From a digital route planner that avoids hills and rough surfaces, to a sculpture made entirely of scent and games that give players’ superpowers as their heart rates start pumping, this year’s Media Sandbox projects give a new meaning to the phrase “pushing the boundaries.”

Friday 18 February 2011 | 14:00 | Watershed, Bristol | Booking Essential

Join us to celebrate the pioneering Media Sandbox scheme at the end of its third year. In September 2010, seven companies were commissioned to develop projects under two strands, B-Open and Pervasive Experiences. This event will feature video documentation of the seven projects; reflections on successes and key areas of learning; and panel sessions with practitioners and advisory board members. Followed by drinks, a chance to try out project demos and informally network with participants.

Please note, this is a free event, but tickets must be booked through Watershed box office: http://www.watershed.co.uk/exhibits/2781/ or 0117 927 5100

Media Sandbox 2010 is produced by iShed in partnership with the Creative Industries iNet and Bristol City Council.

Image Credit: From the project HappyTowns, Ping © BDH & Plot London

Further info…

Media Sandbox is a development scheme that enables digital companies to collaborate on ground-breaking projects. Set-up to support new ideas and facilitate new connections, the scheme gives small producers time, space and resources to turn wild ideas into working prototypes and deliver innovation to the creative digital market.

Now in it's third year, Media Sandbox 2010 awarded seven £10000 commissions to support projects under two strands: B-Open and Pervasive Experiences.

B-Open gives digital developers free access to key data about life in Bristol, which Bristol City Council has published openly for the very first time. This strand comprises of three new digital developments, helping Bristol lead the way in becoming a smart, green, digital city.

Under the Pervasive Experiences strand, Media Sandbox 2010 has supported development of four inspiring ideas exploring senses and sensors to create new models of interaction with digital technologies and enhance our experiences, whether with music, games or within a retail environment.

This years’ participants include Delib, Overlay Media, Mobile Pie, nu desine, Mutant Labs, Remode and Moksha.

Join us to celebrate their success, discover the potential of open data and learn how pervasive media can enhance our lives.

Read more about the Media Sandbox 2010 projects here: http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/2010-commissions/

Media Sandbox is originated and produced by iShed, part of Watershed, a cross art form organisation based in Bristol, UK. Media Sandbox is in association with Bristol City Council and Connecting Bristol's B-Open initiative and is a Creative Industries iNet programme, supported by South West Screen, ERDF and The South West Regional Development Agency.

The Creative Industries KTN would like to invite you to contribute to, and influence, our latest Beacon project on Intellectual Property and Open Source which examines these key themes. This is a chance to share your expertise with other industry practitioners and to formulate and validate a number of future scenarios, which will feed into future decisions on funding to be made by the Technology Strategy Board. It’s also a great networking opportunity to meet people from across the creative industries, share experiences, and understand how other organisations are meeting these challenges.

Monday 29 November: Showroom Workstation, Sheffield
Thursday 2 December: Watershed, Bristol
Monday 6 December: Museum of Brands, London

To participate, click on the link to register at the CI KTN website: https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/intellectual-property-and-open-source/events

The programme will support early stage ideas that utilise pervasive technologies and free/open source software and is a valuable opportunity to explore process and develop experimental works within four unique collaborative environments to be presented in public space and/or festival environments.

For more information visit: http://www.pmstudio.co.uk/news/2010/10/29/call-proposals

Media Sandbox 2010, the groundbreaking development scheme managed by iShed and funded by the Creative Industries iNet and Bristol City Council, has today announced this year’s seven successful commissions.

For 2010, Media Sandbox has been divided into two strands: B-Open and Pervasive Experiences.

B-Open gives digital developers free access to key data about life in Bristol, which Bristol City Council has published openly for the very first time. The strand will comprise three new digital developments, helping Bristol lead the way in becoming a smart, green, digital city. These mobile and online applications will help people with limited mobility find accessible routes through the city, create interest in local food and environmental impact, and increase understanding of how Council funds are spent.

