How Newstweek Functions. Source: http://turbulence.org/blog/images/2011/01/newstweek.jpg
Playing on the original magazine title, Newsweek, Newstweek is a device for manipulating news read by other people on wireless hotspots. This article on Newstweek was researched by Danja Vasiliev and Julian Oliver.
Danja Vasiliev. Source: http://www.tacticalmediafiles.net/article.jsp?objectnumber=59399
Vasiliev’s research and practice aims are re-examination and exploitation of Network paradigms in physical and digital realms. He is coauthor of The Critical Engineer Manifesto, which numbers reasons why Engineering is the most transformative language of our time and the duties of a Critical Engineer.
Julian Oliver. Source: http://www.tacticalmediafiles.net/article.jsp?objectnumber=59416
Oliver is a New Zealander, Critical Engineer, and artist based in Berlin. He won the Golden Nica at Prix Ars Electronica 2011 award for Newstweek. He is also a long-time advocate of the use of free software in artistic production, distribution and education.
They both believe that news has been fallen victim to the same political and corporate interests that have sought to manipulate public opinion. Newstweek provides the opportunity for citizens to manipulate the press by generating propaganda or “fixing facts” as they pass across a wireless network. Therefor, Newstweek gives people the ability to alter reality, which therefor supports that a “strictly media-defined reality is a vulnerable reality”. According to Newstweek, a growing opportunity for manipulation of opinion is extremely easy due to an increased ignorance. This ignorance is increased with the increased amount of networks and devices available to us today.
Below is a video describing the function of Newstweek:
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/23075736[/vimeo]
After learning about Newstweek, my pessimistic view of technology has only grown. Personally, I see Newstweek as an intrusive way to connect with the world around us. We shouldn’t always have access to change or manipulate the news around us or “fix facts”. This to me is just going to spark frustration and confusion amongst those using Newstweek. What will happen when the focus is to “alter reality”? Doesn’t this send the message that the reality we are currently living in isn’t enough?
What are your thoughts on this program?