In this workshop, participants will learn to build a wearable audio technology experiment proposed by the partners of Mr. Bricolage. The Touchstone is a mobile and tactical media broadcast platform worn on the hands of performers and activists. Touchstone is a strategy for contesting the urban/performance landscape rather than a product.
The Center is on Bankalar Caddesi, very close to Galata Tower. In order to reach this venue, you can take the funicular (known as “Tunel”) from Taksim Tunel area. Sabanci University Karakoy Communication Center. Phone Number: (0212) 292 4939. Address: Bankalar Caddesi No. 2. District: Karaköy. (Please note: this space is in the Center of Town in the Karakoy District, on the European Side.)
In this workshop, participants will learn to build a wearable audio technology experiment proposed by the partners of Mr. Bricolage. The Touchstone is a mobile and tactical media broadcast platform worn on the hands of performers and activists. Touchstone is a strategy for contesting the urban/performance landscape rather than a product. The workshop will consist of demonstrations, discussions about strategies for use, and most importantly a hands on workshop to build Touchstone devices. The culmination of the workshop will be a local performance and/or action. The workshop is open to all levels of experience in electronics (beginners are very welcome). We also encourage local activists, artists, and performers to contact us if they are interested in participating, but may have limitations to attending.
The technology of Touchstone is built upon audio exciter circuits embedded in gloves which transform the hands of an agent into broadcast transmitters. Touchstone agents activate objects as temporary/ad-hoc public address systems, by simply pressing their palms against it. Touchstone is a discrete technology platform: (1) it is virtually invisible on the garb of a performer/agent and (2) it is light and flexible; agents or performers can easily move (or escape). Moreover, it is a cinch to produce; the system does not require advanced electronics knowledge and is easily assembled from surplus, inexpensive, and/or widely available consumer technology.
There is no cost for the workshop but we will be accepting donations if you would like to support our cause.
Touchstone Audio Exciter Glove Kit Includes:
2 interlocking gloves
19mm audio exciter
parts for audio amplifier circuit
patch cables to hook up to a 1/8” or 3.5mm headphone output of a smart phone or mp3 player
instructions
A limited number of kits are available to purchase for $20 USD or 40 Turkish Lira on site.
Mr. Bricolage, through the generous support of our kickstarter backers, is able to support up to 18 participants at no cost for the kit. We will prioritize funding for local turkish artists, organizations, and performers. If you would like to be considered, email us at info@mr-bricolage.us and tell us a little bit about yourself and your practice.
We have only a few short weeks until we will be in Istanbul! James and I are busily clearing up details like the circuit design, the manual, what kind of circuit board to use, etc.
Of course we are having to make small adjustments to the plan we formed in January and February. One hurdle was that the 13mm exciters we planned on taking to ISEA are on backorder until the end of September. We had bought some larger exciters to play with early on. We are going to use these 25mm alternates. We were working on it today and I ran a test with the newest and improved amplifier. I thought you might like to see some detail of the hardware so I ran a quick video.
Mr. Bricolage was able to meet its goal and was marked as successful or funded. If you were interested in the touchstone glove or would like to contribute to our cause, we will have options available on the website very soon.
Thomas and I have just pushed our first kickstarter live. We are hoping to raise about 25% of our budget for putting on the workshop at ISEA 2011. Below is our kickstarter video talking about the project.
the focus of the project is to build a platform/instruments and working with communities rather than making an artifact or specific performance. Stone and i want to release the idea to the world as a creativity tool at this phase.
we are seeking to partner with a Turkish or international performance or activist group who we could guide in building the low cost hacktivist sound generators. Mr. Bricolage is working on securing the funding for hardware and logistics of getting ourselves and materials to the conference and soon we will be announcing fund raising campaigns.
we specifically seek groups interested in using our design of wearable device for mobile and tactical sonification of the performance space. ideally, we would like to work with a local Turkish performers. if you know of some group who might be interested in an extremely low cost or no-cost workshop to build new sound tools for their work, please contact us at:
I am in the process of testing the 2nd Touchstone Prototype. I just need to find a portable power supply that can supply the needed 2 watts to the amplifier circuit. These will be a smaller glove version that should have considerably louder output.
Touchstone is a mobile and tactical media broadcast platform worn on the hands of performers and activists. Touchstone is an strategy for contesting the urban/performance landscape rather than a product.
I have completed my first touchstone prototype which uses a hacked walkie talkie to engage the touchstone device. The sound that emits is surprisingly loud. I am also at work on prototype 2, which is a two glove version, with a much higher output.
Touchstone is a mobile and tactical media broadcast platform worn on the hands of performers and activists. Touchstone is an strategy for contesting the urban/performance landscape rather than a product.
The technology of Touchstone is built upon audio exciter circuits embedded in gloves which transform the hands of an agent into broadcast transmitters. Touchstone agents activate objects as a temporary/ad-hoc public address systems, by simply pressing their palms against it. Touchstone is a discrete technology platform: (1) it is virtually invisible on the garb of a performer/agent and (2) it is light and flexible; agents or performers can easily move (or escape). Moreover, it is a cinch to produce; the system does not require advanced electronics knowledge and is easily assembled from surplus, inexpensive, and/or widely available consumer technology.
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Mr. Bricolage was able to meet its goal and was marked as successful or funded. If you were interested in the touchstone glove or would like to contribute to our cause, we will have options available on the website very soon.![WGHarding & Mr. Bricolage want you. See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/WGHarding.jpg/240px-WGHarding.jpg "WGHarding & Mr. Bricolage want you. See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons")
