A.E.S.O.P. 2013
A.E.S.O.P. (An Enhanced Sense of Place) is an interactive installation comprised of nine autonomous units, consisting of rotating moving message displays. Acting like a compass, each message display intermittently moves and points at different global geographic positions whilst collecting news data from that location. These changing texts are drawn from real-time, global RSS data news feeds, broadcasting truths and untruths, drawing attention to the distortions of mediated information through unfolding news events from around the world.
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This particular installation stemmed from a much larger collaborative research project to develop 'intelligent media' monitoring services (press, broadcast, on-line media) utilising a novel approach exploiting natural language 'argumentation-based' reasoning techniques, developed by colleagues at the University of Dundee, U.K.
General Description
The basis of this installation project began through the artist's exploration and investigation of electronic media monitoring services, particularly news feeds that analyse and report on news and current affairs content. These are exemplified by services such as those provided by Google News Alerts, Meltwater, Moreover or Newsgator for example. These standard online monitoring services utilise ‘spiders’ to scrape information from websites (Magenta / Meltwater) and RSS aggregation (NewsGator) to organise syndicated feeds provided by publishers.
Installation Description
The underlying premise of the installation is related to the interpretation of information and as the recipients of that information, how the reading of the 'spaces' inbetween unrelated news events leads to new but fictitious narratives emerging. Unlike Aesop's fables these stories may develop seamlessly or suddenly fracture, within the context of developing global news events, creating new temporal and spatial associations in the recipients mind, producing cognitive shifts and 'an enhanced sense of place'.
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The novelty of the installation resides in the notion of the reading or combination of two or more sources of information to create a new context. The project explores and questions the subtleties of meaning, broadcast truths and untruths and consequent distortions through juxtaposed information, whilst instilling in the viewer an 'enhanced sense of place' through unfolding world news events. The underlying subtext of the work is related to how information can be interpreted and how the reading of the "spaces" inbetween unrelated news events can lead to new but fictitious stories emerging.
Audiences can engage with the work at various levels, from the playful to the challenging in their reading of the ‘received’ information and its veracity or interpretation as a news story.
Technical Description
The A.E.S.O.P. installation receives RSS data from a number of servers supplied to a Mac mini connected to the WWW. The Mac mini runs a Processing application transmitting RSS data to each of the 9 units in the installation and the transmitter can be placed anywhere up to a 300 meter range of the installation subject to a suitable environment.
An Apple Mac mini and connected transmitter creates the wireless network for the installation. The 9 units create their own closed wireless mesh network and receive the RSS feeds via the transmitter connected to the Mac.
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Each autonomous unit consists of an adjustable stand (2.0m - 3.6m high), red LED moving message display (98mm x 1000mm x 35mm), rotational head unit, embedded arduino microcomputers, local wireless serial links, interface hardware and housings, power supplies and control software.
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A “master” unit, linked to a live web source stores and distributes the RSS data to the other units via wireless communication on initial set up. Each unit keeps an updated database of the RSS feeds as they are distributed and functions independently of the other units.