created on Fri, 2009-01-02 15:41

To a software developer, there is nothing more gratifying than seeing your software being deployed and used in the real world. It's a cliché with awesome truth: real artists ship (mugs above!)! Over the last year and a bit, I have been involved in the Raincity SIFT Tool which is an SMS, MMS and RSS text, photo and video social media aggregator (check out the fabulous SIFT and mobile podcast recorded with the incomparable Dave Olson if you want to hear me pontificate about this in a vocal stylee!) developed for New Media BC's Mobile Muse 3 mobile cultural and artistic research platform. Over the last six months or so, SIFT has been deployed and used very very successfully in many many events by Vancouver's Fearless City and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. After the jump: highlights of those events, and more on the people and technology behind SIFT.

created on Thu, 2008-12-11 15:35

Vancouver Drupal evangelists and ringleaders (and my Vancouver Drupal Camp co-horts) are brewing up another get together for the Vancouver League of Drupallers. Ariane and Dale have sent out a call for a Vancouver Drupal geek festive social with a purpose - code sprinting for Fearless City.

I interviewed Irwin to learn more about Fearless City's mission, audience, participants, animators, success stories, so stay tuned for more coverage. In brief, they are helping residents and artists in the disadvantaged downtown Eastside of Vancouver gain access to digital storytelling skills and tools and create ways to easily publish and share their creations.

Since, I will be sequestered on a remote island, I have no right to talk about the event, so instead will defer to Ariane's details from Groups.Drupal.org/Vancouver - Christmas Social and Fearless City Code Sprint!!!

created on Mon, 2008-12-08 15:36

Friend of the Raincity Studios' Miss 604 is expanding her online empire with the new Best of 604 Awards. Everyone gets to Vote for Best of 604 to decide the best resources across a variety of categories from best sports blog to fave tech blog.

Here's how Rebecca puts it: "Best of 604 - The people's choice awards for the best sites and blogs in Metro Vancouver - 100% of awards night donations will benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society."

With heaps of our pals and faves nominated, i'll try to go easy on the vote influencing and instead issue a flagrant personal plug by recommending the following for your consideration:

Favourite Company or Business Blog

Raincity Studios (http://raincitystudios.com/blogs-and-pods)

Favourite Photo Site or Blog

Kris Krug (http://staticphotography.com)

Kris is Raincity Studios' company prez and ambassador by day and an ace editorial, fashion, rock n' roll photographer by night - Static is where the remarkable shots in his Flickr photostream get some context and narrative to go along. Actually, he is both prez and photog, all day and night.

Kris is also photo dude for http://theconveyorbelt.com with fashionista Terri Potratz nominated in the Best Style/Fashion Site or Blog.

Favourite Audio/Video Blog or Podcast

Gravelly Beach (http://gravellybeach.wordpress.com)

Choogle On (http://choogleon.com).

created on Thu, 2008-12-04 11:42

Within the diverse variety of Bryght-hosted Drupal sites, occasionally we're blown away by an amazing site. Homeless Nation recently won two awards so we are chiming into say "most excellent work" from both a technology-use and community-building point of view.

New media in action

In Canada, homelessness is a political topic which is opportunistically bandied around like a hot potato and punted from city, to provincial, to federal governments for missing leadership. While the elected leader and bureaucrats chatter, Homeless Nation is improving lives and certainly deserve awards, accolades, and support.

Here's a short blurb about the Homeless Nation awards by Chris Aung-Thwin

We are proud to announce that Homeless Nation has been recognized by the Canadian New Media Awards (CNMA) and by the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR).

On Friday, November 14th, HN was presented with an award for: Excellence in New Media Creation/Social Media Production/Nonprofit Division by the SNCR - a US-based non-profit organization.

On Tuesday, November 18th, HN was again honoured, this time here at home, with an award in the category of Excellence in Social Media Websites by the CNMA.

A community home

The hallmark of a true web community is when the participants define the culture beyond the organizers. Reading the heartfelt and respectful interaction between participants in the blogs and comments, you can see that this is truly a collaboration between the builders and participants.

The culture of Homeless Nation was incubated by Daniel Cross, a documentary filmmaker who makes films about social justice and Canada's homeless. After making a series of film projects, he conceived the website with an aim of providing essential resource info as well as a forum for therapeutic self-expression. Read the whole story about Homeless Nation - they are doing the real work where is matters.

"Homeless Nation's outreach workers across Canada work in a variety of ways in collaboration with the homeless community. We work in shelters, day-centres, squats, at protests, community events, on the street and online. We are dedicated to ensuring that digital tools for media, learning and communication are made available for homeless Canadians."

created on Fri, 2008-11-28 14:45

What:

A meet-up, hosted by Raincity Studios, of independent and grassroots media publishers and creators to exchange ideas, resources, and notes about the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

This is not an Olympic protest but rather a constructive, strategic conversation about the role of social media documentation of the forthcoming Games to ensure the ability to tell all the stories associated with the Games without censure or hassle.

Why

To discuss the possibility of an "independent media centre" at Raincity Studios office during the Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Olympic Games in February 2010 in order to maximize visibility and quality of documentation from local and international independent media makers.

Who:

This event is convened by Raincity Studios, presided by Robert Scales, conducted by Kris Krug, and facilitated by Dave Olson. They will lead a discussion and recount past experiences gained from covering Olympic Games as non-accredited media.

To attend, please send a Twitter message @raincitystudios or email to dave (at) raincitystudios (dot) com to let us know you are coming due to space limitations (30 people max,) otherwise participate via chat channel.

Keep an eye on http://raincitystudios.com/blogs-and-pods/ for any changes to the event or info on connecting by chat.

When/Where:

Dec. 4th 5PM~6PM
at Raincity Studios HQ
Suite 420, 1 Alexander St., Gastown

Topics:

The primary topic is determining space, sponsorship, and role of Independent Media Centre.

Other topics to discuss (time permitting) are:

• Update about the IMC non-accredited media centre at UBC downtown
• Outreaching to international indie media makers - planning photowalks, etc.
• Coordinating with activist groups to receive their media releases and stories
• Gaining access to non-sports events and hospitality houses
• Boundaries of rights-holders re: trademarks, description, and coverage of events ...
• Aggregating content efficiently - where/how/what
• Recap of VANOC worldwide press briefing reaction
• Chat about IOC blogging guidelines re: athletes/officials blogging
• Exchange of contacts at VANOC and Government ministries

Notes:

To keep the conversation on track and the meeting short, like "Lord of the Flies" the person holding the conch shell is the one who speaks ;-).

This meeting is transluscent meaning you and your words are bloggable, recordable, photograph-able.

Photos

Olympic flag by Daveo (uncleweed) Vancouver emblem ceremony by Kris Krug (kk) Dave and conch by Phillip Djwa (phillipdjwa)