booktwo.org

Saturday was the second Papercamp. There are some write-ups appearing online already, such as these from Ben and Roo, as well as photos on Flickr.

I couldn’t make it unfortunately, but Matt suggested I create some briefs to get people going, and so I did. Apparently, there weren’t many formal responses to them (with this glorious exception), which is all to the good, but I hope they added something to character of the day, and might inspire some more responses…

5 Briefs for Papercamp

ONE: FOLDING

Create a new fold or codex type. A new way of bending and shaping a single type of paper, preferably tied to performing a particular task. The fold or the task may come first.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map_folding
http://www.johnsonbanks.co.uk/thoughtfortheweek/index.php?thoughtid=601
http://www.progonos.com/furuti/Origami/Cart/projFold.html
http://www.volumique.com/en/ (see Night of the Living Dead Pixels – stupid flash site)

TWO: PAPER COMPUTING

Create a paper / book type object that you run rather than read. Interactive paper. A creation that feels less like writing a story, and more like writing a framework, with associated tests and walkthroughs. A document that is run rather than read. Perhaps a game, perhaps not. It should produce a result (i.e., not just a CYOA).

References:
http://aturingmachine.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway%27s_Game_of_Life
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexapawn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_calculating_device

THREE: TEABAGGING

Make something like the tag on a teabag. Or just a better teabag tag. Or an awesome one. A useful attachment to something else. Or a hack.

References:
http://animalnewyork.com/2009/08/tea-bag-president-obama-queen-elizabeth-other-world-leaders/
http://www.quirky.com/products/46-Steeper-Keeper-Tea-Mug
http://www.swiss-miss.com/2007/09/urban-cup-holde.html

FOUR: OBLIQUE CONNECTIONS

Make something that connects to or references the web, but obliquely. No QR codes, no clever(/complicated) stuff. URLs are fine, people can type them in. Suggestive shapes.

References:
http://booktwo.org/notebook/words-in-progress/ [The Google Street View URL]
http://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2009/10/blocks-of-time-and-the-mechanical-facebook.html [Mechanical Facebook]

FIVE: SOUVENIRS

Make a physical souvenir of a digital experience.

References:
http://proboscis.org.uk/projects/sensory-threads/
http://booktwo.org/notebook/bookcubes/