Spectacle and local action: creative uses of technology

Here's Mr Punch and the Plague Doctor - costumed characters wearing digital sensors that monitor environmental levels in the street. For a fun hour or so yesterday, a performance around the streets of Hoxton in north London entertained a gaggle of followers, residents and office workers.

The costumes were a non-fashion-oriented way of adopting wearable sensors; the carnival characters were a device to bring environmental monitoring from scientific specialism to a level of spectacle that is accessible to the local resident and the passer-by. GPS links were used for the data gathered and the potential (if not yet the real power of this kind of information) can be seen on the initial Snout prototype site.

Later a group of us took to discussing the implications of this demo project, at a workshop organised by Proboscis and inIVA, the institute of international visual arts.

At a time when the commitment of the non-specialist to overcoming environmental damage is routinely questioned or dismissed, in spite of the pressures on citizens to be more responsible, initiatives that explore meaningful ways in which local people can collect evidence for action are to be welcomed. Proboscis enhanced the potential of the project through the technique of 'media scavenging' - gathering and combining free online mapping and data sharing technologies as a form of 'guerilla public authoring' - to show how some relatively inexpensive kit can be used to mobilise people around just such issues.

What was apparent to me and to my community development colleague Bev Carter as we watched the performance, was that non-threatening spectacle using street theatre in itself has a role in stimulating conversations and engagement which (if necessary) can diffuse tensions and can be built on. Add to that the potential for collecting and manipulating data and you have a powerful community development device.

For some residents, just feeling they can occupy the streets is an important first step. Basing an initiative around carnival means you can use spectacle without script and allow things to happen. It need not have a 'climate change' theme. One of the sensors monitors noise, which is a significant issue for older people especially (reinforced in Social trends published today). It was suggested that there's also potential for exploring what goes on with CCTV (eg through video sniffin).

It would be lamentable if we don't get to see a full-scale trial of Snout in a residential context, with local people performing and exploiting the material gathered. Are there funders prepared to pick this up and help make it work?

Comments

[Luke Smith (Arts Debate team)]

I also joined the fun yesterday morning. And I agree with Kevin on the power of spectacle to stimulate thought and dialogue. In the glorious spring sunshine we noticed drivers idling the engines of their parked cars, the omni-present plastic bags and ever-changing, often unpleasant aroma-scape of Hoxton.

Unfortunately I missed the forum afterwards. I'd like to have talked about feedback and the power of realtime information to change people’s behaviours in relation to energy consumption and waste.