October 15, 2007 Turbulence Commission: "Bonding Energy" by Douglas Repetto and LoVid http://turbulence.org/works/BondingEnergy/ Requirement: Enable Java in your browser
"Bonding Energy" consists of a set of "Sunsmile" devices that collect and measure solar energy from seven geographically distributed sites around New York State: Columbia University, NYC; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy; University of Buffalo; Colgate University, Hamilton; free103point9's Wave Farm, Acra; Experimental Television Center, Owego; and The Redhouse Arts Center, Syracuse. The light energy reaching the Sunsmiles' solar panels fuels a collaborative real-time data visualization on Turbulence.org.
Part of the larger "Cross Current Resonance Transducer (CCRT)" project in which the artists are developing systems for monitoring, manipulating, and interpreting natural signals such as tidal patterns and wind, "Bonding Energy" is focused on solar energy. "Bonding Energy" is a model for distributed microenergy generation, inspired by "SETI@home" -- which harnesses the collective power of personal computers distributed worldwide -- and "microcredit", a loan system that supports poor or unemployed people in underdeveloped countries. Small contributions from many individuals can produce significant results.
"Bonding Energy" is a 2007 commission of New Radio and Performing Arts, Inc., (aka Ether-Ore) for its Turbulence web site. [More....]
