Tonight, Bowling Green students and community members can make their voices heard in New York City and Amsterdam — using a new technology to share their thoughts on the Republican National Convention.
A new collective called The Screensavers Group, made up of artists, technology professionals and community activists from New York City, has created a technological free speech forum for virtually anyone.
By using a new software called Keyworx, the group can take e-mails, phone text messages and instant messages, mesh them all together and use a projector to share the collaboration with others. The presentation is called RNC Redux.
Beginning at 8:00 tonight anyone can participate. The projection will be on buildings in all five of New York City’s boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island.
The projection will also be seen in some art galleries, Amsterdam and Bowling Green State University.
Stephan Hillerbrand, an assistant professor of visual communication technology and member of The Screensavers Group, is responsible for bringing this presentation to campus.
He hopes students will use this opportunity to make their voices heard; the group did a similar presentation for the Democratic National Convention in Boston.
“It’s really a performance — a way for you to be in New York in a symbolic way,” Hillerbrand said. “[The Screensavers Group] decided to take advantage of this wonderful technology that we have.”
One of the most important factors, Hillerbrand said, is that none of the text-messages, e-mails, and IMs are edited.
“That is what it is about — freedom of speech,” Hillerbrand said. “It is up a second or two so its not like I am forcing anyone to watch something forever. It is gone — within a few seconds it is gone.”
The way it works is simple — anyone can either: text message 347-418-254; e-mail [email protected] or instant message updsny through AOL Instant Messanger. Then as soon as you call, e-mail or IM your message appears on the presentation, automatically.
A two-hour presentation with everyone’s messages will be shown on the side of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union from 8-10 p.m. tonight, tomorrow and Thursday. It will be different each night.
Anyone can view the presentation online at www.screensaversgroup.org.
There could be so many people sending messages that they may be indistinguishable, Hillerbrand said, but to The Screensavers Group the presentation is symbolic.
“Sometimes it looks like a hodge-podge of text because it is unedited — which is beautiful,” Hillerbrand said. “It’s all about rush technology and how it can empower the person’s voice. Knowing you are participating and people all over the world are doing it — that is really wonderful.”
Hillerbrand said he couldn’t be happier by the University’s willingness to allow this presentation on campus.
Mary Edgington, the director of the Union, worked with Hillerbrand on setting up the projection.
“The students get to see something here in Ohio that is also offered in a big city — that is what higher education is about — providing an opportunity to see what is also in a big metropolitan city,” Edgington said.
When Edgington heard the content will be unedited, she realized this could be controversial, she said, but decided to encourage the presentation.
“It is a risk we are going to take,” Edgington said. “But we hope that everyone will be engaged in the right manner.”
During the presentation, laptops will be set up in front of the projection so students can participate and watch their message show up and be broadcasted to New York and Amsterdam, Hillerbrand said. Technological staff will be available by the laptops to explain how it all works.
Hillerbrand said he urges students to consider voicing their opinions, whether they be for or against the Republican mind-set because this year is as important as any.
“Ohio is a swing state so we decided to bring it to campus,” Hillerbrand said. “It will really be a beautiful thing.”