Project Proposal

Outline Idea:

'On Demand’ websites and social networking applications feature material from a range of different sources. Some feature professional content created by organisations such as BBC or Channel 4, and others allow the viewing of user generated material often non-professional. Sites such as You Tube, Myspace, Flickr and Deviant art are just a few, that allow the display of audiovisual content along with artistic works created by a specific user.

Once the media is uploaded it’s available to view at any time, but may be subject to expire after a set period of time. The featured content is often intended to be un-editable and purely for viewing and entertainment. Despite having a wide degree of control as to when and where this content can be accessed and viewed, there is little control over the content itself. Anyone can upload any self-created works and media within reason, but other users have no control over the content of that media.

The idea for my negotiated project is to create a web-based application/social network that allows the submission of content that other registered users can access in order to expand upon and change. Users will be able to edit and collaborate with other users to create constantly changing artworks. The application will include a self-created ‘flash’ and ‘max msp’ based artistic authoring tool in order for users to simply access available content from other users and expand and change within the application itself. Not only will users be able to access works they wish in order to expand, but through the addition of a forum users have the opportunity to arrange collaborations in order to create works.

Innovative, Why?:

Rather than just being able to view or submit content that other users have no control over, the ability to expand and edit exisiting material to create a new form of media content is not widely seen in social networking and on demand websites and applications. This idea allows others to control the content being submitted for public viewing and to also become a part of the creation of it.

Target Audience:

The audience could be from an artisic background, however there is wide scope for anyone to collaborate and participate. This could allow users who are not from an artistic background to become involved in the creation of works.

Form of Work:

Initially and all according to plan the project will be web based providing a wide target for users to participate. However there is a chance that it could become a physical computing installation with the same premise but a change in technologies.

Cultural/Industrial Context:

The context behind this project is to identify how much or little control users have when accessing readily available media and content. It also identifies who actually owns the rights to the user generated work after it has been submitted to a organisations website or has been extended and changed by others.

Technology Uses:

This will be primarily a Max MSP application which will be encased in an Adobe Flash Interface. The Flash and Max application will be embedded in a website and run live. The ability to create and edit art from within the application will be created using both Ma and Flash. The possible use of a 'flickr' API to enable login and registration to the application.