozen.

Linux

I wasn’t concerned too much about the operating system as I intended to load Linux on them. Linux is more difficult to install and configure than Windows (but not that much harder, I think) but it is free so we won’t have to pay for licenses. Linux is also reputedly more stable than Windows so once it is set up properly, it will need less maintenance than Windows. Linux has graphic user interfaces as well (e.g. KDE and Gnome) and basic applications for Office functions (word processing, spreadsheet, etc.), image manipulation, programming, and Internet access.

As the Pentiums will most likely be used for Internet use, Internet and networking capabilities are important; Linux comes with Netscape and this will be sufficient for email, news reading, and web access. The Linux desktop is different to Windows or Mac ones but I think it won’t take too long for users (even novice ones) to get the basic hang of it; when it comes to Netscape, there’s little difference between the Linux and other versions anyway.

I also liked the idea of using Linux as a way of emphasising the “alternative” nature of my work, which I sometimes refer to as Low End and Feral Technology, or LEFT. Linux is open source, free, supported by millions of volunteers, runs on old machines well — things that Windows is not.

I am still open to the possibility that Linux may be too difficult for many users, especially those that are used to Windows or MacOS through their usage of these popular operating systems at school. If it proves too hard, I may need to ask Microsoft to sponsor licenses.

As for the floppies and CD-ROM drives, I’ll need them mainly to set up the machines — if they Pentiums are to be mainly Internet terminals, they will not really need floppy drives and CD-ROM drives. If users needed to access a floppy or CD-ROM, I can install them on a server and users can access these drives on that server through the network.

Where and How will these Pentiums be used?

The original plan for these Pentiums was to set them up at a venue that was accessible to community artists and members. The computers would be used mainly for basic office and Internet functions. It was also envisioned that the machines can be used in an Internet Cafe setting eventually — the Cafe will be part of the Community-based Multimedia Program and could probably be a component of the social enterprise area of my Fellowship.

I will need to get them running in the next few weeks. An immediate use for the machines — assuming I get them running in time — will be for the Darwin Fringe Festival in August. They will be set up in an Internet Cafe arrangement during selected gigs in Brown’s Mart’s courtyard.

Ken Conway, Brown’s Mart Executive Officer, and I have also requested the use of a space downstairs in Brown’s Mart to set up a pilot multimedia/Internet lab using the machines. The space is still occupied by another tenant but will be vacated soon. The idea is that the Pentiums (or some of them) will be set up in a network, probably with better multimedia-capable PCs, that will be available for use by artists who want to develop community-based multimedia projects. I will be co-maintaining the space while I work on some of my own projects. The space, however, will only be available for about six months so we need to find a longer-term home for the machines/system.

A long-term possibility is to use the machines in a broader program that I am currently organising: the it4cd program. it4cd stands for Information Technology for Community Development; it is a program that will offer Internet and IT access (and training) to unemployed people, specifically youth at risk, in the Darwin region, and which will deploy community-based multimedia strategies for cultural and economic advancement of unemployed young people.

I am still working on the it4cd idea and will promote it to Brown’s Mart Board, Centacare (the Catholic Church’s employment agency), Corrugated Iron Youth Arts, and Octa4 (the ISP I am placed with) as potential founding partners. I’ve broached the broad idea with Mario Trinidad, Centacare CEO, who was very interested — he is open to providing the venue for the computer network; we will be discussing it further when he returns from leave in late July. I’ve suggested the idea to Brown’s Mart Board who have agreed to it. Felino Molina, Octa4 Managing Director, is open to supporting a community Internet access project and we will discuss it more in the coming weeks. I will be talking to Susan Ditter, Executive Officer of Corrugated Iron, soon.

I will post the concept paper on it4cd on this web log as soon as its ready.