080808 Digital Color: Something from Something or Nothing

We recently received the following invitation from Prof. Greg Niemeyer of UC Berkeley. Particpation is open through 08/08. Read on for more details.

 

Dear New Media Friends

As you know, we have been running the algorithmically timed 0n0n0n conference series since 01/01/01, and 08/08/08 is upon us. This time we're stripping everything away from the conference except the conference T-Shirt! Well, we are also seeking your registration and your input in our online conference discussion. The conference theme is 080808 Digital Color: Something from Something or Nothing. What we are talking about is the standard digital color format of 24-bit color. In this format, each one of 24 bits (0 or 1) describes how computers should mix light to achieve a specific color. We will focus in on this process with our website, which allows you to change individual bits of the color format to see colors change. When you register (fee $30.00), you can reserve a bit, set the bit to either 0 or 1, and then explain your choice. You can also review other participant's explanations of their choices. This, we hope, will produce a conversation online about color, something and nothingness. It will also determine a palette of four colors which will define the custom-designed and custom sewn conference t-shirt (hence the fee). The conference t-shirt will be shipped to all participants after the conference closes.

All this is happening here:

http://studio.berkeley.edu/080808

It would be great to see your comments up there, and you will get a unique T-Shirt from the process, which starts today, and ends on Friday August 8 at 8 PM

Greetings, Greg
--

Greg Niemeyer

Associate Professor for New Media Art
UC Berkeley

 

More from the website:

"There is a limit of 96 participants, as your bit is a part of 4 times 24 bits of color. The conference runs from now up to August 8, 2008, 8 PM. You can register and buy a bit, and once you've bought the bit, you will set it to 0 (off) or 1 (on). You will also justify why you set your bit to 0 or 1 in a brief text. This text will remain online for public viewing. Of course, others will buy and change their bits as well, so throughout the duration of the conference, the site will show a flow of color changes. Can you buy more than one bit? Golden Eye says yes, if you have the money. Each bit costs $30.00. With that money, Golden Eye will match the colors you (and the 95 other participants) have defined to high-end fabric dyes to produce your exclusive 080808 T-shirt,and You won't have to go to the Olympics to get your special 080808 shirt."