An Imaginary Museum is an ongoing design and curatorial project where I am exploring new ways to collect, share and experience digital data. To describe the current output of this project (the object I made) in one sentence, it is a (hacked) View-Master that displays (user generated) digital photos and video collections. However, I see it a bit deeper than this. In this project I am playing with an array of themes such as:
Digital legacy (how do we collect and share our digital histories in an intimate and appropriate way);The importance of curation and editing in order to create relevancy and avoid information overload (choosing ain't loosing); How placement of digital artifacts can change meaning (out of the office and on to the living room shelf); And, how we can use physical and natural elements to give different qualities to virtual images (by means of size, viewing distance, magnification, and light).
Although I tend to conceptualise all my projects to an excessive degree, what I am most proud of with this project is that an explanation is not really needed. People just pick the thing up, and tell me they like what they see.
How I Started
I had this idea, but not a lot of people to talk to about how to actually make it. I came to the open lab at the Waag and talk to Alex Schaub, the lab manager. He urged me to continue this project and passed along some contacts of people who might be able to help work this out technically. I first had a good talk with Bas Withagen, also working at Waag, and he gave me a lot of advice on what things I will need, where I can order them, and what I need to take in consideration when doing moving forward. After a meeting a few other programmers and hardware people, I was finally put into contact with Simon de Bakker, who works for V2, and he was able to get everything up and running. After that I continued to work at the FabLab to make all the pieces for the project, using the laser cutter to hold the electronics in place, and the vinyl cutter to cut out paper View-Master discs.
How it Works
Inside the rapid prototyped View-Master casing is a computer (Beagleboard), an RFID reader, and micro-LCD display unit. Each collection disc has an RFID tag in between the the paper. When a disc is inserted in the View-Master, the series of images and films linked to the unique number of the RFID tag start playing on he tiny screens inside the viewer. When the lever is pressed down on the viewer, the next digital file appears.
What Next?
I plan on continuing this project with new prototypes. I wish to explore both form and technique. I plan to update this project page with new images as I go on...and link some specific fab moments to this project page. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to contact me.
Some of my other work can be found at www.commonplace.nl
