The PICNIC organization offered 25 researchers a free pass to the conference and asked Digital Methods Initiative researchers Sabine Niederer and Anne Helmond to organize an informal seminar where everyone could meet and present their research to fellow researchers. At the end of the conference they asked the researchers to write a short essay or paper with reflections on the conference or one of the topics in relation to their research.

Thank you to all who participated and we now present you the essays online:

Mapping the Physics of the Web by Esther Weltevrede
Cyberculture, Here and Now by Michael Stevenson
Post-Demographics by Erik Borra
The “Long Now” of PICNIC08 by Andrea Fiore
Formalism and the Real -(time) Social Web @ PICNIC08 by Rachel O’Reilly
Social Gaming: the next big thing? by Pieter-Paul Walraven
Feedback society by Taina Bucher
Open innovation at PICNIC2008 by Thieme Hennis
Reflections on PICNIC by Kjen Wilkens
The Future of Virtual Worlds by Rene Glas
A Picnic Sampler by Sonja Kerkhoff
Let’s disconnect at Picnic by Marije Kanis
PICNIC08 Report by Helene Zuili
Games Go Social by Sonja Utz
Status, Use and Trends of Open Content Models in the New Media Industry by Peter Troxler (podcast)
Reflection on the PICNIC conference by Linda Adrichem
Dutch Extravaganza by David Boardman
PICNIC 2008: Three Days of Miracle and Wonder? by Edward A. Shanken

More info on the PICNIC website.

Mediamatic RFID tag

Ik win: Challenge someone with your web popularity, and let’s see and show other people how high you’re ranking. Based on the number of Google results: mediamatic.net/ikwin

Ben Ceverny gave one of the most fascinating talks at PICNIC08 on data visualization and data complexity.

Unfortunately I badly hurt my foot in the Westergasfabriek on Friday evening at the end of PICNIC.

More pictures on Flickr.

What do you need to do to qualify for a completely free pass to PICNIC08?
First, make sure you have an updated profile on the PICNIC network (free). Include information about your work in the profile, with a link to further information. Then send an email (picnicresearchers [at] gmail.com) to describe what part of PICNIC interests you most. How does this relate to your own work? Stick to one page max (A4), and if you like you can add one picture (for instance a graphic that illustrates your work).

What can you win?
“Tickets for PICNIC’08. The full thing: access to the PICNIC conference, the specials, the parties, the award ceremonies, everything! In addition, you will be invited to a special breakfast research seminar to meet with the other researchers. This informal gathering, titled ‘Enquiring Minds’ will take place on Wednesday morning September 24, Westerunie 9-11, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Deadline for applications is Wednesday, 17 September 2008.

More info: http://www.picnicnetwork.org/page/25870/en

Test picture for our RFID Photo Installation with Mediamatic founder Willem van Velthoven.

Picnic bags

iTea

I am covering the Mediamatic RFID & Physical Computing Hackers Camp @ Picnic 07 and the PICNIC conference in my Flickr stream.