1. Overlay Media will develop a digital map to help people with restricted mobility, such as wheelchair users, older people and people with pushchairs, find the best and easiest route between two places. The route will take into account information on hills, cobbled streets and the location of drop-kerbs for example.

2. Mobile Pie will create Blossom Bristol, a phone based game that will encourage people to plant virtual crops in any part of Bristol and watch as they flourish or fail depending on environmental factors such as the city's air quality, water quality, weather and temperature. The player's real-life activities will also feed into their success in the game with credits and rewards being offered when players choose to shop locally or at a Farmer's Market.

3. Later this year, all councils will be required to publish detailed figures on all items of expenditure over £500. Delib will develop a website that will set out this complex financial information in easy to understand and accessible ways.

Stephen Hilton, Leader of Bristol City Council's Connecting Bristol Programme and sponsor of the B-Open projects, said;

"Nearly everyone now has a mobile phone and as phones get smarter they provide a really exciting way to deliver information and services in innovative ways that are better for citizens and cost effective for the Council. It is also important that we find fun ways to use mobile phones and web technology to get many more people involved in serious issues such as local food and climate change."

Council Leader, Barbara Janke, said;

“Bristol City Council has been a pioneer and advocate for the positive impacts of digital technology on informing and engaging with our residents. We want to share the highly useful information that we gather in every possible way to help local people and small businesses. New technologies are opening up with new opportunities for businesses and social entrepreneurs to create billions of pounds of economic value by building innovative applications and services that make use of government data."

Image Credit: From the project HappyTowns, Ping © BDH & Plot London

Under the Pervasive Experiences strand, Media Sandbox 2010 will also support the development of four inspiring ideas exploring senses and sensors to create new models of interaction with digital technologies and enhance our experiences, whether with music, games or within a retail environment.

4. The power of the voice is often overlooked in its ability to create unique, engaging and accessible interactive experiences. Mutant Labs, a brilliant young company based in Plymouth will develop a system in which our voices or other sounds could be used as a control mechanism in computer games.

5. Moksha , an exciting new Bristol based company will create experiences made only from scent. The project will research how we can use smell to evoke emotion and communicate ideas, and look at ways in which this could be used commercially.

6. Remode are fascinated by new types of gaming console currently in development by large companies such as Nintendo, which enable the input of sensory data such as our heart rates or body temperatures. Remode will create a prototype game in which this type of sensory data could help us succeed or fail within the game and enhance our experience of play.

7. nu desine will create a new electronic musical instrument. This programmable device will allow players to trigger sounds through the use of sensors and smart materials and offer a new type of performance experience.

Clare Reddington, Director of iShed said;

“Media Sandbox is a development programme that provides a space for research, supporting brilliant people to make time and take risks. The scheme networks creative talent from the South West with leading technology companies and content commissioners enabling companies to create new ideas and deliver new products to the market. Watershed is very excited by the range of innovation and talent we will be working with under the 2010 Sandbox scheme.”

Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive of South West Screen, said;

“South West Screen is pleased to continue our association with the progressive Media Sandbox scheme, this year through the Creative Industries iNet programme. These are seven varied and fascinating projects, which really push the boundaries of experimentation. Together they represent a shining example of the ambition of our creative industries here in the South West.”

Media Sandbox is originated and produced by iShed, part of Watershed, a cross art form organisation based in Bristol, UK.

Media Sandbox 2010 is a Creative Industries iNet project. The Creative Industries iNet is led by South West Screen - part of Solutions for Business and funded by the European Regional Development Fund and South West RDA. The scheme is delivered in association with Bristol City Council and Connecting Bristol's B-Open initiative.

There will be several events to showcase work on these projects over the next few months, with a major showcase event taking place in February 2011.

You are invited to attend the ViewNet Showcase on Wednesday the 21st July 2010 in the Merchant Venturers Building at the University of Bristol.
As well as demonstrations of ViewNet technology, the event will include presentations from the Technology Strategy Board and Project members, providing a unique insight into the technical challenges within the project followed by a group discussion to consider the application and future development of the technology.

