Usernomics 1.0

Filed under Presentation, Walk/Tour, projects

Event Information

Artist: Stephanie Rothenberg
Website: http://www.pan-o-matic.com/blog/?p=18

In the spirit of the Freegans, the School of Perpetual Training presents Usernomics 1.0 a hacktivist workshop employing models of waste reclamation, recycling and reuse amongst the gentrifying neighborhoods of Williamsburg.

In the spirit of the Freegans, the School of Perpetual Training presents Usernomics 1.0 a hacktivist workshop employing models of waste reclamation, recycling and reuse amongst the gentrifying neighborhoods of Williamsburg. This user-friendly workshop begins with an exercise in urban foraging a Freegan technique that involves rummaging through the garbage of retailers, residences, offices, etc for useful goods. We take to the streets collecting discarded usable goods and random street detritus. Maybe even do a little swapping of our goods with the local street vendors.

Hacking begins back at workshop headquarters. Here we learn how to reuse our street treasures in conjunction with old computer keyboards to create one-of-a-kind external computer controllers. Pushing mouse and keyboard aside, these unique creations require users to engage with the computer in unusual physical ways. For example, the up arrow key could be activated by bouncing a ball through a hoop.
Don’t worry if you don’t have an old keyboard to hack. Per Scholas electronics recycling center in the Bronx has plenty and wants to put them to good use. No electronics experience? Breaking the keyboards apart is the hardest part. Once those suckers are disassembled we teach you how to solder wires to the main circuitry and how to use them as extensions to create the external controllers.
For the grand finale, we use our new devices to play an interactive, animated game about Williamsburg’s high-rise future. Find out what it takes to chase the sun in the land of the vanishing sky!