n.e.w.s. is a collective online platform for the analysis and development of art-related activity, drawing upon contributions from around the globe, bringing together different voices, accents and outlooks from the North, East, West and South. | Read more..

Technological features and modules at N.E.W.S

Features and modules to be developed through SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2008

1. Shared Threads

Aggregating and filtering each contributor’s artistic research at n.e.w.s will allow artistic research to be shared laterally and simultaneously cross-pollinate projects and processes. This research may be in the form of del.icio.us bookmarks, recommended books, films, music, and projects or conversations and interviews. This will synchronize global cultural conversations and create more opportunities for collaborations and emerge. Teaching users, contributors how to use it. The technology and user interface for this module will come together across 6 months in this order:
1. Tagging: see Bookmarks (one month)
2. Media: two months. This includes implementing a live-streaming model (see Atextual, Omnipresence)
3. Informal media: one month (see Maps)
This includes podcast research and web radio possibilities along with their implementation

2. Platform Interface

The interface is the new manifesto. Its role in establishing and creating a bond between communities can be distinctly observed in the trends of online behavior of the last few years. Negotiating the community needs, aspirations and insights into the kinds of interfaces they feel comfortable working with is an essential exercise. N.E.W.S will introduce a speed-curating model, entitled ‘Distributed exchange’. Contributors will add projects aligned around, let’s say ‘immaterial labour’, creating and building up a database. This database can be accessed by people, curators, etc. for a small fee for them to use for their own projects. Contributors will add this to the site and be paid for their contributions.

3. Progressive Trust Model

As outlined in our “Position Statement”, all registered users (users) will be able to contribute content to N.E.W.S. The first three times they contribute it will be held for moderation, and if any of the existing contributors approve it, it will be published. This will institute what we call a “curated playground,” which balances freedom and autonomy with curatorial values.

4. Atextual

Enabling the N.E.W.S platform for being used by artists and curators who prefer to talk and not type, that is podcast (audio or video) is essential. It would expend the platform’s reach not just to more audiences but to also more contributors.

5. Bookmarks
Researching how delicious could work for n.e.w.s. (or not) Drupal’s potential in its taxonomy system and how this can best be implemented. Creating a system that is not complicated for the users and allows them to build up bookmarks easily.

6. Omnipresence
Joining recent efforts to stage events which do not place a premium on physical presence but are open to participation virtually, N.E.W.S will have LIVE video streaming of all the events it organizes. In addition to that it will attempt to extend some events into being massive video conferences.

7. Maps
Implementation of Google Maps to the site. Teaching users, contributors how to use it.

But how to continue this?