ViewNet is a two year collaborative project funded by the Technology Strategy Board and the EPSRC. Its aim is to develop the next generation of location based technologies - distributed systems based on mobile devices for recording and visualising information in its spatial context, integrating advanced augmented reality and computer vision with indoor and outdoor positioning and wireless communication.  For more information on the project please see www.viewnet.org

The ViewNet demonstrator allows rapid generation of virtual maps and annotations, documenting environment topology and content, and their visualization through hand held devices. Application areas range from security and crime scene investigation to distributed gaming.

Guest Speakers include David Bott, TSB Director of innovation programmes and Prof. Chris Firth, Chief Scientist, Thales Research and Technology

ViewNet partners include 3C Research, the University of Bristol, Toshiba Research Europe, Sepura, Ordnance Survey, ST Microelectronics, Thales Research and Technology, National Physical Laboratory, TRW Conekt, 1Spatial and the Home Office Scientific Development Branch.

Register at: http://viewnet.eventbrite.com

Join us TONIGHT at Watershed to experience the exciting work produced by the Pervasive Media Studio's resident artists. In a shifting media landscape finding time and resources to explore ideas augmented by new technologies can be tricky. The Pervasive Media Studio Artists Residencies were set-up as a direct response to this challenge, creating a 'safe space' for artistic development in a peer-led arena.

This event will celebrate and share the work of artists Becca Gill and Jay Kerry working in collaboration as Mercurial Wrestler; and Hazel Grian: commissioned by Watershed to develop ideas at the juncture of art, pervasive technologies and culture. It will include presentations and installations by the artists, followed by an in conversation / Q&A session with Watershed’s Head of Programme, Mark Cosgrove, and Pervasive Media Studio's Head of Research, Phil Stenton.

When: Wednesday 9th June, 6.30pm
Where: Watershed, Bristol

Watch artists Becca and Jay talk about their research project to recreate the magical illusions of the turn of the last century using modern day pervasive media technologies over on DShed: http://www.dshed.net/content/magic-jay-and-becca-interview

Watch Hazel Grian talk about Daemon, a person’s inner self-made visible in the physical world. Daemon is not just a robot or a pet; it knows your character, responds to your thoughts and follows your physical actions: http://www.dshed.net/daemon

Read more about the projects here: pmstudio.co.uk/project/artists-residencies

This is a free event, please BOOK TICKETS online or call Watershed Box Office on 0117 927 5100.

This programme is supported by Arts Council England.

Media Sandbox and Gloucestershire Media Group are pleased to invite you to attend a mini ideas lab to generate ideas and develop applications for the Pervasive Experiences strand of this year’s Media Sandbox.

When: 6-9pm, Monday 28th June 2010
Where: Board Room / Room 2. Level 4, Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, GL1 2EH

Bringing together leading technology, artistic and media talent, Media Sandbox is a commissioning scheme to support South West companies/organisations to research emerging possibilities in digital media.

In 2010, four £10,000 commissions will be awarded to research projects exploring innovative Pervasive Experiences - ground-breaking ideas that dovetail mobile, wireless and sensory technologies with content and context, to create meaningful experiences.

This free event will take the form of a mini ideas lab and will offer the opportunity to examine the theme, generate ideas, find out more about the scheme and meet some interesting people.

Media Sandbox will open for applications on 30th June 2010. The application form will be available for download from 23rd June. Whilst it is not mandatory to attend, we do advise anyone considering applying to come along.

The ideas lab will be held at Board Room / Room 2, Level 4, Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, GL1 2EH.

This event is free, but booking is essential. To reserve a place, please email victoria@watershed.co.uk

Find out more about this years' Media Sandbox here: http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/

This event is organised in collaboration with Gloucestershire Media Group.

