urbanseeder: pilot

2 shots of flirting, a shot of fashion, an ounce of technology and a twist of fate

Project by: Maya Lotan
Advisors: Heather Martin, Yaniv Steiner, Lanrans Lovelie
Pilot with: Ofer Luft

Interaction Design Institue Ivrea, 2005

Contact me

Join Urbanseeder

How it works

Press Material

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Acknowledgements

Software development and information architechture: Ofer Luft
Physical objects co-production : Oren Horev
Video co-production and editing: Dana Gordon
Video direction of photography: Vinay Vennkatrama
After Effects editing: Tristam Sparks
Illustrations: Alejandro Zamudio
Pattern generation code: Chia-Ying Lee

Thanks

I would like to deeply thank my thesis advisors, Heather Martin and Yaniv Steiner and all the people who contributed, participated and helped me shape this thing.

| Pilot | |

The current active prototype is Urbanseeder. It applies the service concept to existing affordable technology, utilizing a system of unique number codes.



The system The codes are printed on stickers, the tools for active dissemination. On top of the physical assets, the system consists of a centralized database, a web service and a Macromedia Flash UI front. How it works Each member receives a web page in Urbanseeder, referred to as his 'city' and is supplied with 21 coded stickers, referred to as 'seeds' (sent via snail mail). As soon as one updates his 'city' with his planned events and regular activities one can start sticking the stickers, 'planting the seeds'. The seeds are self explanatory and it is not required to be a member in order to reciprocate, therefor seeds can be planted on other members, or on people who have never heard of the service. A finder of a seed, follows the seeds to Urbanseeder, enters the code printed on the seed, and can then view the member's page. How it grows The first members, located in different cities around the world, are recruited directly by me. From this point on, the system grows by itself, offering (only) seed finders to become members. If for instance a member plants seeds in a specific neighborhood in SF, 21 people in that neighborhood can become members, and so on. If one of the seeds is found by a visitor, this person will 'transfer' urbanseeder to his permanent location. Member clusters form where the seeds are planted and new ones initiate as seeders travel. Who is it for The service is not limited to a specific location or age group but rather open to a heterogeneous group of participants. Yet, with its physical nature, homogenous community 'islands' naturally form within this large group. One can choose whom he wants to play the game with. Work in progress The pilot is a work in progress. I am constantly inserting modifications according to the feedback I get. In general, the concept needs more tweaking, and twisting, in order to get just the right balance between effort and reward, mystery and trust. If you would like to join Urbanseeder as a beta user, please write to me!