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<FONT COLOR="#F92D60"><FONT SIZE="6"><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:18.0px'><B>Media Sandbox Newsletter<BR>
</B></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10.0px'><BR>
</SPAN><FONT SIZE="4"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11.0px'><B>Contents<FONT COLOR="#363330">:<BR>
</FONT></B><FONT COLOR="#363330"> <BR>
</FONT>1. Media Sandbox projects' progress<BR>
2. Next events<BR>
3. Recommended research<BR>
4. Your input<BR>
<BR>
<B>1. Media Sandbox projects' progress<BR>
</B> <BR>
This March, our<B> six Media Sandbox commissions </B>(<a href="http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/2009-commissions)">http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/2009-commissions)</a> began work on their projects. The groups were asked to respond to the opportunities presented by multi-platform technologies and we were pleased to receive an eclectic response to this challenge… <BR>
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Two of the projects are developing ideas that will initially engage children with technology, but in very different ways: <B>HMC, Drake Music & bibic</B>, are creating a multi-sensory environment to benefit children with learning and physical disabilities; whereas <B>Nomos Media & Radio in Schools</B> are examining the role of pervasive media in education. <B>Indie Mobile</B> are concerned with enabling musicians and record labels to utilise short-form anonymous communications (such as sms, msn, twitter), to create humorous campaigns; whilst <B>U-Soap Media</B> are exploring the future of interaction in television programming. <B>C6 & Steal From Work</B> are considering how developments in pervasive technology can benefit street artists; and <B>AntiVJ</B> are drawing up plans for digital mapping technologies that will enable stunning projections on buildings, objects and even cars. Throughout all the projects, there is a strong sense of enquiry into existing applications of technology and from this, new meaningful tools and experiences will be developed.<BR>
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Indie Mobile and U-Soap Media, decided to join us at the <B>PM Studio </B>(<a href="http://www.pmstudio.co.uk/),">http://www.pmstudio.co.uk/),</a> making the most of the desk space, technology and the expertise of others. The influx of new projects has added a buzz to the Studio, and provided a good vantage point to watch how the participants have gone about beginning their projects… <BR>
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Indie Mobile are busily researching <B>‘The Generator’ </B>- a fully interactive, cross media promotion tool. They’ve spent the last three weeks scoping the full requirements of the project and are now embarking on some interesting research into the legal issues surrounding user-generated content. Similarly, U-Soap Media have met some interesting people, including <B>Media Sandbox Advisor </B>Gavin Henderson from RDF Media (<a href="http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/the-advisory-board/).">http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/the-advisory-board/).</a> Their project planning for game show <B>‘Viral Spiral’</B>, has benefited from Gavin’s first-hand experience of working on interactive programme formats such as Big Brother and Gap Year.<BR>
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HMC, Drake Music & bibic, have sat down to thrash out ideas around the development of new software they are calling <B>‘Cyber-therapy’</B>. The group are researching how Tonal Therapy and graphic visualisation can be used within sensory environments to create meaningful, user-controlled experiences.<BR>
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Mark and Lee from Nomos Media have sat down in two camps to begin development of <B>‘AudioEnable’</B>. This project will provide Schools with the ability to freely capture and incorporate audio into their own websites, directly from a mobile phone. So whilst Mark is dusting off his ‘developing windows mobile applications for dummies’ book, Lee is coming up with some innovative designs for the user interface.<BR>
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C6 and Steal from Work have also had a busy month developing ideas for <B>‘Street Art Dealer’</B> - a system where works of street art can be bought from specific street locations, using mobiles and QR codes (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_codes).">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_codes).</a> They began the month exploring the potential of the idea, by releasing a beta system in conjunction with Westbourne Studios’ Urban Art Showcase in London. They worked hard to keep up the smoke and mirrors during the event, (as the early test was fraught with hiccups) – but some interesting lessons were learnt. <BR>
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Last but not least, AntiVJ have partnered with developer George Crabtree (<a href="http://georgeandhelen.com),">http://georgeandhelen.com),</a> to begin the first phase of project development. AntiVJ aim to develop <B>‘Mapping Software 1.0’</B> - a simple, practical software, that will allow any user to easily employ the mapping technique. Their initial focus is on the core structure of the software; phase two will focus more heavily on development of the functionality and interface. <BR>
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Even at this early stage we’re really excited about all the projects. To follow their progress, remember to regularly check their <B>Project Journals</B>... <a href="http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/">http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/</a><BR>
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<B>2. Next events<BR>
</B> <BR>
Media Sandbox will be holding open events on the following dates - please mark your diaries and watch out for more information...<BR>
<BR>
4 May | PM Studio | Work in Progress Presentation | 4pm<BR>
29 June | Watershed | Final Showcase | 6pm<BR>
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<B>3. Recommended research<BR>
</B> <BR>
We’ve asked each of our commissions to recommend a research link that will help to demonstrate the wider context of their ideas.<BR>
<BR>
Check out the news item on the <B>Media Sandbox website</B> to find out more... <a href="http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/2009/04/02/recommended-research/">http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/2009/04/02/recommended-research/</a><BR>
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<B>4. Your input<BR>
</B> <BR>
As well as reading the journals online we would encourage you to add your suggestions and thoughts. This is not a closed research process and the projects will respond to your comments.<BR>
<BR>
We have set up a tag for <B>delicious </B>(<a href="http://delicious.com/tag/mediasandbox)">http://delicious.com/tag/mediasandbox)</a> so if you see a useful website, please include the tag 'mediasandbox'. There is also a <B>flickr group</B> (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/mediasandbox)">http://www.flickr.com/groups/mediasandbox)</a> to add pictures to. This will help build a body of knowledge from which everyone can benefit.<BR>
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**Your subscription<BR>
<BR>
You can subscribe, unsubscribe etc. or introduce your friends to this <B>mailing list </B>here: <a href="http://lists.mediasandbox.co.uk/listinfo/discuss">http://lists.mediasandbox.co.uk/listinfo/discuss</a><BR>
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If you find this interesting and know someone else who might, please forward the mail to them.<BR>
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The next newsletter will be in a month, bringing you updates from the next journal entries and more news about the events.<BR>
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Best wishes,<BR>
Victoria<BR>
<BR>
<a href="http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk">http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk</a><BR>
Media Sandbox is managed by iShed working with South West Screen with support from South West Regional Development Agency and Watershed: <a href="http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/who/">http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/who/</a><BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10.0px'>Victoria Tillotson<BR>
<BR>
iShed Project Manager<BR>
T +44 (0)117 9157233 / <a href="http://www.ished.net">http://www.ished.net</a> / <a href="http://www.watershed.co.uk">http://www.watershed.co.uk</a><BR>
Watershed, 1 Canon's Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5TX<BR>
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iShed: a brokerage company, set up by Watershed to identify and facilitate cross-sector collaboration between computing, communications and the creative industries.</SPAN><FONT SIZE="4"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11.0px'><BR>
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