Media Sandbox  is originated and produced by iShed, part of Watershed, a cross art form organisation based in Bristol, UK. Media Sandbox is in association with Bristol City Council and Connecting Bristol's B-Open initiative and is a Creative Industries iNet programme, supported by South West Screen, ERDF and The South West Regional Development Agency.

Bristol City Council, Connecting Bristol and Media Sandbox are pleased to invite you to attend an ideas lab to celebrate, explore and develop applications for the open data strand of this year’s Media Sandbox.Details: 30 June 2010 | 1 – 6pm | Watershed, Bristol | Free, booking essential

For full details about the event and how to book, visit: http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk/b-open-launching-media-sandbox%E2%80%99s-open-data-strand/

Media Sandbox : making space for great ideas
Media Sandbox is a development programme enabling companies to research emerging possibilities in interactive, digital media, create new ideas and deliver innovation to the market. This years’ call has two project strands (pervasive media and open data) and this event is designed to give a general overview of the scheme and help develop ideas for the B-Open strand of the scheme.

B-Open
Media Sandbox will commission three £10,000 projects that utilise Open Data released by Bristol City Council and Connecting Bristol. These projects will be digital applications or experiences, with the content and context driven by data derived from the city and its environment e.g. air quality, electricity use, population information, quality of life.

Bristol City Council has been a pioneer and advocate for the positive impacts of digital technology on public engagement – with a vision of a creative, smart, green and connected City. As part of its aim to ensure that digital participation enables the whole city to realise its potential, Bristol City Council is supporting an Open Data initiative, B-Open – releasing the City’s data to generate new services and applications.

This strand of activity is open to applications from projects whose lead partner is based in Bristol.

Who is this workshop for?
We believe that bringing people together from different disciplines creates the most interesting ideas, so we’re looking to get a good mix of people in the room including: technologists; creative industries practitioners; artists; eco and social innovators; businesses; community organisations; commissioners; and anyone else with an interesting idea.

Learn more about the scheme, this year’s themes and how to apply at: http://www.mediasandbox.co.uk

Media Sandbox is originated and produced by iShed, part of Watershed, a cross art form organisation based in Bristol, UK. Media Sandbox is in association with Bristol City Council and Connecting Bristol's B-Open initiative and is a Creative Industries iNet programme, supported by South West Screen, ERDF and The South West Regional Development Agency.

This webinar will be of particular interest to those content developers or rights holders looking to explore new ways to monetise or increase revenues from their content. Join us to hear more…

The webinar will take place at 12 noon on Tuesday 1st June for 15 minutes and will be linked from:
http://www.innovateuk.org/ourstrategy/application-areas/creativeindustries.ashx

Sian Brereton
Lead Specialist Creative Industries

Technology Strategy Board

A1, North Star House, North Star Ave, Swindon, SN2 1UE www.innovateuk.org
Twitter: SCBrereton

The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive non-departmental public body, established by the Government. Its mission is to promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK business, in order to increase economic growth and improve the quality of life.

Bristol is fast gaining an International reputation as a hotbed for creative talent and groundbreaking projects. From networks to mobile delivery, content to coding, Bristol is firmly placed at the leading edge of change.

This free event will be an opportunity to learn more about Bristol’s groundbreaking projects from the people who delivered them. Discover Mobile Pie’s latest augmented reality app; ARKive’s innovative approach to online aggregation and distribution; Powerline Technologies’ solution to deliver broadband services over an electricity infrastructure; and more.

The event will offer insight into the process of bidding for technology-focused R&D projects and a chance to meet some interesting people. As part of the event, we’ll also open a conversation to discover new collaborative potential and create strong, joined-up responses to funding opportunities in 2010 and beyond.

When: 15th June 2010, 18:30-20:30hrs
Where: Watershed, Bristol

To book a place at this event, please visit: http://www.watershed.co.uk/exhibits/2382/

Drinks and snacks will be provided.

This event is sponsored by the Bristol BBC Anchor project, in collaboration with Science City, Bristol Media, Connecting Bristol, Watershed and the South West RDA.